This just in…
Thursday, Mar 6, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* 5:49 pm - From the Tribune, which is really doing an excellent job of live-blogging the Rezko trial. I just wish they’d put an RSS feed on it…
The second government witness was an FBI analyst who said his computer review of Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s campaign records tied Rezko to more than $1.4 million in fundraising activity. That figure is nearly three times what Rezko had publicly acknowledged raising on behalf of the governor.
Yikes.
Also, no bombshells in former chief legal counsel Susan Lichtenstein’s testimony. Too bad. I’m still curious why she and most of her top staff resigned en masse. Rezko was there for her job interview, however, and present at “periodic strategy sessions” held by the governor.
* Meanwhile, Andy Shaw talked to Barack Obama for a couple of minutes today. Obama claimed he had answered lots of Rezko questions (even though he hasn’t fully come across with crucial information), and Shaw ended his piece with this…
The Obama campaign is still considering a lengthy Q&A session with local reporters to answer any lingering questions, and they’re considering a lot of requests for documents that haven’t been released yet because they know that some members of the media aren’t satisfied with the information so far, but the Obama campaign is hoping reporters put the same amount of pressure on Clinton, and eventually McCain, when it comes to finances, disclosures and ethics.
That press conference would be a good idea. Get it over with now.
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Rezko updates and notes to readers
Thursday, Mar 6, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Sun-Times, the Tribune and Fox News are all live-blogging the Tony Rezko trial.
There’s a live news feed on the right side of the page just under the AP feed.
* Congratulations to Matt O’Shea on his new job as House GOP Leader Tom Cross’ chief of staff. Scott Reimers has been appointed Deputy Chief. The official announcement can be read by clicking here.
* State Sen. Susan Garrett is now blogging. Check it out.
* Margaret Houlihan’s baby, Jack, was born two months early last Sunday. He weighed in at just 2.2 pounds, but he’s a little fighter. And a White Sox fan! Check out Jack’s progress at his family’s new blog.
* Memo of the day, from the Department of Corrections…
This is sent on behalf of Director Roger E. Walker Jr.
As many of you already know, the CMS Garage has implemented an interim policy that requires IDOC Central Office approval on ALL vehicle repairs and maintenance issues. This new policy is due to IDOC’s overall lack of payment to CMS Garage for services rendered over the past few years. Given this, we need to curtail the amount of vehicles we are sending through the CMS garages for repairs. Please only have vehicles repaired if it is an emergency situation. This may mean “sidelining” a few vehicles from your fleet for the remainder of the fiscal year if necessary.
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Question of the day
Thursday, Mar 6, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Most of us know the lyrics to that Sound of Music tune Edelweiss…
Edelweiss, edelweiss, every morning you greet me
small and white,
clean and bright,
you look happy to meet me
blossom of snow
may you bloom and grow,
bloom and grow forever
edelweiss, edelweiss, bless my home-land forever
* Question: Let’s try coming up with lyrics to the same music, but entitled: Oberweis.
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* Dawn Clark Netsch was one of the members of the state’s last Constitutional Convention, and she’s always been proud of her achievements there. I’m less impressed.
Yesterday, Netsch said there was no need for another Con-Con…
“We don’t have a constitutional crisis in the state of Illinois. We have a leadership crisis,” [Netsch] said, adding: “There are no constitutional barriers to resolving the issues that have been plaguing us for the last couple of years. The only thing that is missing is the kind of leadership that brings those issues finally to bear.”
In a perfect world, she’s right. But only she lives in that perfect world.
Because the leaders and the legislators are so entrenched, I’m convinved that the only way to change things is to change the Constitution itself. The type of players we have won’t change unless the foundation document changes. Leaders have too much institutional power, unchecked by the Constitution. Legislative districts are drawn to favor incumbents to the point where very few seats ever change hands. The governor has too much leeway in rewriting legislation and his rule-making powers are not fully enumerated. I could go on, but I’ll save it for another time.
* Netsch even countered her own logic when she agreed with Pat Quinn…
[Quinn] said one of the provisions that would do just that would be to allow voters to recall elected public officials. Netsch agreed that the only way a recall provision would be added to the state Constitution is through a convention, considering lawmakers are unlikely to approve a measure by themselves
So, it’s not just the players, it’s the document.
