A federal judge has frozen more than a quarter of a million dollars controlled by indicted businessman Tony Rezko, according to a court order made public today.
Judge St. Eve is expected to hear additional arguments from Duffy this afternoon on why Rezko should be released from jail to prepare for his Feb. 25 trial on corruption charges. She’ll also take up the frozen funds then.
More to come…
* 1:54 p.m. - The Judge has now ordered drug testing for star witness
St. Eve said Levine should submit to drug testing and any drug treatment that a pretrial services officer deems necessary. In a filing late Friday, Rezko’s defense team alleged that Levine had long abused drugs and questioned their impact on his memory of events.
Levine’s lawyer, Jeffrey Steinback, on Monday denied his client was a drug addict or had a drug problem.
* 2:10 p.m. - Daley backs Silverstein for ward race
Daley hinted strongly that Silverstein was planning to withold his support from Stone in the red-hot race for alderman against challenger Naisy Dolar last year. To firm up Silverstein’s support for Stone, Daley said he agreed to back Silverstein against Stone in the race for ward committeeman.
Daley said the Silverstein endorsement was hatched more than a year ago and had nothing to do with Stone’s decision to oppose the mayor’s tax-laden 2008 budget, which includes the largest property tax increase in Chicago history.
Stone called the mayor’s version “absolute bulls—.” The alderman said there was never any question he would have Silverstein’s support in the aldermanic race and the state senator needed no push from Daley.
“I don’t believe a word [Daley] says. I voted against his budget for the first time since he’s mayor and he’s teaching me a lesson. You give him 18 years of loyalty and he kicks you in the ass,” Stone said.
* 2:30 p.m. - The Governor denies knowing anything more about Rezko than what he reads in the papers
Blagojevich says candidates hope campaign donors are law-abiding and calls allegations against donors “one of the occupational hazards” of politics.
Rezko’s attorneys suggest that Levine called his source for drugs nearly 200 times between May 2002 and September 2004, according to the government’s own records.
A federal judge denied politically connected Chicago businessman Tony Rezko’s attempt to reinstate his bond Tuesday a day after his bond was revoked and he was sent to jail.
Rezko is due to start trial Feb. 25 on charges of mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering and attempted extortion. He also is charged with swindling the General Electric Capital Corp. out of $10 million in loans involving the sale of a pizza business.
* 4:32 p.m. - Looks like FutureGen has fallen through. The Governor’s office just sent out a press release on it:
“The U.S. Secretary of Energy’s proposal to dismantle FutureGen is an example of politics at its worst. Secretary Samuel Bodman is not only jeopardizing the benefits FutureGen promises to deliver, but he deceived the people of East Central Illinois who spent time and resources competing for the project. We’re not giving up the fight to make FutureGen a reality in Illinois.
Just last night during his State of the Union Address, President Bush said that environmentally responsible energy is essential to keeping our economy growing, and that his budget provides strong funding for leading-edge technology, including clean coal. Secretary Bodman’s decision to reverse course on the most important clean coal project to date represents a striking contradiction to the President’s comments. I urge President Bush, who initiated FutureGen in 2003, to stand by the project and move it forward.”
In 2007, the number of workers belonging to a union rose by 311,000 to 15.7 million, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics
reported
But that’s not the question.
* The Question: What is your opinion of labor unions?
* The governor’s office was not amused yesterday when Lynn Sweet wrote this on her blog…
The Obama Illinois campaign, in advance of the Feb. 5 balloting–where the Clinton team is making a run for Illinois delegates–is ramping up, with all the top Democratic office holders stumping for Barack Obama starting on Monday with one exception–Gov. Blagojevich. There’s just too much heat on Blagojevich
* I linked to the piece yesterday and got an e-mail from the governor’s office, but I was already out of the office and didn’t see it until much later. Sweet, however, received a terse phone call…
Blagojevich spokesman Abby Ottenhoff called to say that the Obama campaign has given Blagojevich an assignment, to woo six Democratic governors for Obama.
