This just in… New DNR director
Thursday, Feb 5, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller
* 3:14 pm - Gov. Quinn apparently had somebody in mind to take over DNR when he booted Kurt Granberg yesterday. Marc Miller worked for Quinn at the Lt. Gov’s office. From a press release…
Governor Pat Quinn announced the appointment of natural resources professional and conservationist Marc Miller as director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Miller had been senior policy adviser and liaison to the Illinois River Coordinating Council for the Office of Lieutenant Governor.
“Marc Miller is an expert in managing and protecting our state’s precious natural resources and will run a very professional agency,” said Governor Quinn. “In addition, Marc is an avid outdoorsman dedicated to promoting the public’s safe use and greater understanding of our state’s parks, waterways and other natural resources.”
Miller, 39, joined then Lt. Governor Quinn’s staff in June 2004. During that time, he was instrumental in development and implementation of many environmental programs. They include: The Dam Safety Initiative and the Mud-to-Parks program, which promoted the beneficial reuse of river settlement. […]
“I am honored Governor Quinn has named me to lead this important state agency,” said Miller. “I will dedicate myself to managing, protecting and sustaining Illinois’ natural resources.
And in case you’re wondering, he’s no relation to me. Lots of Miller’s in this state.
* 3:23 pm - OK, first it was “yesterday’s tomatoes” and now this…
Quinn wants more bird watchers to come to Illinois. Says “We’ve got more birds than you can shake a stick at.”
The Yogi Berra of Illinois politics?
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Illinois sheriffs back concealed carry
Thursday, Feb 5, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller
* A new and interesting twist…
Support for allowing concealed carry of firearms in Illinois — one of just two states that still outlaw it — is coming from what seems like an unlikely direction: the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association. The group, for the first time in its history, is taking a qualified stand in favor of the controversial practice.
State Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion, proposed a bill (HB245) last week that would allow residents to obtain concealed firearm permits. It would require background checks and training in handgun use, safety and marksmanship. Similar bills have been introduced in the past, and died with little support.
“I believe to be successful the key to concealed carry is training,” said St. Clair County Sheriff Mearl Justus, voicing his support Wednesday. “If we allow concealed carry, we must make sure only the right people have the guns. This is best done by requiring training, proper identification, and a thorough background check — including a mental evaluation. […]
Gun control groups warn of the dangers of putting more weapons into circulation, and say few people will ever use firearms to defend themselves — and normally don’t use the same level of consideration as law enforcement regardless of training.
* More about Rep. Bradley’s bill…
Under the proposed bill, which is similar to bills that have been proposed and failed to pass the Illinois legislature in the past, a person would be eligible to carry a concealed firearm if he or she is:
• At least 21 years old;
• a resident of Illinois for the past six months and a permanent U.S. resident;
• has not been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year;
• does not demonstrate a lack of mental capacity according to Illinois State Police records;
• and does not have a problem with substance abuse.
In addition, those seeking a concealed carry permit must complete firearms and deadly use of force training.
Under the proposal, concealed firearms will not be allowed inside police stations, prisons, government offices, courthouses, bars, airports, schools, riverboats, amusement parks, arenas, stadiums and churches, similar to concealed carry laws in other states.
The legislation is here.
Thoughts?
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* January 30th…
U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson says the economic stimulus bill the House passed this week was flawed.
The Urbana Republican on Thursday said he voted against the bill because it was too pricey and had “little or nothing to do” with job creation or improving the American economy.
Same day…
[Rep. Johnson said] “The bedrock of any stimulus must be tax relief. I support measures that reduce the tax burden on our families, that give small businesses incentives to create jobs and retain employees, that give people incentives to buy homes and energy-efficient products and that make permanent the AMT patch, among other things. These ideas have been presented to the House leadership and resoundingly rejected.”
As noted above, Johnson voted “No” on the stimulus plan in the House.
* But now Johnson is outraged that a project in his district is under fire by Senate Republicans…
U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson, R-Urbana, said on Wednesday he was “outraged” that the FutureGen clean coal plant was included in a “pork” list compiled by his GOP colleagues of projects in the federal stimulus package, even though neither the House nor Senate bills specifically made reference to FutureGen. […]
“If there is anything in this stimulus package that truly provides a stimulus, it is FutureGen,” Johnson said.
