This just in…
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* 2:24 pm - House Speaker Michael Madigan has just informed the House that he will call them into session beyond tomorrow’s scheduled adjournment if the Senate passes the constitutional amendment for recall on Thursday. Members are wondering if they need to be in town before the final 3rd Reading vote. It appears, of course, that they do.
Madigan was asked whether he would propose any amendments to the Senate proposal. He said he didn’t plan to do so, but he didn’t know what the sponsor - who will likely be Rep. Jack Franks - will do.
Madigan pointed out that if this proposed constitutional amendment is amended in the House, then it would have to be read three times in each chamber again. Sunday is the deadline to get the measure on the November ballot.
*** 2:25 pm *** Madigan was just asked by Rep. Ken Dunkin (D-Chicago) why this proposal has become such a high priority. Madigan replied that, at least among House members, “This has become such a priority because of Governor Blagojevich.”
Ouch.
* 2:39 pm - Rep. Jack Franks spoke to reporters a short time ago about the Senate’s recall proposal, which he calls “a better bill” than his own. He said he won’t amend the bill. Here’s the audio….
[audio:Franks.mp3]
[If the audio player isn’t working for you, click here to download the mp3 file.]
* 2:43 pm - John Patterson at the Daily Herald no longer has a “bloggy type thing.” He’s got a real blog now with comments and everything. His latest post…
A “deal” on what supporters call major ethics legislation was supposed to be announced at 1 p.m. at the Capitol. But that announcement has now been pushed back to 4:30 p.m.
Some Republican supporters weren’t informed of the delay by the Democrats — who run the show in Springfield.
The GOP’s initial reaction was not a positive one.
Now the question is whether the delay is procedural or fatal.
…Adding… Rep. Fritchey just said that the ethics deal is still a deal. He’ll be holding a press conference with Sen. Harmon, House GOP Leader Cross and others at 4:30 this afternoon. The 1 pm press conference unveiling the deal was delayed so Fritchey could make extra sure that the deal was really a deal.
* 3:03 pm - The SJ-R has more…
Sen. Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, said details of the ethics package wil be released later today.
He described the latest version as taking the best elements of separate House and Senate proposals that were both aimed at banning campaign contributions from contractors who do business with the state.
* 3:26 pm - With about an hour to go before the press conference, negotiators are still “tweaking” the compromise ethics bill. So, things could still go wrong, but the train appears mostly on track.
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A complete lack of trust
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* One thing I hear a lot from the governor’s allies and flaks is, “I don’t know why you don’t trust us.” I usually just chuckle and walk away, but they do need to be reminded of the depth of mistrust they sow on an almost hourly basis…
Earlier this year, lawmakers passed a mass transit funding law that promised more money for downstate bus and public transportation systems.
They are still waiting on the money.
As part of the Chicago transit bailout law approved in January, lawmakers also threw in $50 million in new funding for downstate systems with the goal of boosting the amount the state reimburses them for expenses from 55 percent to 65 percent.
The increase would allow some existing downstate transit systems to expand their routes and services and would enable other communities to create new systems in areas that aren’t served by public transportation. […]
When asked on Tuesday about the status of the proposed funding, Katherine Ridgway, a spokeswoman for Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s Office of Management and Budget, would only say the administration is reviewing the numbers.
* The Blagojevich administration has been pulling stuff like this since Day One. Last year wasn’t the first time a budget deal was broken. Blagojevich broke one in the summer of 2003 - his first year in office. The governor negotiated and agreed to a budget and then vetoed out a bunch of stuff after the GA had passed the legislation and left town.
It’s been all downhill since then.
* The big issue now is the capital plan. Last year, the governor vetoed almost all House Democratic line items from the budget, and, as you are well aware, the Senate refused to override the vetoes. Now, the governor believes that the House Dems should just trust him to sign a capital bill without changes and distribute the funds in an even-handed manner.
“Oh, sure we’ll do it,” they always say, with a dismissive wave of the hand. “He’ll have our word.”
And that word means what, exactly?
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Ozinga claims to raise big bucks
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* This first bit isn’t huge news because he’s had a virtual lock on the slot for weeks…
Martin Ozinga III will end weeks of speculation and officially kick off his campaign at 11:30 a.m. today as the Republican candidate in the 11th Congressional District.
* But a new e-mail from Ozinga’s campaign is interesting…
Marty Ozinga announced today, 4/30, that he has raised $408,235 from nearly 300 contributors since he began raising money at the beginning of April. The total above does not reflect any personal contributions made by Marty himself.
* Early fundraising is usually the easiest because the cash is often from friends and family. We also don’t know how many of those early conributors maxed out, and, therefore, will not be allowed to contribute again.
* Halvorson has been raising money as well…
From Jan. 17 through the end of March, Halvorson raised a net $432,970 and ended the period with cash reserves of $673,023.
Ozinga has said that he won’t put in more than $350,000 of his own cash, beyond that level would allow his opponent Debbie Halvorson to accept larger campaign checks.
…Adding… There’s some useful info in this Associated Press story…
“My life, both in work and in community and in my family, is all based on a simple philosophical foundation that I exist first of all to honor and glorify God and then secondly to serve the crown of his creation which is our fellow man,” Ozinga said. […]
On the issues, Ozinga said he opposes raising taxes and supports President Bush’s tax cuts. With motorists besieged by skyrocketing gasoline prices, Ozinga said the country needs to work hard at promoting the research and development of alternative energy sources, everything from nuclear power to clean coal technology.
He calls the Iraq war “a frustration and a disappointment that we’ve been there for so long.” He said there needs to be timelines for the Iraqi government to show improvement, but not timetables for what the American military does in that country.
“I would bring the troops home when we win, meaning when we accomplish our … goals,” Ozinga said, adding he would rely on the advice of military commanders there.
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[The following is a paid advertisement.]
