* Part of my Sun-Times column today discusses a bill that will be taken up by the General Assembly next week to strip Gov. Blagojevich of his power to appoint the next US Senator and instead create a special election…
Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin supports this idea. But the Democratic campaign consultants I’ve talked to are worried to death that a Republican such as moderate U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk could win a special election because Blagojevich’s arrest and subsequent prosecution could easily ruin a Democratic candidate.
* RollCall reported late this morning that Rep. Kirk is interested in the race…
Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) said Wednesday he is considering running for Senate if there is a special election to fill President-elect Barack Obama’s seat.
* Obama says he’s for the special election…
[Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs] said Obama believes the Illinois legislature should consider a special election to fill the seat.
Gibbs says the hope is to put a process in place to select a new senator who’ll have the trust and confidence of the people of Illinois.
* Hotline On Call provides a cost guesstimate…
A special election to fill Pres.-elect Barack Obama’s Senate seat could cost the state of Illinois between $45 million and $50 million, a state Board of Elections official told On Call this afternooon.
Ken Menzel, an elections specialist with the board, called the figure a “gross guestimate” based on the cost per precinct of running a special election earlier this year to fill the 14th District seat vacated by retiring Rep. J. Dennis Hastert.
“We don’t do specials for statewide offices,” Menzel said. “This is one of the reasons we appoint to them. It’s expensive to do these things.”
Menzel said the counties will largely be tasked with covering the costs.
“If it isn’t there, I don’t know where it would come from,” he said.
After consulting with State Board of Elections Executive Dir. Dan White, Menzel said he based his Senate contest estimate on the cost per precinct — $10,000 — to conduct the race to replace Hastert. He said that at approximately half that rate per precinct, with 11,600 precincts statewide, it could run as much as $50 million to hold a special Senate election.
* Back to my column…
The first problem which springs to mind is that Blagojevich, who was arrested Tuesday for allegedly trying to auction Obama’s vacant seat to the highest bidder, would have to sign the [special election] bill into law.
Our jailbird governor could sit on the bill for 60 days before he does anything. And he might just veto it, which would only prolong the process.
* Plus, if he waits to veto the bill after the General Assembly adjourns sine die on January 14th, the bill dies.
And then there’s this…
Dawn Clark Netsch, a former state comptroller and an author of the state’s 1970 Constitution, said someone might challenge whether a new law would apply to a vacancy already pending. […]
Even if it becomes law, the matter could end up in the Illinois Supreme Court, which would prolong the drama.
Better to just impeach him now.
* By the way, there is little to no danger that Blagojevich could go ahead and make an appointment anyway. Well, he might, but it wouldn’t stick…
Secretary of State Jesse White could refuse to certify the choice.
The U.S. Senate could refuse to seat Blagojevich’s appointee.
* More on that topic…
The office of Sen. Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader, is circulating a letter Wednesday to the Senate Democratic Caucus for signatures that recommends indicted Gov. Rod Blagojevich resign and under no circumstances make an appointment to fill Illinois’ vacant Senate seat.
The letter contains a threat to the governor, saying that the Senate is poised to use its power to refuse to seat any appointment Blagojevich makes.
* Attorney General Madigan makes a good political point…
“Nobody in their right mind would accept an appointment from this governor,” she said. “It is so tainted at this point…”
* But this baffles me…
Madigan said ne of the wilder speculations is that of the governor thinking of appointing himself.
“If he did that, we would be able to step in legally and say there is an inherent conflict of interest. He can’t appoint himself to this seat,” Madigan said.
Huh?. There’s no law against that, is there? He’d just get rejected by SoS White and the US Senate.
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*** UPDATE *** Man, things are moving quickly today. With a hat-tip to a commenter, here’s the latest on this particular topic…
President-elect Barack Obama is calling for the Illinois governor to resign.
Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs says the president-elect agrees with other prominent politicians in Illinois and elsewhere that “under the current circumstances, it is difficult for the governor to effectively do his job and serve the people of Illinois.”
He should’ve said that yesterday.
[ *** End of Update *** ]
* Gov. Blagojevich was caught on tape talking about appointing someone favorable to Barack Obama to the vacant US Senate seat…
“they’re not willing to give me anything except appreciation.”
That pretty much sums up the situation here. Obama has little to answer for.
* There are some problems, however…
“I have not discussed the Senate seat with the governor at any time,” [Obama] said. “My strong belief is that it needed to be filled by somebody who is going to represent the people of Illinois and fight for them. And beyond that, I was focused on the transition.”