* Let us review, shall we? Johnson knocked the stimulus bill for having “little or nothing to do” with actual stimulus, and said that the “bedrock” of any stimulus bill should be tax relief. He voted “No.”
Then, when his $2 billion project is opposed, he cries that FutureGen was the only real stimulus proposal in the package.
Um, Tim, maybe you should’ve voted “Yes,” or at least kept your mouth shut.
I despise DC politics.
*** UPDATE 1 *** As Progress Illinois notes, the New York Times reports today that “centrists” in the US Senate are working to strip big chunks out of the stimulus bill. One of the areas on the chopping block?
$850 million for Amtrak
PI adds that the original draft “only allocates $1.1 billion for Amtrak to begin with.” So cutting $850 million out of the stimulus bill would make a big difference.
Johnson’s district includes the University of Illinois. UIUC students are heavily dependent upon Amtrak. Nice going, congressman.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Things are not looking good for Illinois’ budget problem….
Meetings intensified Thursday among a bipartisan bloc of senators seeking to trim close to $90 billion from a massive economic recovery bill nearing final action in the chamber. […]
State fiscal aid and education funding will be among the most sensitive proposed cuts, and if $90 billion is the goal, it would represent an estimated 25% cut.
*** UPDATE 3 *** TPM has more draft cuts to the states, which will likely grow today and tomorrow…
$24.786 Billion on “State Stabilization Money” [100% cut]
$15 Billion for “State Incentive Grants” [100% cut]
$6.75 Billion for “IDEA”, proposed cut 50%
Seem them all here.
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Question of the day
Thursday, Feb 5, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I was pleased with many of your answers to yesterday’s Question of the Day - until I stopped moderating comments and many people decided not to directly answer the question and went off on tangents.
Today’s question builds on yesterday’s.
Yesterday, most of you identified which of the big budget items would receive a $1 billion cut. Those items were…
* Medicaid reimbursements to private and not-for-profit providers
* Medicaid benefits to participants
* K-12 education (state portion of state/federal/local funding mix)
* Required state payments to the pension funds
* State employee payroll
* As you know, Comptroller Hynes has said the state faces up to a $9 billion deficit next fiscal year. If the federal stimulus plan passes as is, the deficit could be reduced to $6 billion.
So, you came up with $1 billion in cuts yesterday. I’m going to assume the stimulus bill passes and throw in another $2 billion in reductions, just to be nice - via various pet projects y’all have for streamlinging or cutting other government programs and services and headcount, skims of and charges to special funds and various other budgetary gimmicks and “magic.”
* The Question: Identify which of those big budget items listed above should be whacked for a total of another $3 billion in cuts.
This is not about revenues. I’m talking about cuts. Don’t wimp out and suggest your pet projects. Those are already included in the $2 billion I’ve given you.
* In comments, please tell us first which item you identified for the intial billion dollars in cuts. Then choose from the list of the other identified spending programs which you would cut for a total of $3 billion.
Stick to the topic, because I’m gonna be brutal in comments today since session is over.
And make sure to explain to us why you cut this way.
…Adding… Anders Lindall makes this important point in comments…
Also remember that TOTAL STATE EMPLOYEE PAYROLL for FY08 was $3.5 billion. So if yesterday you chose to cut $1 billion from payroll (throwing 20,000 people out of work), you don’t have $3 billion left to cut from payroll today.
And even if you cut elsewhere yesterday, understand that cutting $3 billion from payroll means nearly zeroing out state government. In other words, it’s impossible.
So, if you cut payroll yesterday, you can’t cut payroll again today.
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Quinn’s first really big day at work
Thursday, Feb 5, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Gov. Quinn started yesterday with a warning that the state budget deficit could reach $9 billion next fiscal year…
Newly installed Illinois Gov. Patrick Quinn met with the state’s chief fiscal officer this morning and got a sobering welcome: Illinois will be looking at a $9 billion deficit by mid-year if nothing changes.