* And this is bogus…
[Netsch claimed] The state has done nothing other than approve a non-binding resolution to prepare and educate voters for the decision… She described a two-year effort by a 50-member committee in preparation for the ballot question in 1988. Nine public hearings across the state and a series of research papers all contributed to discussion beforehand. There’s nothing like that this year so far.
So what? There’s still plenty of time to hold hearings and distribute information to the electorate. The media can also help spark the public debate. Her condescending attitude towards the voters of Illinois is somewhat appalling.
The current Constitution has not served us well at all, the opinion of a “Founding Mother” notwithstanding. Fear tactics and talking down to voters may work to derail the effort to call another convention, but those are not valid reasons.
The question is, does the current system work? I would say “No.”
*** UPDATE *** The Union League Club of Chicago is hosting a series of forums on this very topic…
Tuesday, March 18th – “State Government: Structural and Reform Issues”
Presenters: James D. Nowlan, Ph.D., Senior Fellow, University of Illinois Institute of Government and Public Affairs;
Steven F. Pflaum, Partner, McDermott Will & Emery; General Counsel, Chicago Bar Association.
Topics: The size and structure of the Illinois General Assembly and Executive Branch; proposals for term limits and/or recall of elected officials; judicial selection
Thursday, April 10th – “State and Local Government Finances”
Topics: State and local government budgeting and taxation, including proposals for a progressive vs. flat income tax; home rule powers; overall state budget process
Thursday, May 15th – “Education Funding and Reform Issues”
Topics: How the state raises funds to support public education; reform proposals including the “tax swap” concept that would place greater reliance on income taxes to fund public education and reduce reliance on property taxes
A continental breakfast will be provided at each forum. These programs are being offered on a complimentary basis but advance registration is required.
Those interested may register by calling the ULC’s Public Affairs Office at (312) 435-5946 or by sending an e-mail to: publicaffairs@ulcc.org.
Please note: the Union League Club of Chicago’s dress code requires business casual attire.
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[Note from Rich: This is another piece from my intern Kevin. Constructive criticism would be helpful.]
* The special election to replace Dennis Hastert is set for Saturday, and both candidates vying for his spot are turning up the heat.
As of Feb. 25th campaign disclosure statements show that Bill Foster has loaned his campaign $1.3 million, and Oberweis an astounding $2.3 million. In a district where as of the 2000 Census the median per-capita income was $23,406, an infusion of a million or two can give a candidate a considerable size blow horn.
Foster and Oberweis are trading barbs over whose literature is more misleading:
Democrat Bill Foster said Republican rival Jim Oberweis is misleading the public with a recent campaign mailing, but Oberweis responded with an accusation that Foster’s “pro-illegal immigration allies” are breaking election law with a recent hit piece.
The mailings at the center of the dispute between the candidates seeking to replace retired House Speaker Dennis Hastert are among the torrent of ads flooding mailboxes ahead of Saturday’s special election in the 14th Congressional District.
The Foster campaign on Wednesday objected to an Oberweis mailing that purports to show how Foster’s tax policies would affect typical district residents.
The issue is none of the four families pictured in the ad are actual district residents, as a disclaimer in fine print at the bottom of the ad makes clear.
* The Foster campaign used this as an example to illustrate a history of shady campaign tactics employed by Oberweis. In his 2006 Gubernatorial bid he was criticized for sending out mail pieces with fake newspaper headlines. Then there was this little blemish last year over his 2004 Senate run:
The Federal Election Commission fined Oberweis $21,000 in 2007 for an incident during his 2004 campaign for the Senate, in which he appeared in an ad for the Oberweis Dairy business.
* Oberweis responded with his own criticism of Foster’s mailers. A recent mailing that appears to be targeted to Hispanic residents of the district hits Oberweis for his strong opposition to illegal immigration. The ad claims:
“Oberweis wants to scare people, and then turn them against Latino families” and “Since Oberweis started his anti-immigrant and anti-Latino speeches – hate crimes in the United States against Latinos have gone up 35%.”
Oberweis campaign spokesman Bill Pascoe said the ad violates election law because it does not clearly state who it is from. It says “Sponsored by Latino Neighbors Against Hate Crimes.” No record of such an organization can be found, and the Foster campaign denies any knowledge of the ad.
* Your thoughts on the mailing mess, and it’s impact on the special election?
*** UPDATE *** [From Rich] Via Kos, a Roll Call story on a new Survey USA poll…
The House seat recently vacated by former Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) is in danger of flipping to the Democrats in Saturday’s special election, according to a poll conducted this week for Roll Call.
