Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Blagojevich pleads not guilty, spews nonsense

Wednesday, Feb 10, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Rod Blagojevich was in court today for his arraignment on new federal charges. He pled not guilty and his lawyers filed a motion to unseal all of the federal government’s surveillance tapes. Blagojevich then issued this statement to the media…

“Today I’m throwing down the gauntlet. I know I have a constitutional right to try to suppress these tapes. And as a former prosecutor I believe there’s a good chance that it would probably be granted. Here’s what I’m not going to do: I’m not going to hide behind my lawyers, nor will I hide behind technicalities in the law to try to block these tapes from being heard. Instead, I’ve instructed my lawyers to petition the court so that every second, every minute and every hour that the government secretly taped me is provided to both sides to be played in court. And I challenge the government to get on the side of truth and justice and if this is a crime spree like you claim it was, then don’t hide behind technicalities. Play the tapes. Play the truth, and play the whole truth.

“I’m not just talking the talk here. I’m also going to walk the walk, which is right up to the witness stand. And when I take the stand, I’ll testify and swear on the Holy Bible to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I expect and, more importantly, I believe the people of Illinois expect and deserve that the government does the same.

“Play the truth, and play the whole truth. Play nothing but the truth. Play the tapes.”

But then one of Blagojevich’s lawyers backed away from his client’s statement…

Later, Blagojevich’s lawyer, Sam Adam Jr., pulled back a bit from that, saying that the former governor wants every tape played that’s relevant to his corruption case.

“We are saying either side can play any minute of any tape that they wish to play,” Adam said.

Blagojevich said he thinks he can contest the original finding that there was probable cause to believe a crime was committed, which allowed the wiretaps to be placed in the first place.

And the judge is getting perturbed with the clown show…

U.S. District Judge James Zagel [Monday] noted that a recent motion filed by Blagojevich’s lawyers contained no legal citations in its request that the government give them rush copies of witness statements.

“The blunderbuss demand for everything to be turned over sooner than the law allows is not well made,” Zagel said, adding: “The volume of discovery already produced far exceeds that required by established law.”

Zagel makes it plain he is not amused with a recent filing by Blagojevich attorneys, which at one point criticizes the government for securing its witness list as if the defendant were “Tony Soprano” and not the ousted governor of Illinois.

Zagel calls the recent pleading by Blagojevich lawyers: “an assortment of rhetorical flourishes oddly detached from the issues in this case, in one instance invoking the case of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and, in
another, pleading that Defendant needs certain evidence to establish his innocence.

* On a lighter note, US Sen. Mike Enzi flubs the former governor’s name bigtime…

* Related…

* ‘Celebrity Apprentice’s’ Rod Blagojevich: “I wasn’t interested in a ‘Keeping Up With the Kardashians’”

* When Defendants Speak Out, Problems Begin

18 Comments

Madigan attempts to cool tax talk during budget meltdown

Wednesday, Feb 10, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Charles Thomas asks some good questions today…

A most interesting but under-reported quote came yesterday from the mouth of “his excellency”, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan in Springfield as he discussed the state’s gigantic ($13 billion) budget deficit:

“That doesn’t mean that there has to be a tax increase”.

That’s how Capitol Fax quoted Madigan in its 4:18am dispatch today.

Remember that during the past seven months, including during his successful primary campaign, Governor Pat Quinn promised that he and the democratic leaders of the House and Senate would address the state’s need for new revenue “after the primary election”. At the very top of Quinn’s 2010 legislative wish list has been an increase in the Illinois income tax–with added exemptions, etc. to reduce the burden on the poor and/or homeowners–to generate the additional billions needed to bring the budget into balance.

Without the Speaker’s support, does it mean that the Governor will have to drop his drive for “new revenue”? Does this mean the Republicans have lost their central campaign issue for November? How will Illinois get the money it needs to operate for the next year?