AT&T has been introducing its cable alternative, a cutting-edge service called U-verse, in parts of Illinois since January. Thanks to the support of Attorney General Madigan and General Assembly members who fought for the Cable and Video Competition Law, consumers in Illinois are beginning to enjoy the benefits of competition.
Senator Clayborne and Representative Brosnahan sponsored this because people were tired of annual rate increases and poor customer service with few alternatives. They, along with Senate President Jones and House Speaker Madigan, understood this was an important vote for our consumers and our economy
Since it was signed by Governor Blagojevich on June 30, 2007, AT&T has created more than 1,400 Illinois jobs related to U-verse’s rollout. They have also started on a more than $1.3 billion investment plan in its Illinois network over the next several years to bring new services, including state-of-the-art television, to consumers. AT&T has consistently rolled out new services to as many customers as possible - as quickly as possible. AT&T is working hard to deliver on that promise with U-verse, which is currently available in parts of more than 230 communities.
This legislative collaboration is convincing evidence that the public and the private sector can create a framework that encourages investment and innovation at a time when our economy can certainly use a boost.
AT&T has clearly demonstrated it’s committed to connecting people to their world. These connections are made possible thanks to elected officials who’ve created a new era of opportunity in Illinois.
More info here.
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Here we go…
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The push is on…
The leader of the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority said Tuesday that the agency has solved a seemingly intractable puzzle: How to purchase and renovate Wrigley Field without using any state or local tax dollars.
“We are working on a proposal to present to Tribune Co. that will allow ISFA to acquire and fully restore Wrigley Field, as well as add parking and neighborhood improvements, without using any public tax money, either state or local,” said former Gov. James Thompson, chairman of the agency.
The bid will be delivered “shortly,” Thompson said.
* So, how will it be financed?
[Thompson] would only say what the new plan would not include: “No PSLs [personal seat licenses] . . . No sales tax. No amusement tax. No McCormick Place [restaurant] tax. No taxes of any kind. I know that will disappoint the Sun-Times editorial board. But it’s the best I can do,” he said.
“Obviously, a deal done without tax money has a better chance of being approved than a deal based on tax money. Now the Sun-Times editorial board will be for it, right?”
Even if no tax money is directly used, the impact on state and local tax coffers should also be examined. Zell is a financial wizard when it comes to taxes and Mother Tribune is no slouch either. Will this involve some sort of tax break for Zell?
* Thompson did offer this hint…
Thompson hesitated when asked if his new plan would rely on the controversial sale of naming rights to the 94-year-old shrine of Major League Baseball.
Tribune CEO Sam Zell’s plan to sell naming rights to Wrigley to generate as much as $400 million over 20 years has met with stiff resistance from baseball purists and die-hard Cub fans. “I would say yes. But we would look for a naming rights deal that does not displace Wrigley Field.'’
I’m not sure what that means, exactly, but there will be a real problem convincing legislators to vote for a bill that would change the name or look of Wrigley Field.
* Thompson wouldn’t say how much the state would offer to pay for the decrepit ball park, but he did manage an Olympics tie-in, which is something that everybody is doing in Chicago these days…
Getting a deal done “will show the Olympic committee that we know how to do these things in Chicago,” [Thompson] said.
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Recall Roundup
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I live-blogged this yesterday, so let’s do a quick wrap-up of what we already know and move from there…
Senate Democrats on Tuesday advanced their own version of a proposal to let voters remove the governor and other elected officials, a move critics said was aimed at throwing the recall effort off track by running out the clock.
The competing Senate recall legislation would add local officials such as judges, mayors and county board presidents to the public servants who could be booted.
It also would require both the governor and lieutenant governor to be recalled together rather than just one or the other. That’s because they run together as a team in general elections, said Sen. Rickey Hendon (D-Chicago), the new plan’s architect.
* Quinn’s reaction…
Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, a Blagojevich critic and a strong proponent of the recall measure, criticized that provision in committee testimony. “I don’t believe I should have my record judged'’ based on the governor’s record, Quinn said. But he supported the measure anyway, calling it “a moment in history'’ for Illinois.
* There’s no guarantee yet that this will pass…
All 22 Senate Republicans figure to support the plan. But the question will be if or how hard Jones works to keep at least 14 of his members off the ballot initiative to keep it from getting the necessary 36 votes to move to the House.
* And there’s also a disagreement on when Gov. Blagojevich might be recalled if the voters approve it in November…
…the soonest Blagojevich could be recalled would be the 2010 primary, said Sen. Dan Cronin (R-Elmhurst), the amendment’s chief Senate sponsor.
Quinn, however, said a gubernatorial recall could occur as early as “late summer or early fall” of next year.
* There is some hope among Blagojevich allies that this recall proposal might lance the boil and stop or slow talk of impeachment, and Quinn seems to be helping that along…
Despite allegations of potential wrongdoing, it’s too early to launch impeachment proceedings against Gov. Rod Blagojevich, his running mate said Tuesday.
As talk of impeachment echoes through the Statehouse, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn said he’d rather see the state Senate give voters the opportunity to recall elected officials.
“I think its time to trust the people,” Quinn said.
* On a related note, Michigan has a recall law, and some angry voters in that troubled state are raising money and organizing to recall the House Speaker and other state legislators….
A group aiming to recall state lawmakers for approving tax increases reports raising more than $100,000 since late October.
The recall effort recently has focused on House Speaker Andy Dillon, a Democrat from Wayne County’s Redford Township.
* There’s also a recall move against Detroit’s mayor…
Wayne County officials approved language for a recall campaign against Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, green-lighting the second effort to oust him since the $8.4 million whistle-blower scandal broke this year.
* The Senate’s somewhat about-face on recall was due in no small part to exploding voter anger. And that helps explain why a constitutional amendment to do away with the state’s flat-tax mandate failed so miserably yesterday. Here are a bunch of stories on that front…
* Illinois Senate rejects sliding income tax proposal
* Legislators reject possible tax overhaul
* Senate rejects income tax amendment
* Senate Dems Chicken Out on Income Tax Hike Measure
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Witness: Rezko shared cash with Blagojevich
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Take some caution with this one…
Tony Rezko asked an official in Gov. Blagojevich’s administration to pay him $25,000 so Rezko could use the money to keep construction contractors from putting a lien on the governor’s home, federal prosecutors said in court today.