In the poll of 517 likely special election voters, conducted by Survey USA exclusively for Roll Call on March 3 and 4, physicist Bill Foster (D) led dairy company executive Jim Oberweis (R) 52 percent to 45 percent. The poll had a 4.4-point margin of error.
Foster appeared to test particularly well with women and independent voters, who preferred him by a 3-2 margin. The survey also suggested Foster had locked down his party’s base, taking 97 percent of likely Democratic votes and perhaps stealing 10 percent of likely GOP votes.
I’m skeptical of any special election polls because I doubt anyone knows who will really bother to show up, but SUSA is a pretty decent outfit, so there you have it.
*** UPDATE 2 *** [From Rich] Yesterday, Charlie Cook declared the special election to be a toss-up. Today, the Rothenberg Political Report did the same…
The race to succeed former House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R) is too close to call, and we’ve changed our rating of the race from Lean Republican to Toss-Up, in advance of Saturday’s special election.
Jim Oberweis (R) and Bill Foster (D) have both spent heavily from their own pockets, and both the NRCC and DCCC are involved as well. A March 3-4 SurveyUSA poll for Roll Call showed Foster leading the race 52%-45%, but some private polling contradicts the Roll Call numbers.
Republicans are at serious risk of losing the seat, but they could benefit from turnout in the Republican-leaning district. It would be a symbolic victory for the Democrats, and NRCC Chairman Tom Cole predicted that if his party were to lose the seat there would be a flood of stories spelling out the end of the GOP. At least he knows what he’s in for.
*** UPDATE 3 *** [From Rich] The SurveyUSA poll is now online…
If the special election for the US House were today, would you vote for…(names rotated) Democrat Bill Foster? Or, Republican Jim Oberweis?
52% Foster (D)
45% Oberweis (R)
3% Undecided
Is your opinion of Bill Foster … favorable? Unfavorable? Neutral? Or, are you unfamiliar with Bill Foster?
42% Favorable
31% Unfavorable
22% Neutral
5% Unfamiliar
Is your opinion of Jim Oberweis … favorable? Unfavorable? Neutral? Or, are you unfamiliar with Jim Oberweis?
38% Favorable
49% Unfavorable
12% Neutral
1% Unfamiliar
If your opinion of Dennis Hastert is…
48% Favorable
35% Unfavorable
16% Neutral
0% Unfamiliar
If your opinion of Rod Blagojevich is…
12% Favorable
74% Unfavorable
14% Neutral
0% Unfamiliar
If your opinion of Barack Obama is…
49% Favorable
35% Unfavorable
15% Neutral
1% Unfamiliar
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Hope springs eternal
Thursday, Mar 6, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The initial round of legislative committee hearings is like Opening Day at Wrigley Field. Everyone has high hopes, but they are usually disappointed by the end of the season.
Those early committee hearings mean little because there are so many hurdles left to clear. A bill that passes a committee has to then make it to a floor vote, survive that vote, make it out of the Rules Committee in the other chamber, survive a comittee vote (and perhaps other amendments) there, then find its way to the floor and win that vote, then be signed into law by the governor.
So, a lot of “sexy” bills that receive a bunch of press now will be long forgotten by the time the end of session (whenever that is) rolls around.
* But, hey, they make great press fodder, so we get stories like this…
A state Senate committee took a step toward legalizing the use of medical marijuana Wednesday, voting to let people with debilitating illnesses like AIDS or cancer use marijuana to ease their symptoms.
* And this…
llinoisans would get a chance at a “do-over” when it comes to the people in office, under a constitutional amendment which has passed a House committee. Representative Jack Franks says Governor Blagojevich has performed poorly enough to inspire him to draw it up.
* And this…
…Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie, is pushing a plan to get rid of all State Board of Education members and allow the governor to name nine new replacements. The replacement members would be chosen from a pool of 27 candidates that a panel of education experts would nominate.
Barring a miracle, not a single one of these bills will ever become the law of the land. But, it’s March. Hope springs eternal. And space must be filled.
Discuss.
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Pardon my disbelief *** UPDATED x1 ***
Thursday, Mar 6, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Lots of time for lawsuits against the House Speaker, but no time to read a pardon? That’s the story from the Blagojevich administration on why he pardoned Chandra Gill so she could become the director of a school that got a million dollar state grant to rebuild fire-ravaged Pilgrim Baptist Church….
