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Afternoon stuff: Budget; Daley; Cubs; Emanuel; Twitter; Teens & Alcohol; Hull

Monday, Nov 17, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Bob Greenlee, who took over as deputy governor when Sheila Nix resigned last summer, kinda sorta hints at some near-term budget action on issues like drug and alcohol treatment programs…


* Illinois isn’t the only state that’s closing historical sites…

In all, 14 of Ohio’s 58 historic sites will be closed the week of March 28. […]

The Arizona Historical Society has closed the research library at its museum in Tempe and sharply reduced hours at the research library in Tucson.

* More on state budget problems

In most states, budget directors and legislators have said that tax increases are not likely. A notable exception is California, where Mr. Schwarzenegger is seeking a 1.5-point increase to the state’s 6.25-percent sales tax, although he is unlikely to get the necessary approval of Republican legislators.

In Oregon, moreover, Gov. Ted Kulongoski, a Democrat, has proposed a $1 billion economic stimulus plan centered on infrastructure improvements, which he envisions would be paid for by raising the state’s gas tax by 2 cents per gallon and increasing a host of vehicle fees.

* Daley and the unions come to terms

Mayor Daley and organized labor have reached an agreement that could dramatically reduce the 929 layoffs needed to solve Chicago’s worst budget crisis in a generation, City Hall sources said Monday.

Union leaders have agreed to work-rule changes to reduce the city’s overtime costs, the soures said. They have also agreed to drop their opposition to a partial shutdown of city government around the holidays.

In exchange, Daley has agreed to offer cash incentives — at least $5,000 and as high as $15,000 — for members of Laborers Local 1001 to induce retirements by eligible union members.

“We have 433 eligible people in the Laborers pension fund. We’re hoping around 60 will take advantage of it,” Lou Phillips, business manager of Laborers Local 1001, said Monday.

* The governor’s (and many others’) preferred Chicago Cubs owner has been hit with insider trading allegations

The Securities and Exchange Commission filed insider trading charges against Mark Cuban, the outspoken owner of the Dallas Mavericks, for allegedly dumping shares in Mamma.com upon learning it was raising money in a private offering (full text of complaint).

* The “Rahm Emanuel doesn’t pay property taxes” Internet hoax has jumped the ocean and landed in Switzerland. Oy. Translated text is here.

* Lots of news companies (including myself) use Twitter to promote their stories, but I found this one from WGN to be unbelievably tasteless

WGN is on CNN.com: 3 students drown in Fox River (scroll down under the “Midwest” section)

* Interesting statistics

A state law passed after five Oswego teenagers died in an alcohol-related car crash last year has led to driver’s-license suspensions for more than 3,000 underage drinkers this year, but experts give it mixed reviews because of disparities in enforcement. […]

Lake County leads the state in license suspensions with 370 from Jan. 1 through Oct. 15, followed by DuPage County at 358 and McHenry County with 230. Will County had 76. Only 60 license suspensions were reported in Cook County, according to the state. […]

The law says people under age 21 will lose their driving privileges if they are found guilty or granted court supervision for violating laws regarding consumption, possession or purchase of alcohol “regardless of whether a vehicle was involved.” The suspension is three months for first offenders.

* Larry’s nightmare pick for US Senate: Blair Hull.

  27 Comments      


Replacing Barack: Moonies, cronies, craziness and the best fake candidate ever

Monday, Nov 17, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

* With President-Elect Barack Obama’s resignation from the US Senate yesterday, the elbowing to be chosen as his replacement has kicked up a few notches. Our guy Bill may not be the frontrunner to replace Obama in the US Senate, but he has no skeletons in his closet, unlike some of the other hopefuls

Congressman Danny Davis says he wants to replace Barack Obama as the junior senator from Illinois. The Democrat’s declaration came at a news conference in Chicago on Sunday. That’s the same day President-elect Obama stepped down from the position with two years left in his term. A coalition of black Illinois politicians endorsed the 67-year-old Davis at the event. Davis is also black.

Danny Davis, eh? You mean the guy who donned white gloves and helped crown Rev. Moon in a federal building? OK…

In 2004, Davis was met with national controversy when he crowned the Rev. Sun Myung Moon in a religious ceremony at the Dirksen Senate Office Building honoring the controversial spiritual leader. Moon declared himself the Messiah at the crowning ceremony, in which Davis appeared on the invitation as a sponsoring co-chair. Davis wore white gloves and carried the crown on a pillow to crown Moon and his wife “the King and Queen of Peace.”

Bill has never helped crown anyone King.

* The interesting thing about a governor with horrificly bad poll numbers is that people have begun asking why he has so much power. Roeper

Giving the governor of Illinois the absolute authority to select the next U.S. senator from our state is only slightly more logical than granting the mayor of Chicago the power to make the first-round draft selection for the Bears.

In both scenarios, it’s a case of “Why does THAT guy get to make THAT pick?”

* Carol Marin makes a point that I’ve made time and time again…

Whoever gets this job will only serve two years before the next election. Who, in their right mind, thinks bearing the label of Blagojevich’s designated hitter will help them win then?

Marin, with tongue planted in cheek, encourages the choice of retiring Senate President Emil Jones

So governor, pick your pal Jones.

In order to bring real change to Illinois, the public needs to get a lot angrier than it is. This will really help.

That could be true. But Bill would still be a better choice.

* The NPR interview I told you about the other day is now online with a transcript

The decision will be solely up to Governor Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat—which, at first, might sound pretty simple.

MILLER: This governor isn’t simple. He’s impossible to predict on pretty much every level.

Ignore all predictions.

Bill may be a long shot, but he has as much of a chance as a lot of those other “contenders.” Join the movement today!

* Related…

* Blagojevich’s Senate choice: That’s entertainment!

* Rep. Danny Davis interested in Obama’s Senate seat

* Ill. politicians reaching for Senate seat

* Obama resigns Senate seat

* Campaigning for Senate Vacancy Stepped-Up

* Obama’s time as senator ends

* Eye on Chicago: Duckworth

* Short list for Sen. Obama’s office

* Choose senator to fill Illinois’ needs, not personal agenda

* Obama, Daley: Chicago powers aligning

* Washington Wins…Everyone Else (except maybe Chicago) Loses

* The Valerie Jarrett Story. Named senior Obama White House advisor

* Washington Wins…Everyone Else (except maybe Chicago) Loses

* Obama and Daley political allies now, but they’re hardly cronies

  33 Comments      


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