Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Monday, Apr 10, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

Â· My latest weekly newspaper column examines that Glengariff Group poll from last week.

Â· The Rezko beat:

Real estate developer Antoin “Tony” Rezko’s plan to extricate himself from another soured deal has hit a snag. Unable to get a 24-story River North condominium tower off the ground, Mr. Rezko and partner Daniel Mahru decided last year to sell the development site at Chicago and Hudson avenues. The problem: They signed a contract to sell the property for $9 million, but they owe the property’s lender, Chicago-based Broadway Bank, about $12 million.

Â· Christian Coalition shrinks as debt grows

Â· Chicago draws college grads

Â· SJ-R has apparently begung running columns on the front page.

Â· Supremely Meek Media

Â· Rep. Hoffman makes good

Â· Puerto Rico Governor Celebrates Midwest Office in Chicago

Â· Hundreds Rally For Immigration Rights At U Of I

Â· Protested Bean Defends Immigration Stance

Â· Ontario officials must have talked to Illinois legislators because they’ve obtained a “memorandum of understanding” from Gov. Blagojevich.

Have at it…

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Question of the day

Monday, Apr 10, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

First, the setup:

Before a film industry boon goes bust in the Chicago area, Illinois lawmakers are debating whether to extend additional tax incentives to filmmakers being lured to other states that offer even better breaks.

Legislation that passed the Senate 58-0 Friday would extend the film tax credit until January 2009 and provide greater tax incentives to production companies that employ residents from high-poverty areas.

The current film tax credit, set to expire next January without an extension, allows film companies to deduct 25 percent of their total labor costs for each employee who is an Illinois resident.

Under the proposal now in the House, the law would be tweaked so firms could claim a 20 percent tax credit on total production costs and receive an additional 15 percent break on labor costs for employees hired from high-poverty areas.

Now, the question: Do you think this tax break is the right thing to do?

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Monday, Apr 10, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

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More trouble for Alexi

Monday, Apr 10, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

The Tribune hasn’t given up just because Alexi Giannoulias won the primary.

On the way to his March primary victory, Democratic candidate for state treasurer Alexi Giannoulias found himself defending multimillion-dollar loans his family-owned bank made to a Chicago crime figure.

While saying there was nothing wrong with the loans, he also emphasized they were business decisions made while he was in law school and not a full-time bank employee.

But newly gathered records from South Carolina, Florida and Cook County show that his family’s Broadway Bank made an additional $11.8 million worth of mortgage loans last year to Michael Giorango, a convicted bookmaker and prostitution ring promoter. And Giannoulias, a senior loan officer at the bank, oversees those 2005 loans. […]

Giannoulias also said in March that Broadway Bank “never financed any casinos. We never did anything like that.”

The Tribune interviewed Giannoulias again last week after newly obtained records showed the more recent Broadway loans, including a $3.6 million mortgage that Giorango and another convicted felon used to acquire a casino boat marina in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

“I thought it was for condos,” Giannoulias said of the waterfront property that secured that loan.

And the best quote in the entire story:

Asked in the recent interview if he thought it was acceptable for the state treasurer to lend money to crime figures, Giannoulias said the state treasurer must get “the best rate of return for taxpayers to create jobs.”

Oy.

Read the whole thing. There’s plenty more.

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Yet another Lane Evans open thread

Monday, Apr 10, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

Does John G have it sewn up for his guy or not? The ~~QC Times~~ Dispatch and Rock Island Argus fills us in.

Rock Island County Democrats may not be the king makers of the 17th Congressional District, if party bosses in other counties get their way.

Rock Island County Democratic party chairman John Gianulis said he will endorse a candidate from within the county and expects other chairmen from around the district will fall in line.

Mr. Gianulis called a press conference Friday to announce who he’d endorse to replace U.S. Rep. Lane Evans on the November ballot. Instead, he said he will make the announcement next week.

He believes his backing will bring others throughout the congressional district in line behind his candidate, especially other county party chairmen.

“I told them who I support will be a Rock Island County candidate and I am sure they will support that,” he said.