[William Quinlan, general counsel to the governor] said he forwarded the recommendation of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board to the governor to pardon [Chandra Gill] without reading Gill’s full petition, in which she stated her connection to the school and made reference to the then-pending $1 million grant.
“I didn’t mean to mislead anyone,” Quinlan said.
The governor’s office later issued a statement saying Blagojevich did not know about Gill’s connection to the school when he approved her pardon and the expungement of her aggravated battery conviction for a 2002 fight with an Urbana police officer.
*** UPDATE *** From the governor’s office…
The article in today’s Tribune regarding the Gill pardon misstates the comments Mr. Quinlan made about the pardon process. The full petition was absolutely reviewed by legal counsel when it was submitted to our office and decided upon in January 2007. Mr. Quinlan advised the Tribune reporter that because Ms. Gill’s petition had been returned to the Prisoner Review Board in early 2007 after a decision on the petition had been made, he had reviewed internal memos on the case that are stored in our office — not the full petition — before he was asked about it following yesterday’s press conference on the Illinois Works coalition. The statement in today’s article is patently false and does not in any way reflect the process in which Ms. Gill’s petition was reviewed.
* OK, so let’s back up a minute here.
Gill gets a pardon that wasn’t read. Rev. Jesse Jackson and other African-American leaders were apparently pushing for Gill’s pardon. Her school is apparently helped by the administration with a 501C-3 application so that it can receive the million dollar grant. Details are ignored or overlooked that would preclude the grant from being awarded in the first place…
A provision in Loop Lab School’s state grant contract required the school to affirm it was not “subject to any cease and desist order” before getting the money in March 2007, money it used to acquire and renovate space at 318 W. Adams.
Two months before the school signed off on its $1 million deal with the state, the Illinois Human Rights Commission ordered the school to pay damages to a former kindergarten teacher who complained she was sexually harassed by a school official and then threatened with firing by another — a judgment that Blagojevich’s administration said the school did not disclose.
Besides awarding more than $40,000 to the teacher, the commission ordered that the school “cease and desist from further acts of sexual harassment” and “from further acts of unlawful retaliation.”
Oops.
The million dollars is then used to buy a floor in a Loop building far away from Pilgrim Baptist Church which happened to be developed by a federal mole who was helping the feds investigate Tony Rezko (the grant awarding state agency is run by a former Rezko employee, by the way). The school, whose former students now live quite a distance from its new location, isn’t open for business yet. School officials aren’t talking to the press.
This is the most high profile million dollar grant of Blagojevich’s entire administration and he either royally screwed it up or did something hinky. Either way, it represents a microcosm of the administration. Splashy and controversial announcement, everybody who is anybody is involved, no follow-through or corrupt maneuvering, governor throws his aides under the bus and won’t accept any blame, and it all ends up as a freaking mess which attracts yet another investigation.
By the way, to give you an idea how utterly bizarre this situation is, my intern Kevin knows Chandra Gill. She was a TA of his at the University of Illinois.
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Taxes and capital
Thursday, Mar 6, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* After signing a bill into law that raises the Chicago region’s taxes by about a half billion dollars, Gov. Blagojevich has the gall to criticize others…
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is calling on Chicago and Cook County officials to rethink recent tax increases. He says hikes in city property and county sales taxes are slamming area residents.
BLAGOJEVICH: Enough is enough on taxes. In fact, those who’ve raised taxes ought to reconsider and roll back some of the tax increases that they’ve already raised.
* Don’t expect the governor to roll back the taxes he just raised. And there was nothing in the state budget that would have replaced some of revenues that Cook County’s hospital is set to lose from Illinois or the feds (intergovernmental transfer and new Medicaid rules). The goose, gander argument just doesn’t apply when it comes to tax hikes…
A spokeswoman says legislators shot down [Blagojevich’s] other ideas and he was forced into it.
Actually, he could’ve shut down the mass transit system and forced an alternative to the sales and real estate transfer tax hikes. But he didn’t have the stones for that. Understandable, of course, but this man has no shame at all. Not surprising, just exhausting.
* Meanwhile, the governor has hired former US House Speaker Denny Hastert and SIU President Glenn Poshard to drum up support for the capital construction plan. But there’s a catch…
Hastert made it clear he is not endorsing Blagojevich’s plan to pay for construction or any other financial plan. The governor has proposed a $25 billion construction-spending spree with the state’s share to come from selling off rights to the state lottery. […]
“I’m not carrying water for the governor or anybody else,” he said.