“The bottom has dropped out,” state Comtroller Dan Hynes told reporters in the Statehouse today, restating what he’d earlier told Quinn during their meeting.
Hynes said the latest calculations show Illinois’ current budget deficit is between $4 and $5 billion, and will hit a record $9 billion during the next fiscal year if nothing is done. As much as $3 billion of that could be recouped through the pending federal stimulus package, but even at that, the state will be paying its bills late or not at all without either drastically reduced spending or increased revenue.
* Met with the legislative leaders…
Quinn rejected the often confrontational attitude of his predecessor, Rod Blagojevich, who was removed from office last week amid allegations of corruption and unconstitutional abuse of power. Blagojevich denies any wrongdoing.
“This is a partnership between the executive branch and the legislative branch,” Quinn said.
* Was cheered by Republicans…
Gov. Pat Quinn was hailed by House Republicans for meeting with them Wednesday, but that could change if the Democratic governor decides to back a tax hike.
“We haven’t had a governor come to our caucus since George Ryan,” said state Rep. Shane Cultra, R-Onarga. “Having Quinn there certainly proves he is interested in bipartisanship and getting the problems of the state solved.”
* Later, Quinn signed a supplemental appropriations bill…
Quinn signed legislation Wednesday that will spend additional state money and protect federal wildlife money coming into the state.
Quinn signed legislation directing about $18 million to the offices of attorney general, secretary of state and treasurer. All three offices had their budgets cut last fall and have resorted to furlough days, layoffs, hiring freezes and other techniques to make up the money.
The bill also puts about $9 million back into restricted state accounts that pay for wildlife and conservation programs. Money from the accounts was used to pay other state expenses. However, federal authorities said those accounts contained federal money and threatened Illinois with a $17 million penalty if the money weren’t restored.
* His first signed bill was about the smoking ban…
Gov. Pat Quinn used his first bill signing Wednesday to try to clear the haze surrounding enforcement of Illinois’ year-old statewide smoking ban.
Quinn signed Senate Bill 2757 into law as he met with the four legislative leaders at his Statehouse office. The measure, which takes effect immediately, spells out how violations and violators of the smoking ban in public places should be handled.
Local enforcement efforts have been stymied by confusion over such details, but smoking-ban proponents hope the new measure will change that.
“It seems like the state’s attorneys in the larger counties enforced the law, but the ones in the smaller counties didn’t feel comfortable with enforcement without the rules really spelled out,” said Kathy Drea, public policy director for the American Lung Association of Illinois.
* Quinn continued the task of de-Blagojeviching the state…
Nearly a week after he was removed from office, the process of erasing former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s name from state signs, brochures, Web sites and letterhead is progressing.
On Wednesday, road crews were dispatched to cover up signs featuring Blagojevich’s name on various highways across the state.
That came after the Illinois Toll Highway Authority had already spent about $15,000 covering up Blagojevich’s moniker on toll road signs.
An estimate of how much it will take to erase evidence of Blagojevich’s tenure was not available Wednesday, but a spokesman for new Gov. Pat Quinn said the aim is not to rack up a lot of bills.
“He has told everyone to do it in the most effective and affordable way,” spokesman Bob Reed said.
* Along those lines, he fired Kurt Granberg…
llinois Gov. Pat Quinn dumped the state’s conservation chief Wednesday, just weeks after he started work.
Former state Rep. Kurt Granberg took over the Department of Natural Resources Jan. 22 after former Gov. Rod Blagojevich appointed him a week earlier. His ouster could mean he starts collecting a pension of $113,000 a year — $40,000 more than before he started at DNR.
Quinn earlier told The Associated Press that the beleaguered agency should not be headed by a professional in the field, not another in a “parade of political appointments.”
He withdrew Blagojevich’s nomination of Granberg for the post Wednesday, spokesman Bob Reed said. His appointment was subject to confirmation by the Senate, which had not acted.
Quinn will name a replacement “quickly,” Reed said, but he would not elaborate.
* And watched the latest tollway chief resign…
Once again, the Illinois Tollway is without a leader.