* That’s not what Obama’s chief strategist David Axelrod said several days ago…
“I know he’s talked to the governor and there are a whole range of names many of which have surfaced, and I think he has a fondness for a lot of them.”
* Axelrod was forced to backtrack yesterday…
“I was mistaken when I told an interviewer last month that the President-elect has spoken directly to Governor Blagojevich about the Senate vacancy. They did not then or at any time discuss the subject.”
First he said he knows, then he says he was mistaken. Not good.
* However, Patrick Fitzgerald seemed to back up the president-elect…
“We make no allegations that he [Obama] was aware of anything.”
* Another problem is Obama’s weak statement yesterday…
“It is a sad day for Illinois. Beyond that, I don’t think it’s appropriate to comment.”
The whole state is freaking out and this is all he says?
* Republicans were quick to pounce…
“President-elect Barack Obama’s comments on the matter are insufficient at best,” said Robert Duncan, chairman of the Republican National Committee. “Given the president-elect’s history of supporting and advising Gov. Blagojevich, he has a responsibility to speak out and fully address the issue.”
“The serious nature of the crimes listed by federal prosecutors raises questions about the interaction with Gov. Blagojevich, president-elect Obama and other high-ranking officials who will be working for the future president,” said Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia, the new GOP House whip.
* Jake Tapper takes a look back…
On the Chicago TV show "Public Affairs with Jeff Berkowitz" on June 27, 2002, state Sen. Obama said, "Right now, my main focus is to make sure that we elect Rod Blagojevich as Governor, we…"
"You working hard for Rod?" interrupted Berkowitz.
"You betcha," said Obama.
"Hot Rod?" asked the host.
"That’s exactly right," Obama said.
In 2004, then-Gov. Blagojevich enthusiastically endorsed Obama for the Senate seat after he won the nomination, and Obama endorsed Blagojevich for his 2006 re-election race in early 2005.
In the Summer of 2006, then-U.S. Sen. Obama backed Blagojevich even though there were serious questions at the time about Blago’s hiring practices.
Axelrod worked for Blagojevich during his first run for Congress, but has since not been close to the man.
* There is this tiny item as well, posted by somebody in comments…
This is flying around the internet in many forums. I want to know if there is truth this…
“Michelle Obama Is The “Specifically Named Individual” On Page 64 of The Affidavit Submitted by FBI”
Whatever. Here’s the quote from the complaint…
ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated that he needs to find a way to take the
“financial stress” off of his family and that his wife is as qualified or more qualified than another specifically named individual to sit on corporate boards.
Big whoop.
* This is a stretch, but I wouldn’t put it past the national media to pursue the angle…
One prominent Chicago Democrat close to many of those named in the indictment suggested the risk for Obama is “Whitewater-type exposure.” That was a reference to an Arkansas real estate deal that produced a series lengthy and highly intrusive investigations in the 1990s that never proved illegality by the Clintons.
What this Democrat meant with his analogy—which on the facts so far seems a bit premature—was that Obama could suffer by being in the proximity of a back-scratching and deal-making culture, even if he was mostly a bystander. “What will splatter on to Obama is he is to some degree a product of this culture, and he has never entirely stood against it,” said the Democrat, who wanted anonymity for fear of antagonizing the president-elect.
* Actually, the AP’s national desk has already picked up on the meme…
President-elect Barack Obama hasn’t even stepped into office and already a scandal is threatening to dog him. Obama isn’t accused of anything.
But the fact that Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a fellow Democrat, has been charged with trying to sell Obama’s now-vacant Senate post gives political opponents an opening to try to link him to the scandal.
A slew of questions remain. The investigation is still under way. And the ultimate impact on Obama is far from certain
* Clarence Page gets the last word…
But from Chicago’s point of view, Obama and Blagojevich occupy two opposing worlds of Democratic politics that work together out of convenience. Obama launched his political career among the Hyde Park and lakefront liberals. Blago came straight out of what’s left of the old Bungalow Belt machine.
It is not uncommon to build a winning coalition in Illinois politics by making friends or, at least, neutralizing rivals.
Blagojevich’s troubles will test how well Obama kept his own hands clean on his way up, even as Blago was slipping down.
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Budget woes and a ray of hope
Monday, Dec 8, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* This is an extremely short-term solution, and it’s not even that…
Illinois will borrow $1.4 billion to make payments to schools, health care providers and others who’ve been waiting months to be reimbursed by the state.
The deal, which does not need lawmakers’ approval, could be completed within weeks and potentially free up cash to pay backlogged bills by month’s end.