I’m not sure if Hastert was asked about how he felt the capital money ought to be distributed. Besides the funding source questions, very few legislators trust the governor to distribute those projects in an equitable way - for good reason - and an alternative is being sought.
But, other than that, everything is hunky dory.
I have a lot of admiration and respect for both Hastert and Poshard, but I have no illusions that they’ll move the ball forward whatsoever.
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Morning shorts
Thursday, Mar 6, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning
* Zion to discuss proposal to dismantle nuclear plant
Exelon has hired a private company to move up the timetable for decommissioning the plant, which closed 10 years ago. If the Nuclear Regulatory Agency approves the plan, it will take another decade to return the land to its natural state, opening up 250 acres of prime lakefront property, officials said.
* Beleaguered county hospital chief to quit
Those close to Simon say he has been upset by the damage done to his reputation in the last 14 months. He was blamed for the system’s downfall.
* Hospital chief: I won’t pay
* Resignation letter
* Getting away from it all on your dime
Yet, on weekends, Simon uses taxpayer money to drive his county-issued car 320 miles, round-trip, to and from his family
home.
* Rezko trial jury selected - not revealed
* Rezko confronts 1st witness today
* Rezko gavel-to-gavel: Opening statements on tap
St. Eve said she hoped to get the government’s first witness to the stand before lunch. That is expected to be Kelly Glynn, director of Blagojevich’s campaign fund during his first successful run for governor in 2002.
* Rezko trial pits government against ‘hard but fair’ defense lawyer
* A judge not blinded by the lights
* Flushing campaign dollars
* Kendall GOP gets new chief
* Cook GOP has new leader
Lee Roupas, committeeman for Palos Township, was elected chairman of the Cook County Republican Party on Wednesday
* City man accused of stealing federal funds
* City committee targets bicyclists, motorists
* Ald. Lyle drives wedge into old boys’ club of party bosses
* Palatine official suggests split from Cook County
* Second City No More
Over the weekend, Chicago lifted itself to the top of a tax dishonor roll: The city’s cumulative sales-tax rate is now the steepest of any major metropolitan area in America, at 10.25%. That blows past the former valedictorian, Memphis (9.25%), as well as New Orleans (9%), Denver (8.6%), and even New York and Los Angeles. Congratulations.
* Attorney general: SD 122 meeting was improper
* Congress vents on FutureGen
* Durbin: Meeting with Canadian National head ‘unproductive’
Durbin, the second-ranking Democrat in the Senate, and U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean, a Barrington Democrat, assailed Canadian National’s plan to spend $300 million to buy the 198-mile EJ&E rail system that runs through the suburbs from Gary, Ind., to Waukegan.
* Durbin: CN not budging with EJ&E
* Illinois superdelegates say presidential race must continue
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Question of the day
Wednesday, Mar 5, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The setup…
Tiny plastic bags used to sell small quantities of heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana and other drugs would be banned in Chicago, under a crackdown advanced Tuesday by a City Council committee.
Ald. Robert Fioretti (2nd) persuaded the Health Committee to ban possession of “self-sealing plastic bags under two inches in either height or width,” after picking up 15 of the bags on a recent Sunday afternoon stroll through a West Side park.
Lt. Kevin Navarro, commanding officer of the Chicago Police Department’s Narcotics and Gang Unit, said the ordinance will be an “important tool” to go after grocery stores, health food stores and other businesses. The bags are used by the thousand to sell small quantities of drugs at $10 or $20 a bag.
Navarro referred to the plastic bags as “Marketing 101 for the drug dealers.” Many of them have symbols, allowing drug users to ask for “Superman” or “Blue Dolphin” instead of the drug itself, he said.
* The question: Good idea or not? Should the state follow suit? Explain.
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Just a C?
Wednesday, Mar 5, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* At first glance, when the Pew Center on the States gives Illinois a grade of “C” in its governance, one can’t help but ask: “Just a C?” But there may be some grade inflation afoot, since we’re tied for 48th overall with six other states…
“We respect the Pew Center’s commitment to this project, but unfortunately, the Pew Center chose to focus on politics instead of fiscal facts,” said Kelley Quinn, a spokeswoman for the governor’s budget office.