Prosecutors got a judge’s OK for Ali Ata — former executive director of the Illinois Finance Authority — to be allowed to tell jurors in Rezko’s corruption trial about the cash payments.
Rezko told Ata “this is going to be embarrassing to him [Blagojevich]” if the contractors put a lien on Blagojevich’s Ravenswood Manor home, Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Hamilton told U.S. District Judge Amy J. St. Eve.
* The reasons you should be careful about assuming too much are several-fold, including this one…
“Ata claims that he gave or lent cash to Rezko on four or five occasions . . . and estimates the total cash disbursements amounted to $125,000,” Rezko’s lawyers wrote. “Ata alternatively stated he did not know what the cash was for, then proceeds to say he supplied $25,000 in cash to pay certain contractors who were threatening to put a lien on another individual’s [Blagojevich’s] home.
“Ata recounted these alleged cash transactions in a suspiciously dramatic way, including meetings on ‘narrow streets’ in Chicago with ‘black plastic bags’ of cash.”
First, this is Tony Rezko allegedly telling Ata why he wanted the money. We don’t know if Rezko told the truth to Ata or if Ata concocted the story to help hi stay out of prison. And even if Rezko did tell the truth, there’s no guarantee that Blagojevich knew about it.
* But the judge will allow the testimony…
[Judge St. Eve] said such testimony was relevant because it showed the relations between Ata, Rezko and Kelly.
She did bar the prosecutors, however, from bringing in such atmospheric embellishments as “black plastic bags” and “narrow streets.”
* And, of course, there’s more…
Prosecutors said Ata will say Rezko extracted four bribes from him, including the one to avert the lien. Another involved a $50,000 payment that Rezko allegedly said was destined for Blagojevich fundraiser Chris Kelly.
Ata said the money was passed in cloak-and-dagger fashion as he and Rezko drove to Kelly’s house in the southwest suburbs. “The cash is in the car when they go down there,” Hamilton said. “And when they leave Mr. Kelly’s house, the money isn’t there any more.”
Kelly, who faces criminal charges in an unrelated case, denied the allegations through his lawyer. “If Mr. Ata is saying he gave large amounts of cash to Mr. Kelly for political purposes or to get some state position, that is simply incorrect,” said Michael Monico, Kelly’s attorney.
Notice there was no denial that Kelly might have received cash for other purposes.
* And the governor’s statement…
“We can’t comment on alleged conversations that the governor was not a party to,” spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff said today. “As we said last year, the Blagojeviches personally paid for the work to renovate their 14-by-20 family room out of their checking account.”
Man, this is crazy stuff.
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Morning Shorts
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning
* State may sue school in sex harassment case
An order by the state Human Rights Commission paves the way for Attorney General Lisa Madigan to sue Loop Lab School for $40,000 that the school and a former official owe an ex-teacher who was sexually harassed on the job.
* Option 5: Garfield Park
* NIU won’t raze Cole Hall
* 450 U of I Extension jobs on the chopping block
“If I lose my job, I’ll lose a job I love, and very few people can really say that and mean it,” Nelson said. “I am angry and upset that what’s happening politically is affecting my personal career choices and my personal passion.”
* Parking cops on booting binge
At least 1,500 more parking ticket scofflaws and red-light runners have had their vehicles booted — and 12,000 more Chicago parking tickets have been written — in the first three months of a $1.5 million technology upgrade.
* Cook County Realtor hired by Stroger demoted after questions of his qualifications
* Stroger to skip Palatine secession meeting
Citing “political grandstanding by village council members,” Cook County Board President Todd Stroger said Tuesday he would not attend a meeting in Palatine on Wednesday night scheduled to discuss county services provided to residents.
* No-show Stroger’s disdain for suburbs
* Cook Co.’s public defender fights to keep his position
* Media take R. Kelly appeal to Illinois Supreme Court
* City receives $153M in federal funds for traffic
* ID law disenfranchises voters
* Medill’s dean says he made a mistake
* Fremd High takes top honors in state journalism competition
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this just in…
Tuesday, Apr 29, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* 4:45 pm - The Senate Dems have come up with their own recall proposal. SJRCA 70 adds judges and local officials to the pool of recallable politicos. That’s considered a poison pill. Senate Exec is meeting at 5:30 to take up the proposal and then the full Senate will reconvene tonight.
Also today, a con amend proposal to do away with the flat rate income tax received just 19 votes in the Senate. And another con amend in the House to change redistricting passed by a large margin.
*** 4:56 pm *** Also in the Senate’s recall proposal is a provision that would tie the Lt Governor’s fate to the guv So if the guv is recalled Pat Quinn would go down with him. Ouch.
*** 5:33 pm *** Oh this is rich. The SDems have attached this con amend to a bill that’s on first reading. Bottom line is even if it passes it’s highly unlikely if not downright impossible to pass this in the House by the final deadline. So this proposal is purely an empty gesture. They get to vote on something that will never be on the ballot.
*** 5:54 pm *** HOLD EVERYTHING *** A spokesman for Speaker Madigan just said that the House is prepared to stay in session to get this Senate constitutional amendment on the ballot if the Senate passes this SJRCA in a timely manner.
In other words, the bluff has been called.
*** 6:18 pm *** LG Quinn just said that this was a “good” proposal.
*** 6:35 pm *** SJRCA 70 Amendment 1 passed SExec 12-1. Pres. jones was the only no. The full Senate will now reconvene and vote on the amendment to the con amendment. tonight tomorrow.