“Especially in this poor national economy, Illinois needs to make sure that we can pay the businesses that provide the state with the goods and services which help families in these tough times,” Gov. Rod Blagojevich said in a statement announcing the borrowing plan, which was agreed to by Comptroller Dan Hynes and Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias.
The state’s delinquency in paying billions of dollars in bills has caused havoc with budgeting at schools, hospitals and other health care providers.
The loan has to be paid back by the end of this fiscal year, so Illinois must start setting aside money right away to pay off the debt. So, some late payments will be made, but the state has billions more in unpaid bills, so most vendors won’t see relief.
The reason that this is so important is that Illinois’ social service network is mostly run by private, non-profit agencies like Catholic Charities, Lutheran Social Services, etc. If the state did all of this work “in-house” then we’d be in even worse shape because those state worker pay checks would have to be cut every two weeks. Instead, our problems are foisted off on those who can ill afford it.
* Mike Lawrence offers up some shock therapy…
Because too many politicians have chosen sweet talk over straight talk, Illinoisans overwhelmingly believe we can provide adequate K-12 funding, assure higher education accessibility to the less affluent, preserve parks and historic sites, respond comprehensively to mental illness, arrest and imprison violent offenders, combat methamphetamine, heroin and crack cocaine, keep faith with retired public employees and rehabilitate the state treasury simply by curtailing raises for legislators, firing political hacks, grounding the governor’s plane and doing some surgical snipping here and there.
But the far less soothing reality is that we could make legislators serve for free and barely ding the deficit. We could shutter five universities and close down departments that patrol our highways, guard and conserve our natural resources, serve senior citizens and veterans and protect the public health — and still not eradicate the red ink, let alone protect and invest in our children and in the roads, bridges and other infrastructure vital to economic development.
More than 90 percent of general revenue funds support education, health care, services for the needy, law enforcement and pensions.
Even while in the grip of an unemployment-escalating, insecurity-abetting economy, can we diminish or even continue to tolerate substandard resources for youngsters in any corner of Illinois and abide academic achievement gaps between whites and burgeoning minorities without ultimately yielding good jobs to other states and countries that offer better educated and trained workers?
* Admittedly tongue in cheek stories like this only feed that false perception of an easy solution…
Illinois’ license plates proudly boast we’re the Land of Lincoln. Now, we’re the Land of Obama, too. So what would happen if state leaders gave drivers the option of buying a special license plate to commemorate Barack Obama’s historic inauguration as president?
Judging by calls to Secretary of State Jesse White’s office and an examination of state records, the idea might offer a boost for the state’s cash-strapped budget.
* The new Senate President is offering up some much-needed hope for change…
John Cullerton, who takes over as president of the Illinois Senate in January, said Saturday he will make the long-delayed capital bill his “number one priority.”
Speaking at the reopening of the Irving Park Brown Line station on the North Side, Cullerton said a capital bill will bring not only improved bridges, roads and public transit, but jobs.
“The jobs situation in Illinois has been terrible,” said Cullerton (D-Chicago). “I look forward to working with the mayor and all the elected officials, bringing the governor and the speaker together, and try to get this dysfunctionality that’s been going on in Springfield over with, get this gridlock to end and get working on our problems.”
* And the Peoria Journal-Star, which endorsed a Senate President candidate backed by Rod Blagojevich and Emil Jones, demands a leadership change…
If the leaders - that the members choose, by the way - won’t lead, then it’s time to change leaders, or at least challenge them publicly.
Um, they just had an election to change leaders in the Senate. Why not wait and see what happens before ranting and raving?
* Somewhat related…
* 50 states, 50 holes
* A look at Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s wish list for infrastructure projects
* Pontiac doesn’t agree with governor’s office
* SJ-R Opinion: Make COGFA rulings binding
* SJ-R Opinion: Fix ethics law so road funds are not at risk
* Proposed driving restrictions not all fair
* Rosemont mayor returns mob-linked funds
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* The “Gimme Barack’s seat” fervor is getting outta hand…
“Barack would not be there had [it] not been for an Emil Jones,'’ Ald. Carrie Austin (34th) said at a Sunday news conference to push Jones.
A news conference to push Emil Jones for Senate? Good grief.
*** UPDATE *** Oops. I forgot to make mention of this Fox News report…
Illinois Senate President Emil Jones has become the front runner to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the United States Senate, a source told FOX News.
Look, it may be Jones. But using a single source to make a claim about what’s going on in Gov. Blagojevich’s head is kinda goofy. Unless it was RRB hisself, I don’t buy that report.
Again, though, the guv may very well pick Jones. I heard a while ago he was leaning in that direction. I just don’t buy into the Fox report as fact.