* It’s true, there is a lot of focus on politics in the analysis, but the grading itself is mostly based on performance. See for yourself here.
And there were a couple of bright spots in Pew’s analysis…
Fortunately for citizens, some positive change is occurring underneath the radar. In the past few years, the governor has required agencies to report more performance information. And some of the yardsticks now used, such as the percentage of ex-offenders who avoid going back to prison, are measuring solid outcomes.
* But politics and governance are completely intertwined, so Pew’s analysis is spot on…
But before those plans bear fruit — before any significant fiscal improvement can take place, for that matter — the administration and the legislature need to restore a working relationship. Many things hang in the balance, such as the $25 billion capital program for roads, bridges, schools, higher education and economic development.
* Meanwhile, Harold Hendersen links to this analysis of state-sponsored “economic stimulus” plans that involve tax cuts…
* Diminished state funding for services (or increased taxes). States, unlike the federal government, must balance their budgets. Therefore, for every dollar a state spends on new tax cuts, it must cut state spending (or raise other state taxes) by a dollar. That means less money for important services such as education, health care, transportation, and public safety — more specifically, less money for teacher and police salaries, road maintenance, and payments to doctors and hospitals.
* No net benefit to the economy. People who receive a state tax cut will have a bit more money to spend, but the teachers, construction workers, and health-care workers who lose their jobs or contracts with the state as a result of cutbacks in services will have much less to spend.
* Harold comments…
I find this mode of argument — that tax cuts can do good in some circumstances and not others — far more persuasive than arguments from those who assume that tax cuts, or tax increases, are always the answer.
Thoughts on all of this?
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House panel rejects smoking ban exemptions
Wednesday, Mar 5, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning
[Note from Rich: Kevin is going to start doing one post a day, so help him out in comments with constructive critiques. Thanks.]
* Yesterday afternoon the Environmental Health Committee voted overwhelmingly to reject two proposals that would skirt the statewide smoking ban. The first proposal, offered by Rep. Shane Cultra, would have lifted the ban entirely. He argued that the ban is a “nightmare,” crippling businesses in his district and sending patrons across the border to Indiana. The committee voted down his legislation 11-3.
* The second proposal was more conciliatory towards the ban, and offered that businesses should be able to buy licenses to allow smoking. Rep. Ramey, the bill’s sponsor, explained that eligible businesses would include bars with food sales of 10 percent or less, casinos, racetracks, veterans’ organizations and other private clubs. Restaurants would be excluded.
Tom Swoik of the Illinois Casino Gaming Association testified as a proponent of the legislation. He argued that January and February revenues for the state’s nine operating casinos fell by more than 17 percent as a direct result of smokers spending less time at the slots and more time outside.
Some on the committee were sympathetic:
“Where does a smoker go in this state?” said Rep. Michael Tryon, a Republican from Crystal Lake. “You can’t have the government interfering in everybody’s life for everything that they do.”
But the measure failed 10-4.
* Smokers squeaked out one victory though:
The committee voted 12-2 for a measure allowing an Algonquin man to open a bar where patrons smoke flavored tobacco.
Aqeel Akhtar told lawmakers he put more than $50,000 into starting his lounge but found out in mid-January that the law only allows tobacco establishments that were open by Jan. 1.
The bill will allow shops if they were licensed by Jan. 1, even if they weren’t open yet.
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Cook thinks it’s a tossup
Wednesday, Mar 5, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The venerated Cook Political Report changed its rating yesterday on the 14th Congressional District special election between Jim Oberweis and Bill Foster from “lean Republican” to “tossup.” Here’s part of the explanation…
Four days out, the special election to fill the seat left vacant by the resignation of former Speaker Dennis Hastert is too close to call… most agree Foster owns the late momentum.
The national GOP’s spending illustrates the party’s deep concern about where things stand in this pricey exurban Chicago district, which has a PVI score of R+5. As of the most recent FEC filings, the NRCC had spent over $1.1 million in independent expenditures – close to one fifth of its cash on hand - against Foster. By contrast, the DCCC had spent just over half that sum against Oberweis.
One Republican familiar with Illinois politics characterized the match up as a “race to the basement.” Indeed, whereas previous electoral experience is an asset for most candidates, Oberweis’s past unsuccessful bids are now coming back to haunt him. […]
Republican insiders also worry that Oberweis has not done enough to confront Foster directly on conservative base-motivating issues such as illegal immigration, and that an ad taking Foster’s debate comments out of context has backfired.