The agency’s board will meet Friday to accept the resignation of Acting Executive Director Dawn Catuara and appoint an interim chief. Her departure comes as the agency faces scrutiny over a new construction program tainted by the corruption arrest of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Catuara stepped in after the newly installed executive director Jeff Dailey quit Dec. 17 following a tenure of a few weeks. She had been the tollway’s chief of staff.
* Related…
* Gov’s out, but state’s budget crisis worsens
* $5 billion worse off and U-N-I-T-Y
* Gov. Pat Quinn could face a $9 billion budget deficit
* State Faces Bigger Budget Crisis Than Realized
* Hynes fears ‘unimaginable consequences’ from $9 billion deficit
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Fritchey tries to defend vote
Thursday, Feb 5, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller
* During a recent 5th Congressional District candidates’ debate, state Rep. John Fritchey said this…
“I’ve long maintained that privatizing of public assets is like selling off your furniture to pay your mortgage.”
Fritchey was responding to a question about whether, after elected, they would support Mayor Daley’s plan to privatize Midway Airport with the Federal Aviation Administration.
Rep. Sara Feigenholtz kinda hedged at first, but when questioned directly about whether she would sign a letter to the FAA in support, she said…
“I don’t think I would. No.”
…Adding… A couple people have claimed that Feigenholtz was responding to a question by the moderator about whether she would sign a letter in “opposition” to the Midway sale. Not according to the tape and the transcript I have…
LYNN SWEET: So, if you were in the House today, would you write the letter to the FAA to say privatize, we urge you to do it…
FEIGENHOLTZ: I don’t think I would. No.
Hope that clears things up.
* Yesterday, Mayor Daley shot back…
[Daley] noted that Fritchey voted for the 2006 bill that set the stage for the Midway and parking garage deals by granting blanket property tax exemptions to private investors who lease those city assets.
And Daley advised Fritchey and his rivals to “go back to business school” to learn the benefits of turning city assets into a cash windfall to keep building while other cities are cutting back.
Feigenholtz also voted for that bill.
* Since Daley singled out Fritchey, the Tribune went to him for comment…
“I am in no way hedging on my comments,” Fritchey said after being told of Mayor Richard Daley’s reaction. “I still think that privatization of assets is not a desirable long-term policy … We’ve gone decades without having to privatize city assets.”
But Fritchey said he agreed with Daley’s comments that the state has forced the city to seek other solutions by failing to fund infrastructure projects.
“There’s no question that the state is lacking in its obligations,” Fritchey said.
Asked to explain his vote for legislation that made the Midway deal possible, Fritchey responded, “I voted to give Chicago officials the authority to do that. As a general rule, I support the concept of local control.”
Thoughts?
…Adding… Both Fritchey and Feigenholtz also voted for a bill to sell the Thompson Center.
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More on Vallas
Thursday, Feb 5, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Back in November, Paul Vallas said he wouldn’t run for anything in 2010…
Paul Vallas announced Sunday he would not run for governor or any office and has instead signed on for a third year as head of New Orleans’ public schools.
“I would have liked to have run for governor,” Vallas said.
But Vallas said he is staying on as chief of New Orleans’ school district for at least an extra year to “get it done right.”
Vallas signed on for a third year down South last week, meaning his contract won’t expire until June of 2010, too late he said to make a run for office in an election that November.
* Mark Brown tried to find out why Vallas decided to run for county board president as a Republican, and relates the conversation in his column today. Vallas mentioned his past work with Republicans and pointed to the fact that the state’s Democratic establishment “abandoned” him in the 2002 gubernatorial primary, then added…
As far as a philosophical awakening, Vallas said there was none
* Brown also reminded his readers today that two other Chicago Democrats turned Republican, Eddie Vrdolyak and Aurelia Pucinski, “made the switch to outflank an African-American politician, trying to gain some advantage in Chicago’s race-based politics.”
Vallas took umbrage at that suggestion…
Vallas was flabbergasted when I drew the comparison Wednesday during a telephone interview from Baton Rouge, where he is in the final year of a job rebuilding New Orleans schools. He said he sees no similarities between his “reform-minded” candidacy and those of the three “career politicians” I named.