She also said that a new poll from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch shows the governor has better ratings than the legislature and aked that this be noted. The six governors on Blagojevich’s list are…
* Anyway, I told subscribers this morning and the esteemed Union League Club attendees of my somewhat tongue in cheek suggestion for the Obama campaign.
Since just about everybody who is anybody in Chicago politics has taken money from Rezko, including four of the five statewides that held that press conference for Obama yesterday (plus people like former Republican Gov. Jim Edgar - here’s a handy list), and since the Rezko story appears to be reallyheatingup again, perhaps Sen. Obama’s campaign ought to just steer clear of Illinois until after Super Tuesday.
A member of Ald. Bernard Stone’s political organization who also serves as the 50th Ward’s Streets and Sanitation Department superintendent was charged Monday following an investigation into alleged vote fraud in last year’s aldermanic election.
Anish Eapen, 37, of the 7500 block of North California Avenue, faces charges of official misconduct, absentee ballot fraud and mutilation of election materials, officials said..
* We’ll get to the reaction in a moment, but here’s more of the background…
A source familiar with the investigation said Eapen and Ramos “would target different people—primarily Indian and Pakistani voters—and suggest that they take absentee ballots. They would give them reasons why they should be taking absentee ballots—not necessarily valid reasons. They would be present when they filled out the application for the absentee ballot and, in some instances, they would bring the absentee ballot back to the people to vote.”
* And the payoff…
“We know where this all started. We know it’s politically-based. When does it break? Eight days before an election where Congressman Schakowsky is backing my opponent. It stems from an election where Congressman Schakowsky was backing my opponent….Her aide was soliciting the state’s attorney to investigate. It’s absolutely a devious political trick. That my good friend Dick Devine can be part of it is shocking,” Stone said.
Yep. Jan Schakowsky is now dictating Dick Devine’s investigations. Sounds perfectly sane and reasonable to me.
* But the black helicopters don’t stop there…
He added, “For the last six months, there has been a virtual campaign directed at anybody who voted for Bernie Stone. I always thought the ballot box was sealed. Apparently, nobody who voted for anybody else has ever gone before the grand jury. How do investigators know how these people voted? Has the secrecy of the ballot box been breached?…. They’re being asked, `Why did you vote for Bernie Stone?’ “
Perhaps, alderman, they’re asking your voters about alleged misdeeds because your guys are the ones who absentee voted them. You don’t need some super-secret G-Man code on ballots to figure that out.
Metro East officials may look to a temporary sales tax to fund costly repairs to the levee systems that protect the flood plain along the Mississippi River.
State Sen. William Haine, D-Alton, said Monday he would introduce a bill next week that would let Illinois counties impose up to a quarter-cent sales tax to pay for emergency levee repairs and storm water control measures.
If it becomes law, the legislation would provide a possible funding mechanism for a massive levee modernization project in Madison, St. Clair and Monroe counties. The price tag could be as much as $180 million.
Some of the levees are more than 60 years old. They’re high enough to withstand a major flood, but officials say there is a need to replace old pumps, pipes, gates and electrical panels and build new relief wells to prevent potential problems from underseepage.
Haine said the legislation would let counties establish commissions that could issue bonds for flood and storm water control and, subject to consent of their county boards, levy a sales tax of up to a quarter cent.
“This is as important as roads and bridges,” Haine said.
It doesn’t sound unreasonable, but I wonder how the governor might “improve” this tax hike. It’s not like he can let seniors ride free on levees. Thoughts?
“If WTVP, Channel 47, can raise another $450,000, the public television station and its creditors will have reached a tentative deal for $5.25 million.”
* Foreclosures land Illinois in group’s top 10 list
* Ralph Martire: Illinois tax policy generates far too many negatives
“But unfair taxation is only one of many flaws in Illinois’ tax system, which fails to respond to the modern economy or generate stable revenue while inefficiently over-relying on local property taxes to fund services. The collective result: a revenue system that cannot sustain public services.”