The Obama endorsement ad of Foster, the Tribune’s Foster endorsement, which included some harsh comments about Oberweis, and the Saturday voting are also cited as reasons for the switch. But they note the strong Republican tendencies of the district as Oberweis’ saving grace.
* But here’s something Cook may have missed…
Northern Illinois University, boasting more than 25,000 students, falls within the 14th Congressional District and students registered to vote in DeKalb could have a say in deciding whether Democrat Bill Foster or Republican Jim Oberweis will fill Hastert’s seat through January 2009. But, NIU’s spring break begins Friday and many students will be out of town on vacation and won’t be around to cast their vote in the special Saturday election. […]
Students did have the opportunity to vote early through Monday, but early voting numbers are way down across DeKalb County compared to the Feb. 5 primaries, according to Sharon Holmes, the county clerk. They have received only about one third of the total early and absentee votes they got for the Feb. 5 elections. [emphasis added]
I don’t know how it is now, but back in the day NIU students tended to go home to Chicago or the suburbs on the weekends anyway. Thursday was the big bar night. But spring break means the place will completely empty out.
That might make a difference if this ends up being a close race.
Thoughts?
…Adding… If this alleged ugliness is true and it somehow finds its way into the mainstream before Saturday then things could take a quick turn for the worse. Oy.
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Populist fury rises in Cook
Wednesday, Mar 5, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Tempers appear to be a bit on the high side in suburban Cook County…
After calling on Cook County Board President Todd Stroger to personally “explain himself” for pushing through a sales tax increase, some angry Palatine Village Council members said they had an even better idea — secede from the county.
Talk of tax revolt was in the air this week as officials, business owners and taxpayers throughout the region voiced outrage. But perhaps nowhere was the outrage more visible than in communities that share a border with lower-tax counties.
I had forgotten all about this…
Several northwest suburban leaders proposed creating a new entity — Lincoln County — in the 1970s, and Palatine Councilman Jack Wagner said it was time to explore that again. “This is getting out of hand,” Wagner said. “We can’t afford it.” […]
“It makes it very difficult for us to generate the revenue we have in the past,” said Schaumburg Village Manager Ken Fritz.Although more recent efforts toward secession have focused on southwest suburbs, for years the movement was pushed by Wendell Jones, former Palatine mayor and state senator. His successor in the statehouse, Republican Sen. Matt Murphy, recently proposed a bill that would make it easier for Illinois townships to vote to split off from counties. […]
The Lincoln County proposal is going to be sort of hard to do,” said McLeod, whose town competes with cheaper locales in Kane and Lake Counties. “Sure, they can make some hay with it, but the powers-that-be aren’t going to let this area go.”
* Even Public Radio is getting into the fiery populist act, running a story today on how just days after the County Board passed a huge tax hike, commissioners are looking to double the parking tax even though they get free parking for themselves….
So if you pay for monthly parking in a garage—the tax on your spot would go from right around 20 bucks to 40. If you park for a day and the county taxes you $1, you would pay 2. Pretty straightforward. […]
When commissioners and many of their staffers park downtown, they get to park in the garage under the Daley Center for free. There are even extra spots for Board President Todd Stroger and Finance Committee Chairman John Daley offices.
So if they approve the tax your parking would double—theirs would still be free. The proposal could be considered as soon as Thursday.
* And the Chicago Reader is enraged and disillusioned…
Larry Suffredin reminds us once again that there is no such thing as an effective and pure reformer in Chicago. And anyone who claims to be one is going to end up a liar. […]
After years of marketing himself as a reformer, he had to decide whether to stand tall on his soapbox as the county government shut down or flip-flop and make a deal that would increase Cook County’s sales tax.
He decided to flip, and the criticism was immediate and withering. Given his history of vowing resistance to tax hikes, it was also fair. […]
He also argues that some of his critics in the media didn’t want to see a budget passed. “They’re disappointed because I think they really did want to see the government shut down.”
It’s an old trick to blame the media for your political problems, and Suffredin can be criticized at least as much as he can be credited for the terms of the deal he cut.
From the tone of that piece, it looks like Suffredin was right about the media and the shutdown.
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Is the sky green? Is the grass blue?
Wednesday, Mar 5, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* ABC 7 led a story lat night with this question: Is Governor Rod Blagojevich a man of his word?