But that may not be the case.

“I’ve talked to a lot of county chairmen, and the chairmen I’ve talked to don’t care for the person John is going for,” Vern Hagstrom, Adams County Democratic party chairman, said.

[Hat tip: Inside Dope, who has more]

What have you heard lately?

UPDATE: Just got this e-mail:

Rich:

Today’s bit on Lane Evans attributes a story to the QC Times. The story you quote actually ran in The Dispatch and The Rock Island Argus.

Sorry, again, for that time a few years back when we accidently identified you as a murderer.

Joe Beach
Metro editor
The Dispatch/The Rock Island Argus

True story.

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Statewide campaign roundup

Monday, Apr 10, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

The Pantagraph reports that Mrs. Blagojevich says her husband isn’t yet looking at a White House bid.

Illinois’ first lady says her husband isn’t looking for a job in the White House - yet.

Speaking to a class of fourth-graders from Harristown Elementary School Friday, Patti Blagojevich said her husband is concentrating on his bid for re-election as governor of Illinois.

“I think all of our focus right now is - to make sure he gets the chance for another four years,” she told the students during a mock press conference at the Executive Mansion.

Meanwhile, the AP reports, without specific polling data to back it up, that women Democrats are split between Blagojevich and Topinka.

Many female Democrats like Donovan are drawn to Topinka, in part because she’s a woman but mostly because she’s a moderate.

That crossover appeal gives the state treasurer the opportunity to pick off voters from a key Blagojevich constituency, one he has carefully courted over the past four years.

“The fact that she’s a moderate makes it possible for them to slide over,” said University of Illinois at Springfield political studies professor Chris Mooney.

And that’s vital, former two-term GOP Gov. Jim Edgar notes, because Democrats outnumber Republicans in Illinois. […]

Bonnie Grabenhofer, president of the Illinois chapter of the National Organization for Women, said Blagojevich has a long list of accomplishments when it comes to women’s issues.

For example, he supports abortion rights, while Topinka favors restrictions on it that are “troublesome to us,” Grabenhofer said.

Topinka also slammed the governor over the weekend over his conservation record.

State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka offered stinging criticism of Gov. Rod Blagojevich during a speech to more than 100 leaders of environmental and conservation groups gathered at the University of Illinois at Springfield on Saturday.

Blagojevich did not attend the conference.

“Even worse than his absence and indifference is the harm that Rod Blagojevich has caused to conservation interests,” Topinka said in a 15-minute speech. “And the harm has been significant.”

And the Illinois Times ran an interesting column about why downstate black Democrats could embrace Meeksâ€™ candidacy. Go check it out.

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Morning shorts

Monday, Apr 10, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

Â· What she said.

Â· Tribune: “Friday wasn’t supposed to end this way, with Gov. Rod Blagojevich, House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President Emil Jones quietly leaving Springfield with their work undone.”

Â· Chambers, as usual, gets it right.

Â· “The state agency managing health care for the poor began its last budget year $860 million in the hole. By the time it finished the year, it grew that hole nearly twofold to $1.5 billion.”

Â· Governor feels effect of spring storms â€” in Chicago

Â· Government investigating if Big Oil thwarting biodiesel

Â· City desk interview with Tony Peraica (video only).

Â· Finke: Gov. ROD BLAGOJEVICH showed up in Springfield Tuesday - four days before the General Assembly’s original adjournment date - to begin negotiating a budget.

Â· Bernie: Some Republican lawmakers have been spinning their wheels while in Springfield - literally.

Â· Job recruiter frustrated by state

Â· Let’s make a deal, Comptroller

Â· Meeks to 9,000 regulars: Stay home on Easter

Â· Doyle signs with Biden

Â· Marin: Spread sunshine on Supreme Court picks

Â· Vets director reiterate governorâ€™s plan to give low-income veterans medical coverage

Â· Editorial: Increasing driving time for minors makes sense

Â· Charities battle to stay alive on state tax forms

Â· Sweet: Possible ‘08 candidates look to Illinois

Â· Suit slams school league breakup

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READER COMMENTS CLOSED FOR THE WEEKEND

Friday, Apr 7, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

Talk at you Monday.