“I’m not trying to figure out the political calculation,” Vallas said. “For me, it’s about the mission. The mission is to reform government.” […]
But these pre-election political conversions always rub me the wrong way. They smack of opportunism and expedience, especially when overlaid on the race equation (not that there’s anything wrong with dumping Stroger).
* There are other skeptics…
“He certainly would have to answer questions about why he chose to leave the Democrat Party and join the Republican Party,” said Murphy, who adds he is still “very seriously considering” a run of his own.
* But there is also plenty of GOP excitement…
Vallas’ candidacy has “injected excitement” into the GOP, according to Lee Roupas, the chairman of the Cook County Republican Party and the Palos Township Republican committeeman. […]
Dennis Cook, the head of the Illinois Young Republicans and an Orland Park resident, said Vallas’ decision to switch parties and run for board president is “exciting.”
“It’s very nice to see him come over and run as a Republican,” he said.
Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) said Vallas brings “stature and tremendous credibility” to the race.
* Keep in mind when reading this figure that the election in question was almost seven years ago. Voters tend to forget politicians…
Vallas won 48 percent of the vote in the suburbs lining Chicago when he ran against Blagojevich, who garnered 29 percent, and Roland Burris, who had 24 percent, in the 2002 Democratic primary for governor.
* Stroger reacts…
Stroger said Wednesday he was unfazed by allegations from Vallas that the county is mismanaged and he took a shot at him for working in far-off New Orleans.
“If they only thing you know about county government is what you read in the papers from New Orleans… that is the impression you’d get,” Stroger said.
* As does Daley…
Chicago Mayor Richard Daley offered a lukewarm response to news that his former schools chief Paul Vallas reportedly plans to run for Cook County Board President in 2010. […]
Vallas made gains as Daley’s schools chief, but the two parted on not-the-best-of terms.
Today, Daley was asked about the news that Vallas was lining up a bid for Cook County Board President.
DALEY: I haven’t heard anything.
The mayor offered a neither-here-nor-there type of response.
DALEY: Listen. Anyone wants to run for public office, you’re excited about. People want to run for public office, you should be excited.
* And Vallas downplayed the certainty of his departure to the New Orleans paper…
While the Chicago media Wednesday morning reported that Vallas had decided to leave New Orleans at the end of 2009 to run for the board, he was less clear-cut in subsequent interviews.
“It’s not definitive that I’m running,” he said. “I have formed an exploratory committee to consider a run.”
Vallas stressed that his attention would remain focused squarely on New Orleans schools for the next year. “Nobody should have to question my attention,” he said. “I’m kind of ADD (attention deficit disorder) anyway.”
If the primary is in February of 2010, he cannot possibly give the school district his undivided attention for a full year. Petitions will go out in August, for crying out loud.
More on that topic…
State Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek confirmed that Vallas would be with the RSD for at least 16 more months.
He’d better hope he gets a free ride through the primary if he intends to stay in New Orleans.
* And not everybody is happy with his performance…
Though Vallas may be willing to listen, the head of the community group Save Our Schools New Orleans said Vallas is leaving the job undone.
“We’ve given Paul Vallas free reign and an open checkbook, and his free reign has improved some test scores a little bit, but at what cost?” Angela Daliet said. “And it’s not sustainable. In Philadelphia and Chicago, he left huge deficits.”
That last quote might find its way into a campaign ad.
* Something else to consider…
“The bottom line is I think the (Republican) party is going to want a strong candidate and I think hopefully the party will be able to help me raise money,” Vallas said.
The latest campaign disclosure reports filed by the Cook County Republican Party showed it began this year with $7,742.
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This just in…
Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller
* 11:25 am - From Lee Newspapers…
Comptroller Dan Hynes says Illinois faces a $9 billion budget deficit. After a federal stimulus, it could go down to $6 billion.
Holy moly.
* 11:40 am - We have some more detail. That $6 billion figure is for the coming fiscal year, 2010, and it assumes no growth in any current state spending.
* 11:59 am - From the Sun-Times…
Illinois government is on pace to be a record $9 billion in the red by the end of the state’s budget year June 30, Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes says.