That’s the question that’s ricocheted around the state this week after state funds earmarked to restore Pilgrim Baptist Church went to the wrong place.
Another religious leader is also accusing the governor of breaking a promise.
Rabbi Philip Lefkowitz says, as a religious man, he’s not going to accuse Governor Blagojevich of lying to him but believes he did break a commitment made at a Seder. The rabbi claims the governor offered him $400,000 to build a long-dreamed-about, non-sectarian community center in Uptown. That was more than two years ago.
“We were counting on that. We were basing our fundraising dollars on it, and we could develop a mortgage and get the job going. We’re still waiting,” said Lefkowitz, of the Agudas Achim Congregation.
Um, no offense meant, but is Channel 7 just now figuring out that the governor’s word can’t be trusted - even when he makes a promise at a Seder? Where have they been?
* And there’s more weirdness afoot on that Pilgrim Baptist Church grant that went to the “wrong” place. A commenter here yesterday may have tipped off the Tribune…
In the midst of approving a $1 million state grant to officials for a school burned out of the Pilgrim Baptist Church, Gov. Rod Blagojevich granted a pardon and ordered that the criminal record of one of the school’s officers be expunged, according to state records examined by the Tribune.
The Trib reports that Rev. Jesse Jackson pushed for the gubernatorial pardon. Now, go all the way to the end of the story and here’s what you’ll find, after the Blagojevich administration claimed that the grant and the pardon were not connected…
In her petition for a pardon, however, Gill noted that she had applied for the $1 million grant but feared she wouldn’t be able to run the school with a felony record.
Pardons are a governor’s most awesome responsibility. In other words, he should’ve been paying attention to what he was doing there.
* Meanwhile…
A private school that Gov. Blagojevich said errantly received $1 million from his administration allowed a former kindergarten teacher to be sexually harassed and unlawfully retaliated against her when she complained, a state panel ruled in 2006.
The judgment by the state Human Rights Commission against Loop Lab School and one of its former officials, Tyrone Johnson, came two months before Blagojevich’s administration awarded the $1 million grant to the school.
Oops.
* And it looks like there may have been some troubles at that school before the church burned down…
[Former Loop Lab School teacher Gregory Luckett] claims financial problems popped up at the school long before the flames and long before Governor Rod Blagojevich offered state money to rebuild.
“Before the fire we were not getting paid correctly, we were not getting paid on a regular basis, we were not getting paid our rate,” said Luckett.
Longtime Blagojevich critic Rep. Jack Franks has promised to hold hearings on this imbroglio, so it should be a lot of fun.
* Kinda related stuff…
* Cole Hall demolition plan put on hold
* President Peters reconsiders plans for Cole Hall
* NIU president pulls back from call to raze Cole Hall
* Mayor Daley criticizes Gov. Blagojevich’s plan to raze NIU’s Cole Hall
* Second thoughts arise over demolishing NIU lecture hall
* Editorial: Rebuilding NIU shouldn’t be about politics
* Editorial: State can’t afford Blagojevich’s NIU plan
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Morning shorts
Wednesday, Mar 5, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning
* State plans program to reduce foreclosures
The program will offer 30-year fixed-rate mortgages guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration. The interest rate will not exceed 8 percent for loans capped at $417,000, with no prepayment penalties and no income requirement for borrowers.
* Firm lands 2-year deal to run Midway
The Daley administration has chosen a new manager for Midway Airport, signing a two-year, $21.2 million contract that will tide the city over until the airport is privatized.
Skyline Management Group has replaced a clout-heavy partnership that’s held the contract since 2001 and includes former Illinois Gaming Board Chairman Elzie Higginbottom, Mayor Daley’s chief fund-raiser in the black community.
* City may ban little baggies
* State takes over control of controversial hotel
* Good owner, money needed for Lincoln hotel Developers think need exists for downtown site
* The Budget Push
Illinois’ Transportation Secretary says the need for improving roads and bridges is becoming clear to legislators, which may lead to quicker action on a capital budget.
* Ill. House scales back moment of silence
Bill sponsor Rep. John Fritchey, D-Chicago, said the bill would make the moment of silence optional as it was before the law was passed last year. He added that students should be able to think about anything they wish rather than the “anticipated activities of the day” as the law mandates.
* 2nd thoughts on moment of silence
* No class time for God, but a license plate?
* Repeal of act requiring students to report their HIV status defeated
* Poe seeks answers for problems at fairgrounds
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