*** 7:07pm *** If this does pass the Senate Thursday, the House apparently will have to pass it “as is.”
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No comment
Tuesday, Apr 29, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I just don’t know what to say about this…
“Weird Al” Yankovic and Huey Lewis & the News will perform at the 2008 Illinois State Fair, according to the performers’ Web sites, and the Grandstand lineup will be confirmed Thursday.
Yankovic is scheduled to perform Saturday, Aug. 9, and Lewis on Sunday, Aug. 10. The Web sites say only that the performances will be at the fairgrounds, but these probably will be Grandstand shows.
Words fail me.
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Must-See Video
Tuesday, Apr 29, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Click on the pic to see how a St. Louis TV reporter learns firsthand the occupational hazards of covering Gov. Rod Blagojevich…
Watch your step, dude.
…Adding… The governor’s office claims Blagojevich took questions from reporters during that St. Louis-area visit for 20 minutes and the above reporter never asked his question.
It still makes me chuckle because I know the feeling the story evokes, even if the piece itself is possibly disingenuous.
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Question of the day
Tuesday, Apr 29, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* As I’ve told you before, the Illinois Constitution lays down no set parameters for impeachment, except that it requires 60 votes in the House. But if someone is impeached they then proceed to an eventual trial in the Senate presided over by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, so there probably ought to be grounds other than the “We don’t need a reason, we just need the votes” argument.
* Question: What do you think ought to be the minimal requirements for impeachment of a governor?
* As a bonus question, should any impeachment occur during a criminal investigation, or should the General Assembly allow those investigations to run their course before acting?
By the way, this is not a question about whether Gov. Blagojevich should or should not be hauled before the House and Senate. It’s about the concept.
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* After our often heated and quite wonky critique of the State Board of Elections’ website yesterday, some of the problems appear to have been fixed, at least for now. I played with the site this morning and didn’t get any error messages or timeout warnings. That’s a very good thing. They also seem to have cleaned up the site a bit.
Now, if they would just enable tabbed browsing and add RSS feeds to candidate filings, campaign disclosure reports, etc. they’d be well on their way to entering the 21st Century. 
No website is perfect. This one certainly isn’t (I still haven’t been able to get swf files to play properly here, which led to temporarily replacing that Auto Alliance ad yesterday with a jpg file). But lots of us rely on the Board of Elections’ site every day, often multiple times a day, and that clunky code was driving many of us up the wall, as the volume of comments showed yesterday.
* Anyway, I thought you might like a chance to thank the Board for quickly addressing some of their most egregious problems and perhaps politely suggest ways to make the site even better.
…Adding… C’mon, people. We all whacked them but good yesterday. A kind word and a helpful suggestion is too much to ask?
*** UPDATE *** Well, I may have spoken too soon. A commenter pointed out that the committee search in the campaign disclosure reports is still broken. I checked and the commenter appears to be half right. If you click the “search” button, the search works. If you just hit “return” on your keyboard, you get this result…
Unable to retreive a list of documents for the specified query:Incorrect syntax near ‘'’. Expected ‘!’, ‘(’, NOT, ISABOUT, FORMSOF, STRING, PREFIX_STRING. SQLSTATE=42000
The site is still better than yesterday - by leaps and bounds - but there are some remaining bugs.
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Expensive tastes
Tuesday, Apr 29, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Mick Dumke has compiled an astonishing list of Chicago judgement and settlement payouts just since the beginning of this year…
$15 million (with another $35 million coming from insurers) to settle suits from the 2003 fire in the Cook County Administration building that left six people dead;
$12 million dispersed to victims of the Daley administration’s patronage system;
$11 million to pay off a Millennium Park contractor fired several years ago for not working fast enough;
$13 million so far to victims of abuse under former police Commander Jon Burge;
$2.7 million in January to settle various suits over police misconduct, traffic accidents, and citizens’ “animal loss.”
In case you lost count, that’s $53.7 million just this year. The total judgments and settlements for all of last year was $47 million. In 2006, the total was $49 million. And in 2005 it was $34 million.
Chicago is on a roll, baby, and nothing changes…
Sneed has learned Ald. Ed Burke plans to introduce a City Council ordinance demanding the mandatory sterilization of any dog or cat over 6 months old living in Chicago.
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Gloom and doom
Tuesday, Apr 29, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The problem…
[Illinois] State government collected just less than $9 million in horse racing tax revenue last year. That’s down 14 percent from 2006 and only a fraction of the $40-plus million a year collected throughout the 1990s.
* A proposed solution…
It’s actually unclear whether Internet betting is illegal under Illinois law, but tracks aren’t willing to press their luck because a 2000 attorney general opinion noted state law doesn’t expressly authorize it.
Now some lawmakers are trying to help Arlington and other tracks by setting up a licensing system for [advance deposit wagering] vendors, with profit-sharing guidelines to keep more betting money in Illinois and ensure owners, horsemen and the state get their share.
“It’s not something that we love to see, but we have no choice but to get it for our tracks,” said Rep. Bob Molaro, the Chicago Democrat pushing the idea in the House. “We have to do this to survive.”
* This idea has been shot down before, and the horsemen aren’t thrilled with it…
Steve Brubaker of the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association said his members worry the new betting system might not bring in new patrons and could let track owners take even more purse money at horsemen’s expense.
* And the proposal is coming at a time of extreme legislative gridlock…
At the beginning of the year, Republicans and Democrats alike talked highly of spending $25 billion to fix roads, bridges and schools, as well as put thousands to work.
But as April comes to an end and lawmakers are scheduled to have a state budget done by the end of May, some have seen that optimism diminish.
‘’I don’t feel as good now as when I first came in,'’ state Sen. Gary Forby, D-Benton, said of the prospects of such a plan.
State Rep. Patrick Verschoore, D-Milan, said he felt good in January about the chances to get construction money. But the past several months have brought more infighting among Democrats who control state government and have the most power to shape such a plan.