“Faced with a record $8.95 billion deficit for 2010, Illinois now stands at the precipice of the worst financial crisis in the state’s history,” a report Hynes put out this morning says. “If the recession is prolonged beyond this summer and/or revenues erode further, the state’s fiscal situation will deteriorate even more than the bleak assessment presented here.”
* 12:01 pm - Hynes says we’ll have a “carry over debt” from this fiscal year of $4.28 billion, plus $1.5 billion for spending that has not yet been appropriated.
* 12:11 pm - AP…
Hynes says Illinois will carry a deficit of more than $4 billion into the budget year that begins July 1. Then the new budget year will see its own, even larger gap.
The figures assume officials don’t increase spending except for Medicaid and pension costs that are set by law. If spending goes up elsewhere, the deficit would go up, too.
Hynes says economic-stimulus money from the federal government could reduce the gap. Even if that money comes through, state officials will still have to figure out how to fill a $6 billion hole.
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Question of the day
Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Which one thing would you cut to achieve a billion dollars in budget savings?
* Medicaid reimbursements to private and not-for-profit providers
* Medicaid benefits to participants
* K-12 education (state portion of state/federal/local funding mix)
* Required state payments to the pension funds
* State employee payroll
Make sure to explain why you think this is the best possible cut, both politically and fiscally.
And, keep these two things in mind: 1) This is a billion dollars we’re talking about here, so it ain’t peanuts - the cut you propose will do significant damage; and 2) That’s only the beginning of the cuts the state will probably need to make if taxes are not increased substantially, which is why I’ve only given you one choice.
No cop-outs, please. Choose only from this list and choose only one item.
…Adding… For those of you who think this is an improbable question because the pain will be spread around, I would point you to the update above: “Comptroller Dan Hynes says Illinois faces a $9 billion budget deficit. After a federal stimulus, it could go down to $6 billion.”
In reality, the $1 billion cut is only a small beginning. You could cut a billion from everything above and still not balance the budget. So, I’m actually giving you an easy out here.
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* This timeline may be overly ambitious, but it’s good to see he’s setting a deadline for himself…
In office less than a week, Gov. Patrick Quinn is setting April 3 as his goal to enact a long-delayed capital bill to fund Illinois road projects and other improvements.
“It will give us a target to shoot at and keep an urgent approach,” he said after a 50-minute meeting Tuesday in Washington, D.C., with members of Congress from Illinois. […]
The April 3 date marks the start of a two-week Easter recess for the Illinois General Assembly. A capital bill was expected to be a high priority for the new governor, but not as urgent as ethics reform and the state’s $4-billion deficit.
“We will (pass a capital bill),” said Mr. Quinn, adding that after consulting with legislators, he will present details on the bill to the public on March 18 when he unveils next year’s state budget. He declined to say how big the bill would be or whether it would be financed with tax increases, increased borrowing or a combination of the two.
It will be “pretty big,” he said. “The more we can get, the better.”
* Paying for a “pretty big” capital plan will not be easy, however. There’s no question that we need the plan, but funding it will be excruciatingly unpopular with a recesssion-weary populace…
House Speaker Michael Madigan will support a proposal to raise the existing 19-cent-per-gallon motor fuel tax to 27 cents—a boost that could raise $500 million a year to fund bond payments on a $5.9 billion transportation repair plan, a Madigan spokesman said.
Senate President John Cullerton also told the Chicago Tribune’s editorial board that increased motor fuel taxes and higher vehicle fees should be considered “on the table” for what he called an Illinois “stimulus” package that would fund school construction as well as road and transit projects.
A spokesman for Gov. Pat Quinn said the governor is “keeping all options open as he works to get a clear idea of the state’s finances.” […]
Illinois’ current motor fuel tax rate has been unchanged since 1990.
* The Daily Herald, in typical newspaper style, editorializes that leaders need to make tough choices on the budget, but never suggests a single major choice…
Accountability means our legislators will have to make some hard choices about where to cut state spending. And Quinn needs to show the leadership needed to make those hard choices.
Blah, blah, blah. Step up or shut up.