Roll tape…

* Meanwhile, while the state’s red ink gushes through the dike, local budget problems are everywhere. A brief roundup of today’s news…

* Decatur public schools buoyed by federal stimulus funds; state still late with its payments

* Pontiac Township High School considers cutbacks in light of uncertain state aid

* Rock Island schools slash $2.65 million from 2010-11 budget

* State’s late payments put district’s rainy-day fund in jeopardy

* Elgin Wants to Increase Bilingual Class Sizes to Fill Budget Hole

* Oswego teachers await word on job cuts

* School issue drawing a crowd of officials

* Parents demand Kaneland revisit cuts: Around 200 parents and teachers packed the public forum to express their concerns about the potential impact increased class size would have on students, as well as the elimination of interscholastic athletics at the middle school and high school extracurricular clubs and activities, as well as fewer coaches. District officials said the extra activities cost an estimated $900,000.

* District 207 teacher’s union to vote on saving jobs

* Daley says don’t expect quick restoration of CTA service cuts

* Few Optimistic CTA Service Can be Fully Restored

* Beyond doomsday: End most of CTA’s free rides

* Turbulence at O’Hare over landing-fee hike

* Cook County Board addresses pension shortfall

* Cook County Board approves borrowing to cover employee pension costs

* Carpentersville considers property tax, water rate increases

* Moline creates new utility tax

* Six CWLP workers get layoff notices

* Belleville’s money woes may mean layoffs for city workers

* East St. Louis financial overseer has money problems

* Agencies go over concerns with [Carbondale City] council

* Decision on pavilion’s tax status in board’s hands

* Our Opinion: Library can’t be viewed as expendable: While we accept the branch closures as a necessary step in horrid economic times for city government, we do so grudgingly. We believe this community must see the end of branch libraries not as a one-time cure administered in hard economic times, but as a symptom of an ailment that has afflicted Lincoln Library for decades.

* Illinoisans slated to lose jobless benefits without new extension

* And the governor continues his push to move back the budget address…

With a deadline coming up next week, Gov. Pat Quinn wants more time to give his budget address — and promises to give a public glimpse of the state’s budget situation before that.

Under state law, Quinn is required next Wednesday to give his address to lawmakers outlining his budget plans for next year. Quinn has sought more time but so far, the House and Senate haven’t been able to agree on how far to push the speech back – either earlier or later in March.

In a letter sent to lawmakers yesterday, Quinn says he wants to give his budget address March 10. On Feb. 24, he writes, he’ll put information online for lawmaker and public perusal to set up the next year’s budget.

21 Comments

Madigan on Gov. Quinn and the Republicans

Wednesday, Feb 10, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Speaker Madigan said yesterday he’s surprised that no one has been fired at the Dept. of Corrections in the wake of the botched early release scandal. He also talked about Gov. Quinn’s prospects in the general election. The following videos are courtesy of Illinois Statehouse News.

Watch…

More on that topic…

“I’m rather surprised that there haven’t been some dismissals over at the Department of Corrections,” Madigan told reporters on the opening day of the spring legislative session. “That’s what I would recommend.”

In December, Quinn said corrections officials made a “mistake” by moving forward with the program, but he did not fire anyone. He said his hand-picked prison chief, Michael Randle, exercised “bad judgment.”

Madigan didn’t single out Randle for firing.

“I don’t know who is responsible. I wasn’t around the situation,” he said.

However, Madigan added, “I would think in the ordinary course there would be some dismissals.”

And some more…

And then there was this surprisingly sympathetic take on Quinn’s general performance during his year in office, which many in both parties say has been an uneven one: Quinn came in “in a very difficult circumstance,” says Madigan. “I think he’s doing the best he can. . . . (Political) goodwill only lasts for so long. It was going to go away eventually.”

* In this video, Madigan discusses the upcoming session and his opinion of the House and Senate Republicans…

The Tribune story touches on this…

Madigan also took aim at Republican lawmakers, saying they have refused to cooperate with Democrats on finding solutions to the state’s massive budget problems. He called them “nonparticipating do-nothings.”