* And…
Illinois won’t have passed a budget by the end of May, state Sen. Dan Rutherford predicted today to a Pontiac audience… No capital-improvements bill will be passed by the General Assembly, he also predicted.
* But there are lots of pressures on lawmakers to at least try and get something done. For instance…
The Lawrence County Soil & Water Conservation District closes its doors today, “The district will continue to operate as a Soil & Water Conservation district but will have no staff available to work with landowners,” says Rich Nichols, the executive director of the Associatio of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
Nichols says there are already waiting lists for programs those districts provide, “Which means we anticipate there’ll be quite a bit of federal money returned. It just will not be able to be spend.”
So, your guess is as good as mine. Go ahead an make your guesses in comments.
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We need something better
Tuesday, Apr 29, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* This is yet another good reason to hold a constitutional convention. The completely bungled legislative redistricting language in the current document…
The framers of the 1970 Illinois Constitution thought they had devised a way to force bipartisanship on the contentious issue of redrawing legislative district maps every 10 years. If the governor and General Assembly couldn’t agree on a map, the job would fall to an eight-member commission of four Democrats and four Republicans.
Except it never worked out that way. In the 1981, 1991 and 2001 remap efforts, both parties decided to play “chicken” instead of working out a deal. They allowed a drawing to determine which side would draw the maps.
* As the editorial notes, there is a constitutional amendment in the hopper right now to address this issue…
The amendment, sponsored by James Brosnahan, D-Evergreen Park, would do away with the lottery as a tiebreaker. If the legislature is unable to reach a compromise, the job would go to a special master or masters appointed by the chief justice of the Illinois Supreme Court and a justice from the other political party.
But why allow the incuments to draw their maps in the first place? Even if this does encourage bipartisan compromise, that means even more incumbent protections. The maps should be drawn by computer, like Iowa does, and we wouldn’t have goofy-looking districts intended to keep people in power.
Look at Iowa’s maps. Now, look at Illinois‘.
* More Con-Con stuff…
* Con Con Considerations: Party Affiliation
* Income tax vote expected
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Impeach, ethics and Campaign 2010
Tuesday, Apr 29, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* We’re not sayin’, we’re just sayin’…
Impeachment, rather than recall, would be the better option to pursue if people think that Gov. Rod Blagojevich should be ousted from office, two Democratic state senators said Monday.
Sens. Mike Frerichs of Gifford and Kwame Raoul of Chicago made it clear, though, that they’re not saying the governor ought to be impeached.
“If you have a problem and if it has to do with dereliction of duty, you know, that (impeachment) is the route to take,” Raoul said.
* Meanwhile, the great game continues on the ethics bill…
Illinois lawmakers are close to an agreement to outlaw “pay-to-play” politics — an agreement that may include an unusual public vow that the Legislature will override any attempt by Gov. Rod Blagojevich to change the bill.
A Blagojevich spokeswoman hinted on Monday that the governor might, in fact, change the bill by “amendatorily” vetoing it. The governor says it doesn’t go far enough — a stance his critics allege is designed to prevent any reform at all from passing. […]
“I want a public statement from Senate leadership that there will be … an override of any veto of the bill,” said Fritchey, who believes Blagojevich may use his amendatory veto powers to stall the reforms.
Sen. Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, the lead Senate negotiator on the issue, confirmed that the negotiations included a “mutual understanding” on how to respond to a gubernatorial veto.
It’s not difficult to understand why Fritchey would want such a public vow. The broken promise on last year’s budget deal has completed poisoned the Statehouse waters, and those who believe that Senate President Emil Jones would just go along with the governor again and not override a veto - which would kill the bill - are well within their rights.
* Speaking of ethics, this press release just landed in my in-box…
A university professor who aced an ethics test has won a legal battle with state officials who wanted him punished for completing the written exam too quickly.
A settlement agreement has been reached between the state and Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC) professor, Marvin Zeman… The settlement agreement states that Zeman and Wallis read and understood the material and successfully passed the test when they originally took it in 2006.
What a stupid thing to punish college professors for understanding the ethics materials too well.
* Comptroller Dan Hynes is keeping up the drumbeat…
“For a long time, this state has been without effective leadership out of the executive office. Now, at the worst time possible, we have an administration that is retrenched and in hiding. Our deficit is growing, our bills are mounting, our roads are crumbling, hospitals are closing, revenues are disappearing and our governor is hiding,” Hynes said.
* My intern asked me yesterday when the 2010 campaign would kick off. I said it already has. Petition filing for the primary begins in something like 16 months. Hence, the Hynes statewide tour and, possibly, Paul Vallas’ return visit to Chicago…
Illinois Democrats are already looking past Gov. Rod Blagojevich and to the future. Paul Vallas, who lost to Blagojevich by a scant 21,000 votes in 2002, is back.
As CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery reports, Vallas looks like he’s getting ready to run again.
A standing ovation greeted Vallas Monday at a City Club luncheon. The former chief executive of the Chicago Public Schools, who now runs the system in New Orleans, used the forum to send the strongest signals yet that he wants to replace Blagojevich as governor of Illinois.
Vallas told the crowd he plans to work in New Orleans only one more year. He said he’s now a commuter, and that he and his wife, Sharon, moved with their children to a home in the southwest suburbs last summer.
He’ll be starting with a very big disadvantage if he waits until next May to begin campaigning and raising the big bucks. There are reports floating around that he wants to the education job if Obama wins the presidency, and this is his way of putting pressure on Obama, who would likely support Alexi Giannoulias for the governor’s job.
* More reform and renewal…
* Vallas re-run would be a mistake
* ‘Fitzgerald would be terminated’
* Witness: Hastert linked to alleged plot to dump Fitzgerald
* Hastert’s Name Comes Up in Rezko Trial
* Hastert Named In Alleged Scheme To Oust Fitzgerald
* Second witness refers to hint of Fitzgerald ouster
* Witness: Rezko said ‘Fitzgerald would be eliminated’
* Rezko Quoted As Saying Prosecutor Would Be Replaced
* Obama to donate funds received from Rezko friend
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This just in…
Monday, Apr 28, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* 11:04 am - From the SJ-R…
Senate President Emil Jones won’t be part of the lawsuit over Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s authority to set both the date and time of special sessions.