* Meanwhile, Quinn is showing a surprisingly deft touch so far…
As he sat down in Durbin’s leadership office in the Capitol, Quinn gave his cell phone number to members of the [state’s congressional] delegation, saying, “In the past, I know it was hard for you to reach the governor.”
* And some folksy common sense…
In marked contrast to the style of his predecessor, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn took a United Airlines flight to the nation’s capital to discuss the effects of an economic stimulus plan.
Quinn, who took over last week following the impeachment and removal of Rod Blagojevich from office, flew coach rather than take the state plane, which Blagojevich had an affinity for.
* Also, Levi Moore takes a look at how Quinn might change Illinois government….
Quinn’s challenge is actually an opportunity for the Chicago Tech Community to help itself. Quinn created the Illinois Reform Commission. The commission is asking the public for suggestions as to how to clean-up Illinois government. Suggestions I have heard, include:
* Invalidating existing IT service and other technology-related Master Contracts;
* Pre-qualifying IT companies from a technical capability perspective;
* Creating an easily monitored web-site to preview procurement opportunities and review projects that are being implemented; and
* Overhauling the entire Illinois procurement system.
* And Democratic legislative leaders try to get out in front of the ethics issue…
Leaders in the General Assembly are forming a committee to consider tighter ethics laws.
Senate President John Cullerton and House Speaker Michael Madigan say they’re filing a resolution to create a 16-member commission. […]
But the pair did not endorse more stringent rules on current practices, such as limits on campaign contributions, perhaps the top priority for government-reform groups. Illinois has no limit on the amount of money someone may donate to a politician. […]
The two leaders also directed their lawyers to meet with Gov. Pat Quinn’s new ethics commission to discuss legislation that could require disclosure of investigative reports of government corruption. They also would consider stronger lobbyist “revolving-door” laws and greater protection for whistleblowers.
* Related…
* Top Illinois lawmakers to push ethics reform
* Good-government reformers aim to seize the moment with campaign finance proposal
* Iowa seeks citizen input on state budget
* Go get the Medicaid money: a message to Gov. Quinn
* Update on State Budget Gaps: FY 2009 & FY 2010
* 4-H program faces budget problems
* DNR director hears cries of cronyism
* Attendance down 13 percent at Ill. historic sites
* New governor to take a methodical approach
* Quinn flies ‘economy class’ for trip to D.C.
* State’s new top dog has a watchdog history
* Gov. Quinn meets with Obama, lawmakers in D.C.
* Quinn meets with Obama at White House
* Rockford hopes Alpine patch job will hold
* Officials: Write Quinn letters to help save Pontiac prison
* Letter-writing effort planned to keep prison open
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* Perhaps the most satisfying moment of Rod Blagojevich’s appearance on David Letterman’s show last night was this…
“But I’d like your listeners to know and everybody in Illinois and anyone else who’s listening that unlike those, I’ll be vindicated.” (some audience laughter) “I did nothing wrong.” (audience laughter)
The audience clearly saw him for what he really is. A lying clown.
* Another fine moment…
Dave: “Right now, other people will say, ‘Well, what he’s doing now, he’s working on the jury pool for the spring trial. He’s trying to plead his case, trying to prejudice a group of people so that it will be difficult to get an impartial jury for that trial. Anything?” (audience laughs)
Rod: “No, um - your audience obviously likes you, everything you say, they laugh at. And that wasn’t all that funny, with all due respect.”
Blagojevich was right. This isn’t funny. It’s shameful.
* Nice zinger…
Dave: “So, now, as I recall, there were 13 articles of impeachment leveled against you. So you’re telling me each one of those was a misunderstanding? Each one of those was something out of context?”
59-0. Pretty clear to the rest of us what happened there.
* More…
Blagojevich also mentioned that federal authorities have “been scrutinizing Mayor [Richard] Daley,” a shout-out undoubtedly unwelcome at City Hall.
Hours earlier, Blagojevich said on NBC’s “Today Show” that he had been offered, but rejected, a “ghost payroller” deal to stay on as “an incapacitated governor” if he agreed not to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama. He said he was given the opportunity to “keep my pay for two years, keep my security detail for two years.”