Republicans argue that the Democratic majority routinely shuts them out of budget talks, rejects their ideas and uses parliamentary maneuvers to block their legislation.

* Related…

* Illinois school districts, universities slam state for late payments: The presidents and chancellors of 12 public university campuses sent a letter to Gov. Pat Quinn and Comptroller Dan Hynes asking them to set a payment schedule so they can collect more than $735 million in state payments owed them. Closer to home, Alton’s Community Unit School District No. 11 is waiting on more than $4 million from the state, and administrators say the backlog is forcing them to consider layoffs. Edwardsville’s School District 7 and Collinsville’s Community Unit School District No. 10 are also short about $4 million each. Belleville Township 201 High School District is owed more than $2 million.

* Public universities appeal for money they were promised - State payments to 9 taxpayer-funded schools are behind $735 million

* State university presidents react to lack of funding

* State finances worry college presidents

* Merit-based raises will not happen for ISU employees this year

66 Comments

Cohen on Chicago Tonight and Madigan on Cohen

Wednesday, Feb 10, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Scott Lee Cohen appeared on Chicago Tonight again last night. He tried to explain why he hadn’t yet formally withdrawn, complained about the media coverage of his family and announced that he was heading to Washington, DC to do some media interviews. Watch it…

* House Speaker Michael Madigan was asked about the Cohen debacle yesterday and he spoke at length about Cohen, the replacement process, the governor’s role, etc. This is from a longer video posted by Illinois Statehouse News. Have a look…

* Related…

* Who knew about Scott Lee Cohen: A research perspective

* Madigan not backing anyone in Cohen replacement battle: “I’ve committed to no one,” Madigan said. “I think the overriding goal ought to be to find a strong candidate who will be well received by the people of Illinois.”

* Madigan says he warned Cohen things would get worse: Madigan has been criticized for not vetting candidates and allowing someone like Cohen to be in a position to win. “I’m not going to engage in finger pointing or recriminations. I think we ought to be happy that Mr. Cohen has dropped out,” Madigan said. “Now we ought to focus on replacing him.”

* Madigan: Lawmakers to help pick Quinn running mate: Madigan, who also is chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party, said he plans to meet with Quinn and Senate President John Cullerton to discuss filling the vacant position of nominee for lieutenant governor. The three of them will submit the name of a candidate to the party’s central committee, which formally makes the choice. “At some time, the governor and Sen. Cullerton and I will sit down and talk it through,” Madigan told reporters. “I expect that I will be the one that will be called upon to communicate with the members of the committee, which I’ll do. We’ll attempt to come to a consensus.”

* Is ‘diversity‘ a consideration for lt. gov?: “I don’t think that’s an issue. You’ve got four highly qualified African Americans,” said State Rep. Art Turner. “I know I have a proven record and have the ability to represent this entire state, so I would hope that the color of my skin or the region or the community that I live in is not a factor to stop me from going to this position.”

* 10th Democratic leaders have say in Cohen replacement : Pierce personally favors state Rep. Karen May, D-58th, because she has a strong record on the environment and ethics. Additionally, she would provide the Democrat’s November ticket with a representative from Chicago’s collar counties, he said.

* Democrats to pick Quinn’s running mate next month: Brown defended the democratic nature of the selection process for Cohen’s replacement. Brown noted that the central committee members were chosen by Democratic voters on Feb. 2.

* Chuck Sweeny: Cohen’s exit gives Dems chance to leave slot blank: Why are they doing this? They should just promote second-place finisher, state Rep. Art Turner, D-Chicago.

* Madigan warned Cohen of continued ‘anguish’ if he stayed

* Walter’s Perspective: Blame For Cohen Fiasco: The bad guy in all this is not Scott Lee Cohen. It’s Michael Madigan, chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois, speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, one of the most powerful politicians in the history of Illinois.

* Does Illinois need a lieutenant governor?

50 Comments

« NEWER POSTS