* Bush asks perseverance on sagging economy, patience on Iraq; read the transcript here
* My syndicated newspaper column this week takes a look at how a looming national recession is spurring a hopelessly divided Washington, DC to take unifed action. And then I compare it to the current situation here in Illinois. The conclusion…
The capital plan will create hundreds of thousands of jobs all over Illinois, either directly or indirectly.
It will help cushion the blow of an economic downturn. Heck, even if nothing bad happens, it still will be hugely beneficial to the economy and to ordinary, everyday citizens who drive on those dilapidated roads and bridges, send their kids to crumbling schools and ride on rickety rail lines.
If Washington, D.C., politicians can get their act together, surely Springfield can.
The governor needs to decide whether he wants to be a silly, can’t-do buffoon who lives to score cheap political points, or a real leader.
He needs to do whatever it takes to get this done.
And if he can’t lead, he ought to get out of the way.
Q: People always complain about the goofy things Blagojevich says and does. Is he the only one who acts this way?
A: Absolutely. Most lawmakers are very reasonable. For example, state Rep. Kenneth Dunkin, D-Chicago, recently introduced legislation that would ban a pedestrian from using a cell phone while crossing the street.
Q: Since Blagojevich previously served in the Illinois House and in Congress, wouldn’t it make sense that he’d know how to deal with the General Assembly?
A: You’d think. But, in a stop last week in Decatur, he made it clear that he’d prefer not having to deal with those pesky lawmakers. Here’s what he said: “I must confess, I kind of wish I could do just about everything by myself, because I feel Illinois would be a heck of a lot better.”
* Bernie’s column is also pretty funny, but probably not intentionally…
Like lots of folks, U.S. Rep. PHIL HARE, D-Rock Island, is worried that unless a capital projects bill is passed by the Illinois General Assembly, billions in federal matching dollars for highways and bridges will be lost.
To express that view, Hare told me in a visit to Springfield Friday, he has tried to contact Gov. ROD BLAGOJEVICH many times.
“Well, I haven’t talked to the governor,” Hare said. “I’ve sent three letters and made a number of calls.”
How many times did he call?
“Eighteen times,” he said.
He initially estimated those calls were made over the last four or five months, but when asked again, he said they may stretch back to last February.
* The Post-Dispatch has a new poll out, and many of you are not going to like some of the results.
For instance, when asked…
Illinois law has recently been changed to require that senior citizens be allowed to ride free on all local public transit systems. What’s your opinion?
71 percent said they agreed with the plan, and just 18 percent said they disagreed.
* Also, 42 percent said they had a favorable opinion of the governor (double the results in the last poll), while just 37 percent said the same about the Illinois Legislature. 54 percent said they viewed Dick Durbin in a favorable light.
* 41 percent approved of Blagojevich’s job performance, while 59 percent disapproved. That ain’t great.
* But, when asked…
Gov. Rod Blagojevich has said universal health care coverage for Illinoisans is the most important issue facing the state. What’s your opinion?
52 percent agreed that it was the most important issue while just 33 percent disagreed.
The Obama Illinois campaign, in advance of the Feb. 5 balloting–where the Clinton team is making a run for Illinois delegates–is ramping up, with all the top Democratic office holders stumping for Barack Obama starting on Monday with one exception–Gov. Blagojevich. There’s just too much heat on Blagojevich.
Blagojevich’s name is surfacing in too many corruption investigations, including that of indicted Tony Rezko, a major Blagojevich fund-raiser who has also raised money for Obama. With Rezko surfacing as a campaign issue for Obama–and with Blagojevich’s own problems, no wonder he won’t be at the Monday press conference in Chicago.
* This is one of the older tricks in the political playbook…
[GOP Congressional candidate Chris Lauzen] won the fundraising battle in the third quarter, raising $536,505 and thereby beating Oberweis at his own game.