Sangamon County Judge Leo Zappa Monday decided to limit the lawsuit to House Speaker Michael Madigan while acknowledging that any decision will affect the Senate as well as the House. Zappa said adding Jones to the lawsuit could result in more delays and the proceeding could end up a “circus.”
Zappa also refused to dismiss the lawsuit, ordering lawyers for Blagojevich and Madigan to be ready to argue the case May 13.
No offense, but it’s already a “circus,” judge.
* 12:17 pm - Rezko allegedly talked big…
Tony Rezko associate Elie Maloof just testified that when he received a grand jury subpoena, Rezko told him not to talk to the feds. Why?
“The federal prosecutor will no longer be the same federal prosecutor,” Maloof just testified that Rezko told him. What did Rezko mean, prosecutor Chris Niewoehner asked. “That Patrick Fitzgerald would be terminated and Dennis Hastert will name his replacement. The investigation will be over.”
Maloof said Rezko told him of Fitzgerald’s replacement: “That they will order the prosecutor to stop the investigation.” […]
Maloof also testified that Rezko told him not to bring up his name to prosecutors because it would only link to Gov. Blagojevich.
* 5:21 pm - Once again, Paul Vallas dangles a candidacy, saying he “would be open” to exploring a bid for governor…
But before Vallas’ admirers rush him with encouragement to make another attempt at the state’s highest office, Vallas cautioned that it would be next year before he would seriously entertain such a notion – or any other future job prospect. Vallas is now entering his second year as head of the state-run Recovery School District in New Orleans, and his contract does not expire until June 2009.
“I’d be open to running again, but we’ll have to see what happens,” Vallas told reporters after speaking to a luncheon crowd at the City Club of Chicago.
Vallas’ appearance at the City Club aroused thoughts that he might consider public office again in Illinois. Vallas did little to tamp down that speculation. He stuck strictly to education in his speech, but when questions from audience members and reporters flew his way about again seeking public office, Vallas said three times that one should “never say never” about such a prospect.
He even mused he could raise money this time in a more “non-traditional fashion,” such as over the Internet. He noted that he only raised $2.25 million overall for his gubernatorial bid in 2002 and that raising substantial political funds has been a personal shortcoming.
* The Sun-Times has more…
“While some people have been dodging indictments, I’ve been running a school district,” Vallas said at one point. […]
Given that Democrats now claim majorities in both legislative chambers and hold the governor’s seat, “You would think that would give you the opportunity to really get things done,” Vallas said. “There’s been a lot of opportunities that have been squandered.”
“I think I feel the same way a lot of residents feel. I feel frustrated and angry. Look, I think I could have made a difference. Clearly I could have gotten along with the Legislature much better,” Vallas said.
“I’d be open to running again, but right now I wouldn’t make a decision until after the first of the year,” said Vallas, who won an unusual standing ovation before he even began speaking.
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Your assignment for today *** UPDATED X4 ***
Monday, Apr 28, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
[Note: I’m going to keep this post at or near the top for most of the day because this problem absolutely has to be addressed.]
* Head over to the State Board of Elections’ website and try to look up a few candidate filings and campaign contributions.
I was supposed to go over to the State Board myself and tell them how badly they screwed up their website, but I just don’t have time to hold their little hands through this disaster. I sent an admittedly snippy e-mail to their webmaster after attempting numerous times - without success - to access a simple candidate filing and got an (understandably) snippy response (considering my subject line was: “You really screwed up your website”), along with this kicker…
I looked over and tested just about everything and it all seems to be in working condition.
Apparently, this person has no clue. I am repeatedly getting two error messages…
* One of those error messages reads, in part: “Your session has expired or you need to enable cookies on your web browser settings.”
Why would my session have to expire? Why would the State Board care? Also, cookies are enabled on my browser, so I don’t get it.
* The other common message reads: “Unexpected errors occurred trying to switch to next page.”
I am constantly getting this message on my Firefox browser. The error page claims that the Board has been “automatically notified of these errors,” yet the webmaster claims all is hunky dory.
Wrong.
They broke their site. Plain and simple.
Leave your own critiques in comments.
*** ADDING *** Please be specific. Most of us already know the Board’s site is a horror show. Don’t just vent. Point to specific error messages or problems you are having. Otherwise, your comment is worthless. Thanks much.
*** UPDATE 1 *** IlliniPundit weighs in…
One of the big problems with campaign finance in Illinos is that the State Board of Elections collects a bunch of data, but they make it as inconvenient as possible for the public and press to access the data and pass it around.
More ease of use and convenience and greater public and media access to the data would do more to clean up Illinois politics than an ineffective feel-good measure like a contribution ban, yet nobody talks about how badly the State Board of Elections is screwing this up.
Their site is so broken that they’re basically hiding campaign finance data from the very people they’re supposed to be working for.
*** UPDATE 2 *** I should have mentioned this at the top, but the inability to open links in new tabs or windows is absolutely insane. Why would the Board want to keep people from using basic Internet browser functions? Outmoded and completely ridiculous.
*** UPDATE 3 *** Ben at TwoKings has more…
I won’t even get started with the design issues. I could put up with the bad design if it was functional and smooth, and easy to interact with.
One of the biggest issues is that at times, when searching for various forms and pieces of data, you get various error messages. I’ve found that refreshing/reloading the browser can sometimes get you past the error message, but it is still a pain. The frustrating thing for me is that I’ve even had a hard time replicating the error. It seems, at least, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.
The second biggest issue I’ve had relates to browsing and navigation. Almost all of the internal navigation seems to rely on javascript. Javascript can be a useful tool, when used in moderation. However, it’s rarely a good tool for navigation. One reason is that it takes away certain tools that most users are comfortable with and used to. For example, you can’t right click a javascript link to open the link in a new window. Sometimes I like to use that feature. Okay, I often like to use that feature.