A spokesman for Gov. Pat Quinn said no such deal was offered. Senate President John Cullerton said he doesn’t “know what [Blagojevich] was talking about.” And a spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan said Blagojevich “has no connection to reality and hasn’t for years.”
* After the show…
“He threw a lot of stuff at me and I did the best I could to try to answer it. And his audience loves him and they’re very biased and pro-him,” Blagojevich said after the Letterman taping.
* Related…
* Dave Bakke: Vacant Lincoln Estates residences testament to Blagojevich’s failures
* Job prospects unclear for the ousted Blagojevich
* SJ-R Opinion: Blagojevich is ‘yesterday’s tomatoes’
* Blagojevich tells Letterman he’s misunderstood
* Ex-gov to Letterman: ‘Are you hiring?’
* CBS’ Letterman asks Blagojevich, “Why exactly are you here?” Show transcript.
* Blagojevich stays on the defensive
* Letterman just a guest on the Blago show
* A Top Ten for blabbing Blago
* Blagojevich: ‘The Truth Will Set Me Free’
* Blagojevich, the spoof, debuts in Chicago
* Rod Blagojevich vs. Crispin Glover
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Morning Shorts
Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 - Posted by Mike Murray
* ADDED: Lipinski talks Buy American provision with Lou Dobbs
* FutureGen tangled in stimulus packages
The proposed clean coal technology project reached the top of a House Republican list of “wasteful programs” in the economic stimulus bill now moving through Congress. Some House Republicans claim the plant proposed for construction west of Mattoon was defunded last year by the U.S. Department of Energy “because it said the project was inefficient,” according to a report on CNN.com.
The claim places the energy program with a $2 billion price tag on a long list of political pork projects, which President Barack Obama promised to avoid in the stimulus package.
* Casino proposal may go before Des Plaines plan commission in 6 months
* United reports lower January traffic
* Kraft Foods 4th-quarter profit falls
* Sara Lee posts 2Q loss due to write-down
* 14 want to take the 5th, one stands out
* Quigley slams GOP for failing to support more mass transit funding in stimulus bill
* US Rep. Tim Johnson — Gargantuan spending that won’t work
* DCCC Announces Families First Ad Campaign
* District 150 takes chance on stimulus funds
* In Chicago and elsewhere in Illinois, schools see an oversupply of teachers
* Illinois fails to retain good teachers
* Scott back as school board chief?
Sources said the mayor has decided to team Huberman with the politically-savvy Scott, who resigned in 2006 after five years as board president.
Scott would replace Rufus Williams, who has stepped on toes at the board and City Hall.
Scott is a consummate peacemaker who kept aldermen informed at every turn about decisions that impacted their local schools.
* Housing Preservation Strategy Report
* Hiring victims get tax forms
* Ethics board probing highway OT policies
* Cook’s stealth tax hike
* Sheriff: We can take over forest police
* Cook County sheriff offers to take over patrolling of forest preserves
* City Budget Cuts Effecting Speed Of Ticket Hearings
* Chicago’s ‘Bean’ damaged
Workmen today will begin buffing out graffiti scratched into Millennium Park’s famous bean-like sculpture, Cloud Gate - a defacement that infuriated Mayor Richard Daley.
Hurwitz said the repair work will be done by Hillside-based MTH Industries, which originally welded the stainless steel plates together for the $17 million sculpture
* Daley wants vandals to pay for Bean repair
* Feds say sex offender registries are unreliable, inaccurate
* How the Big Gulp Approach to News Makes Readers Scram
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* I didn’t think he’d pull the trigger, but he apparently will…
Paul Vallas is ready to run again. “Cook County is broken, and I like fixing things that are broken.”
The speed-talking, reform-minded maverick who was CEO of Chicago Public Schools under Mayor Daley, then lost the 2002 gubernatorial primary to Rod Blagojevich by just 25,000 votes, went on to make a national name rescuing school districts in Philadelphia and New Orleans.
Now, he told the Chicago Sun-Times, he is coming home for good at the end of the year to run for president of the Cook County Board in 2010.
Not as a Democrat, which he has been all his life, but as a Republican.
Go read the whole thing. Interesting column by Marin.
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