[*** End of update ***]
* But Jones would likely be a placeholder, and Sen. Robert Menendez, the incoming US Senate Democratic campaign chairman, doesn’t want a placeholder appointed…
Menendez expressed his hope that Blagojevich will avoid a placeholder appointee, as will New York Gov. David Paterson (D).
“Those are our standards, and I’ve spoken to both Gov. Blagojevich and Gov. Paterson about our desires,” Menendez said. “And I think they share it with us in terms of making sure that whoever they consider appointing will meet those standards — their ability to represent Illinois and New York well, as well as be able to win the seat in the next election that will be up for the rest of the expired term.”
* Believe it or not, Danny Davis has been on a campaign tour…
The six-term U.S. congressional representative visited Aurora to promote his bid for President-elect Barack Obama’s U.S. Senate seat vacancy.
“It might seem odd to be campaigning for a one-person decision,” Davis said, but he wanted to encourage people to suggest that he would make a good replacement for Obama in the Senate.
Davis was also in Rockford.
* And the Tribune finally notices that Blagojevich’s choice could be tainted…
The revelation that federal prosecutors have recorded Gov. Rod Blagojevich as part of their corruption investigation of his administration cast new controversy Friday over his pending decision to appoint a replacement for President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate.
Fellow Democrats were already expressing private reservations that the governor’s scandals could politically taint whoever he handpicks for the job. Those concerns grew Friday with the Tribune’s revelations that close Blagojevich confidant John Wyma is cooperating with the tightening federal probe.
But even as the governor’s office sought to give Blagojevich distance from the latest twist in the investigation, Wyma’s closeness to him was underscored by word that Wyma talked with one of the candidates seeking the Senate job.
Wyma spoke with Jesse Jackson, Jr., which probably didn’t seem like a huge deal until the Tribune reported Friday about Wyma allegedly working with the feds.
Cynthia Canary, director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, said anyone who wants to be the next U.S. senator from Illinois must “do a very strange dance where they have to charm the governor and then immediately disown him.”
“If whoever becomes our next senator wants to have a political future, they cannot afford to have their star tied to the governor one day longer than it takes to be appointed,” said Canary, who called Blagojevich “politically toxic.”
Anyway, it’s nice that the Tribune finally noticed this real problem.
* The Tribune had another Blagojevich story over the weekend…
The contents of the [Wyma] taping have not been disclosed, and the governor’s office reiterated Friday that he had committed no wrongdoing. Blagojevich has not been charged with a crime. Nor has his wife, Patricia, whose real estate deals have come under the federal microscope as part of the probe of pay-to-play politics. Wyma has not been charged, either.
So far, though, 13 people have been indicted or convicted in the festering scandal, including prominent Blagojevich fundraiser Antoin “Tony” Rezko, who faces sentencing, and the governor’s former chief fundraiser, Christopher Kelly, once the governor’s point man on gambling issues, who stands indicted on tax fraud counts linked to his betting activities in Las Vegas.
“I think we have to look at the inner core of the governor’s sanctum and who those players are,” said Rep. Jack Franks (D-Woodstock), a longtime critic of Blagojevich. Franks has pushed for legislators to do a preliminary investigation on whether they should launch impeachment hearings.
* And speaking of Blagojevich’s troubles…
The sentencing of former Democratic National Committee fund-raiser Joseph Cari Jr. has been delayed at the request of prosecutors.
It’s a sign the feds want to use Cari as a witness — again. […]
He was supposed to be sentenced months ago, after he testified against Tony Rezko, the former fund-raiser for Blagojevich and President-elect Barack Obama. But that was put off, and no new date has been set.
At Rezko’s trial, Cari testified that Blagojevich told him he planned to reward big campaign donors with state contracts. The governor has denied having that conversation.
Not a good thing for the guv, or for whomever he appoints to the Senate.
* Mayor Daley is no fool…
Mayor Richard M. Daley is lobbying to keep Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s mitts off several hundred million dollars Chicago is poised to get through a proposed economic stimulus package under debate in Congress.
* Related…
* NEW: Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan wants to block former tollway chief Brian McPartlin from taking a job with an engineering firm that has received more than $30 million in agency contracts.
* Emil Jones interested in U.S. Senate seat
* Obama’s Mini-Me
* Obama’s basketball pal for governor?
* Obama breaks Cook County records
* Tribune Editorial: If you keep your pledge of 21 months ago to discuss the federal investigation with us, we would hope for a similar engagement and a similar tone. Mostly we would hope to help explain to the people of Illinois your thoughts on the cloud of scandal that, fairly or not, envelops your administration. Governor Blagojevich, let’s talk.
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