*** UPDATE 4 *** Elections Board executive director Dan White just sent me this e-mail…
In response to comments about problems with the SBE website, we hear them, we are aware of these issues and are working hard to establish both near term and long term solutions. Suggestions are always welcome and we continue to incorporate constructive recommendations to improve the website. Our goal is to provide access and avaiability to all of the thousands of users who rely on our information systems. As with any new system, there are new problems and issues to be addressed and resolved. Please continue to comment and utilize our website.
We will have significant improvements in place shortly and we look for your comments as we continue to implement these changes.
Thank you,
Dan White
Executive Director
I’m not holding my breath. We were promised a great, new website over a year ago (right around the time of my 2006 holiday party), and what we got was a giant pile of garbage. They need a new tech team.
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Question of the day
Monday, Apr 28, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Remember this line from Gov. Blagojevich last week?
“When you’re elected governor, it’s not like you get the chance to go to governor’s school,” he said, adding, “They don’t have a school for new governors, you just sort of have to figure out how to do the job.”
* Well, actually, that’s not true. Shortly after Blagojevich was first elected in 2002, the National Governors Association held a training session for newly elected governors…
For Immediate Release
Friday, November 15, 2002
Governor-Elect Jim Doyle and his wife Jessica Doyle will attend a New Governors Training Session hosted by the National Governors’ Association (NGA) this weekend in Austin, Texas.
The training is a chance for the 20 new governors and their spouses to meet with the sitting governors and hear first hand about being a governor. Among the sessions offered for the new governors will be seminars on staffing, budgeting, working with the legislature, and the popular session, “What I wish I would have known when I started” where sitting governors talk about lessons they have learned in office.
The NGA encourages governors to leave their campaigns at the door, and participate in bi-partisan discussions with their colleagues who are there to help offer advice and answer questions.
* Question: What courses would you design for Gov. Blagojevich’s “school”?
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Oy
Monday, Apr 28, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* CTA riders may be squeezed for more cash…
CTA President Ron Huberman can’t rule out higher fares next year, given the high cost of fuel and the expense of the free rides for seniors program.
“Fuel costs are exploding,” Huberman said. He also noted that the free rides program, which began March 17, looks like it will be a “pretty expensive venture.”
I don’t know whether Huberman is just trying to shift blame on the free rides for seniors program, but Blagojevich is a handy punching bag these days so it’s easy to blame him for just about everything.
* Higher energy prices mean a lot of people owe a ton of money for their heating bills…
Hundreds of thousands of utility customers are at risk of disconnections as the sagging economy drives up the number of past-due home heating bills and the amounts owed, utility companies in cold-weather states say.
Xcel Energy says 17%-19% of its 1.1 million Minnesota customers and its 280,000 Wisconsin customers are in arrears. That’s about the same as a year ago, but balances owed are up 10% in Minnesota and up 20% in Wisconsin, says Pat Boland, Xcel’s credit policy manager.
* Meanwhile, one of the dominant players in the state’s payday loan industry has found a loophole to get around a state law that capped interest rates…
When a law governing payday loans took effect more than two years ago, Illinois officials ballyhooed the millions of dollars saved and the burdens lifted for cash-strapped borrowers.
But consumer advocates say a major player in the loan industry has used a loophole in the law to shift customers to loans with no caps on interest rates, allowing them to charge an average 279 percent annual interest on loans to mostly female, minority and low-income borrowers.
* And you gotta wonder if big layoffs are coming at Wrigley…
Wm. Wrigley Jr. Cos., in a move it said will provide “enhanced prospects for growth,” confirmed this morning that it has agreed to be acquired by privately held candy-industry giant Mars Inc. for $80 a share, or $23 billion.
The Chicago chewing-gum company said its board has already approved the all-cash offer, although the transaction will still require clearance from regulators and Wrigley stockholders.
I also wonder how this might impact the attempts by Tribune Co. to pressure Wrigley to buy naming rights at Wrigely Field.
Thoughts?
*** Adding *** Rhodes has a funny line today…
Which joke will get more play, Mars Field or Snickers Stadium?
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As usual, IDOT rumors are untrue
Monday, Apr 28, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
Rumors were swarming around Springfield last week that the Illinois Department of Transportation was going to idle all of its trucks starting May 1. The reason was the department is out of money to pay for fuel, forcing trucks off of the highways.
Actually, the rumors were broader than that. I was informed by several anxious IDOT employees that all construction work was to halt on May 1. The rumor was, indeed, rampant. More from Finke’s column…
For the record, IDOT denied any orders have been issued to idle the fleet on May 1. At the same time, spokesman MIKE CLAFFEY said the department is facing a funding crunch and continues to look at ways to save money. The department already has said it is cutting way back on mowing along highways and that some district offices might idle trucks for one day a week to save fuel costs.
Asked if the department might resort to parking all of its trucks, Claffey repeated that IDOT is always looking at cost-saving measures, but that public safety will not be jeopardized.
* I talked to the governor’s office about this rumor last week and was told that a shutdown is not imminent. There are some big problems with IDOT’s budget, however, including a $46 million cost overrun on snow and ice removal and another big hole caused by higher fuel prices.
I was told that IDOT is “slowing things down.” For example, there is no overtime for routine purposes, just emergency services, like the recent earthquake, which necessitated emergency bridge inspections. Also, mowing is being slowed down as well.
There is a supplemental appropriations bill sitting in the House to cover the funding shortfall, but nobody knows whether that will ever pass. As the fiscal year comes to a close, more slowdowns could happen.
IDOT is a rumor hotbed, so any time you hear somebody swear that trouble is afoot over there, take it with a huge grain of salt.
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Recall or impeach?