Much of that money consisted of a $324,750 loan from Lauzen himself that he took out Sept. 27 — just three days before the reporting period ended. Curiously, he repaid that loan Oct. 1, which begs the question: Why did he need the loan? To maintain the appearance of being able to keep up with a man he accuses of buying the election with “big money and big insider establishment clout?”
Yep. That would be the answer. He wanted it to look like he had the personal finances to keep up with Oberweis. But then he repaid the loan a few days later, so he apparently doesn’t have the bucks to spend.
Fundraising slowed in the fourth quarter for Jay Footlik in his bid to win the Democratic nomination in the 10th Congressional District.
Footlik… raised about $130,000 since Oct. 1 and had about the same amount on hand, according to the federal report he filed. Footlik, who returned home to the suburbs to run for Congress, had raised about a half-million relatively quickly last year.
His primary opponent, Dan Seals, had nearly five times that for the stretch run leading up to the Feb. 5 election.
In the world of campaign finance, money is often the barometer of strength.
By those terms and based on latest financial reports, Aaron Schock is looking like Superman compared to his opponents, having raised more than $800,000 for his congressional campaign to date with more fundraisers already planned. And John Morris, a professional fundraiser by trade, has raised just more than half that amount, nearly exclusively in individual contributions.
Jim McConoughey, on the other hand, raised only about $121,000 and is indebted to himself to the tune of about $270,000. He’s got $47,000 cash on hand, but about $44,000 in outstanding bills.
* This can’t be good for Barack Obama’s post South Carolina momentum…
Antoin “Tony” Rezko, a key fundraiser for Gov. Blagojevich and other Illinois politicians, was arrested early today by federal agents after prosecutors alleged he had violated terms of the bond in his fraud case.
“Tony Rezko was arrested without incident at his home in Wilmette,” FBI spokesman Tom Simon said. “It was pursuant to a warrant issued following a government motion to revoke his bond.”
Rezko appeared briefly this morning before U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve, who is to preside over his fraud trial next month. Another hearing will be held at 12:30 p.m. today; Rezko remains in federal custody.
* Automatically updating news reports culled from numerous sources…
*** SUNDAY UPDATE *** Ted Kennedy to endorse Obama…
Senator Edward Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat, will announce his backing of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in Washington tomorrow, ABC News reported, citing an unidentified person close to Kennedy.
“I’ll let Ted Kennedy speak for himself,'’ Illinois Senator Barack Obama said on ABC’s “This Week'’ program today. “And nobody does it better. But obviously, any of the Democratic candidates would love to have Ted Kennedy’s support. And we have certainly actively sought it.'’
Two sources say [Hillary Clinton has] directed a flood of calls [Kennedy’s] way, with everyone from union leaders to his Massachusetts constituents scrambling to stop what Clinton’s camp is worried could be an endorsement of Obama.
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D-KS) will deliver the Democratic response to the State of the Union on Monday. And then Tuesday or Wednesday, she plans to endorse Barack Obama, numerous Democratic sources said.
* Obama’s victory speech…
* 8:01 pm - On closer examination, the AP may be simply sticking with their spin by political writer Ron Fournier that the results would all be about a racial divide. Here’s what Fournier wrote yesterday…
What [Clinton] has won in South Carolina is the larger campaign to polarize voters around race and marginalize Obama (in the insidious words of one of her top advisers) as “The Black Candidate.”
* But, is that what really happened, or did Clinton fail? From MSNBC’s First Read tonight…
As for the white vote, Obama did not win the majority but neither did either of his two rivals. In fact, while Clinton got 36% of the white vote — it really was pretty close to a three-way split; Edwards got 40% and Obama 24%.
An MSNBC/McClatchy poll released on Thursday showed Obama’s support among white voters to be 10%. So consider his showing tonight a big improvement.