Monday, Apr 28, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Tribune editorial board continues its loud and steady drumbeat for the passage of a constitutional amendment for recall in the Illinois Senate…
Two Chicago Democrats in the Illinois Senate paid a call on the Tribune editorial board last week. When prompted, Kwame Raoul and Heather Steans told us they don’t want a recall amendment added to the state constitution. They do, however, want an amendment to kill the mandate of a flat-rate state income tax, now 3 percent for individuals. They telegraphed urgency: Any potential amendment has to clear the General Assembly by May 4 to make November’s ballot.
When Raoul and Steans finished, we asked: So you want the people of Illinois to be able to vote in November on your income tax amendment—but you oppose giving them a vote on the recall amendment?
Pause for reflection on that irony.
“That’s right,” said Raoul, looking down.
“Yes,” added Steans, looking down.
As if that wasn’t over the top enough, they also put the Statehouse phone numbers for every Senate Democrat on their editorial page. The Senate isn’t in session today, so the secretaries will have to deal with these calls on their own.
* While the Tribune beats the drums for recall, some have moved on to more immediate solutions. My syndicated newspaper column concludes with these lines…
Ata’s guilty plea has shocked even some of the most hardened, cynical Statehouse types like little I’ve ever seen before. And when the shock wore off, a word started spreading through the crowd that had until now only been whispered on the fringes.
“Impeachment.”
Stay tuned.
* Scott Reeder had this fun little nugget…
But until recently, the word “impeachment” only came up quietly as politicians sipped beer at various Springfield watering holes.
Now it is being talked about publicly.
Joel Brunsvold, a former state representative and Blagojevich cabinet member, recently told a group of visiting Quad-Citians he was surprised on how well versed Speaker of the House Speaker Michael Madigan’s staff is in the procedures to impeach a governor.
Even though, it has never happened in the state’s history.
* Unlike last year, Speaker Madigan refused to take the issue off the table…
Late Friday afternoon, [House Speaker Michael Madigan[ told Flannery: “I don’t plan to create a committee for this purpose, today. Every day’s a new day. If we have to … my resolve is to do it appropriately and professionally.”
* But there is much resistance. Republican state Rep. Brent Hassert, who is a Tier One target and a member of House GOP leadership, downplayed the whole idea when asked by CBS 2…
But until there is more evidence of wrongdoing by the governor, some critics of Blagojevich oppose impeaching him, including the second-highest ranking Republican in the Illinois House, Rep. Brent Hassert (R-Romeoville).
“Somewhere down the line that might change, but right now I don’t see anything that’s impeachable,” Hassert said.
* Meanwhile, the Tribune had a well-researched piece yesterday on a curious pattern to the governor’s campaign fundraising…
Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s aggressive fundraising machine collected hundreds of $25,000 checks in a campaign effort that dwarfed his predecessors’, and most of these big givers ended up benefiting from his administration.
A Tribune examination of all 235 of those donations shows that three of every four came from individuals, companies or interest groups who got something—from lucrative state contracts to coveted state board appointments to favorable policy and regulatory actions. […]
All told, Blagojevich’s campaign has raised more than $58 million since 2000, with nearly $6 million coming in donations of exactly $25,000. Those contributions—235 in all—came from 166 different donors. Those donors gave an additional $8.6 million in amounts larger and smaller than $25,000.
I didn’t see it in the story, but it would be helpful to know how many of thos donations came shortly before or shortly after those contracts and appointments were made.
* Related stories…
* Report links governor’s donors with getting benefits
* ($25,000) Check, please!
* Rove: Kjellander feared the Fitzgeralds
* Blagojevich - big game for federal corruption hunters?
* Beleaguered gov singing different tune
* Another governor heading for prison?
* Rezko trial diverts attention from governor’s agenda
* Ex-fugitive put up homes to spring Rezko
* Ex-inmate helps free Rezko from jail
* Key Witness to Testify in Rezko Trial
* ROUNDTABLE: Governor Recall
* Sen. Cronin: Stop stalling on a needed recall law
* Constitutional amendments busy lawmakers this year
* State Constitution headed for change?
* Constitutional convention up to voters
* Editorial: Any hope of progress in legislature?
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Morning Shorts
Monday, Apr 28, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* In case you missed it Friday: Click here to watch the impeachment debate from WTTW’s Chicago Tonight
* Thecapitolfaxblog.com: Rezko
* Brownfield cleanup in Wood River collapses
* Judge raps Park District over Latin field
* Stop that bulldozer
Ruling that the residents made a persuasive argument that the field could only be built with approval from the Chicago Plan Commission, she prohibited Latin or the Park District from installing “lighting, permanent or fixed goal posts, permanent or removable bleachers or signage.” Furthermore, the scoreboard, which has already been installed, “may not be lit, connected to lighting, or otherwise used.”
* Congressman, get me rewrite
Rep. Rahm Emanuel lauded the Cubs in Congress on Thursday for their 10,000th win last night, though perhaps he should’ve had his statement proofread first.
* Morgenthaler Posts Strong Fundraising Quarter
* Michel and LaHood Endorse Schock
* LaHood removed lingering doubt and gives Schock his endorsement
* At Last Minute, Park District Receives Needed State Funds
* Political donors in line to run health system
* Residents invited to Stroger meeting
* Chicago-Style Politics Live On In Cook County
* Start county anew? Breaking up is hard to do
* Porch inspections taper off
* Daley backs plan to give assault rifles to all cops
* Assault on reason
* Bernard Schoenburg: Departing Mutchler talks about ‘special time’ in her life
* Illinois Law Schools & Attorneys
* I-Pass users ‘want the dinger back‘ — may get it
* Legendary doctor retires, turns to activism
* Illinois hangs posters on human trafficking
* New ZIP Codes in Chicago
* How Low Can You Go?
Look in the mirror, newspaper execs. One of the big problems is you. You’re surrounded by dramatic, earth-shattering industry change, your core numbers are dropping by double digits, and you’re all still working off the same old, boring playbook.
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