For the first time, it occurs to me, Obama really won the expectations game: Those recent polls set up an expectation of racial polarization, and primed us to write that story, and now the story will be about Obama’s healthy support from whites.
Obama won Iowa, one of the whitest states in the country, and also won more than a third of white voters in multi-candidate contests in New Hampshire and Nevada — even though Clinton won both states.
But in South Carolina, that figure plummeted and showed a vast division between the races — Obama won just a quarter of white voters and 80 percent of blacks, the exit poll showed. John Edwards and Hillary Clinton split most of the white vote.
* 7:35 pm - Clinton’s camp appears to have over-sold the possibility of a close race in South Carolina. Mike Flannery filed this report about an hour before the polls closed…
Sen. Hillary Clinton’s campaign worked all week to convince reporters and others that anything less than a double-digit victory by Obama should be redefined as a victory for her — an argument echoed Saturday by a supporter from Illinois, J.B. Pritzker.
Oops.
* 7:29 pm - Apparently, there will be no gigantic endorsement tomorrow. A member of the Kennedy family will likely give Obama the nod, but not Ted.
* 7:11 pm - All the Democratic candidates agreed not to campaign in Florida, but this e-mail just arrived from Clinton’s campaign…
“We now turn our attention to the millions of Americans who will make their voices heard in Florida and the twenty-two states as well as American Samoa who will vote on February 5th.”
* 7:10 pm - Josh Marshall on Bill and Hillary Clinton…
The presidency is a singular job. It should stay that way. And it’s precisely because I’m looking forward to supporting her if she is the nominee that I hate seeing her being overshadowed by her spouse and having her husband bigfoot the process which diminishes her and makes me think her presidency could be a 4 year soap opera where Bill won’t shut up and let her have a shot at doing the job.
“This was a very, very strong repudiation of the tactics used here,” Axelrod said. “Divisiveness would rule, the old techniques of slash and burn politics was working — that was the story line for the past 10 days. The people of South Carolina were resolute that, ‘We don’t want to go there. This is about the future, not the past.’ “
* 6:47 pm - Closer to home…
Chicago set a new single-day record for Early Voting today with nearly 5,800 ballots cast, ahead of the traditional Early Voting “peak week.” (The previous record was 5,078 ballots cast in the last day of Early Voting before the 2007 municipal election.)
But, Edwards won white males with 44 percent, with Obama and Clinton were essentially tied. Clinton won white females with 42 percent, to 35 for Edwards and 22 for Obama. Black females went for Obama 82-17.
* 6:15 pm - Obama won independent voters with 40 percent, to 35 percent for Edwards and just 24 percent for Clinton. Obama also won Democratic voters with 58 percent, to 28 for Clinton.
Roughly 6 in 10 South Carolina Democratic primary voters said Bill Clinton’s campaigning was important in how they ultimately decided to vote, and of those voters, 47 percent went for Barack Obama while only 38 percent went for Hillary Clinton.
Meanwhile, the exit polls also indicate Obama easily beat Clinton among those voters who decided in the last three days — when news reports heavily covered the former president’s heightened criticisms of Obama. Twenty percent of South Carolina Democrats made their decision in the last three days and 57 percent of them chose Obama, while only 18 percent picked Clinton
* 5:35 pm - A friend who is working in South Carolina for Obama today sends along this e-mail with a picture…
I took this picture outside a polling place this morning at a church.. You don’t see this too much in cook county.
He’s right. You don’t see signs like this around these parts…
* 5:08 pm - The AP won’t release the head-to-head results from the S. Carolina exit polls until voting has ended in about an hour, but here is a snippet of what they did write about…
Interviews with voters as they left their polling places indicated about half the electorate was black.
Half the voters said the economy was the most important issue in the race. About one quarter picked health care. And only one in five said it was the war in Iraq, underscoring the extent to which the once-dominant issue has faded in the face of financial concerns.
Roughly half the voters said former President Clinton’s campaigning for his wife was very important to their choice.