If the mood strikes, head to Illinoize. Always lots of fun there.

UPDATE: I don’t care what you’re doing this weekend, you have to make time to check out the Republican interviews over at Krime & JustUs In Da “P” with Coach Ron.

UPDATE: If the Bill Brady interview isn’t loading you can find it here. “Keep pushin’ love.”

UPDATE: WGN TV has posted the impromptu “debate” between Gov. Blagojevich and Treasurer Topinka that happened the morning after the primary election. It cuts off before Topinka walks out, however. Check it out here.

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This just in… NO BUDGET MEETING TODAY - and afternoon shorts

Friday, Apr 7, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

Â· The governor and the two Democratic legislative leaders will not have a budget meeting today. No future meetings are scheduled. “The Speaker wasn’t available,” said a spokesperson for Gov. Blagojevich.

Madigan is still meeting with his members to see what they want from the budget. Madigan’s spokesman said that Madigan and staff would be in Springfield on Sunday and would be available. Check back for updates.

UPDATE: I should point out that the governor had invited both Senate President Emil Jones and Speaker Madigan to his office today to negotiate budget details.

This, of course, does not bode well for getting the budget done any time soon. There are just three full scheduled overtime session days left before Passover.

UPDATE 2: From a Blagojevich spokesperson:

(I) wanted to let you know that the staffs are still crunching numbers and the leaders will get together sometime next week. We feel like we made some progress this week and that after several discussions, the leader’s are not that far apart. We look forward to coming back next week and making even more progess and getting to a budget that works not only for the Governor and for legislators but for people.

Meanwhile, here are a few afternoon tidbits.

Â· Don’t bother reading the story at this link, but make extra sure to watch the video. CBS2 had a little fun with Topinka’s “weasel eyes” comment.

Â· Tuition might rise again. U of I trustees will consider increase

Â· Here’s another one I missed this morning:

The overwhelming support in Springfield for an open primary election has motivated Sam Cahnman to take the initiative statewide.

Cahnman, a candidate in the November election for the Illinois House, is advising voters to attend annual township meetings across the state next week to place similar advisory referendums on the fall ballot.

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Friday, Apr 7, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Enough!

Friday, Apr 7, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

It’s way past time for the Illinois State Board of Elections to provide some clear and cogent and complete rules for the replacement of Congressman Lane Evans on the November ballot. There is just way too much confusion out there about how to proceed and this wouldn’t have to be endlessly litigated if the SBE would just do its job.

For instance:

The Democrats need to settle the issue of who gets to vote at their nominating convention. Don Johnston, the17th District committeeman and co-arranger with committeewoman Mary Boland of the convention, contends only precinct committeepeople elected March 21 get to vote. Rock Island County Democratic Chairman John Gianulis thinks votes should go to committeepeople to be appointed later this month to fill the many vacanies that exist — up to 50 percent of the posts may be vacant.

Then there’s the question of how proxy votes will be handled.

The replacement election is a party matter, but the state must exert some oversight and direction. So far, the Board of Elections has only managed to confuse things. They need to get it together now.

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Question of the day

Friday, Apr 7, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

It’s Friday, so let’s lighten things up a little. Come up with a caption for this photo:

By the way, your comments about yesterday’s lightning strike were very popular at the Statehouse. Good job.

59 Comments

Kabuki dance

Friday, Apr 7, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

He-said, she-said political back and forth.

As negotiations on a new state budget crept along Thursday, the Illinois Senate rejected a massive construction-bond program promoted by Democrats.

By identical 32-26 votes, the Senate failed to approve a $1 billion school-construction initiative and a $3.3 billion road-construction program. Because both bills involved the issuing of bonds, a three-fifths’ majority, or 36 votes, was needed to pass. But Republicans, the minority party in the Senate, refused to support them.

Republicans and Democrats traded accusations about who was playing politics.

“These proposals are nothing more than a cynical campaign stunt,” said Sen. Chris Lauzen, R-Aurora.

“It would be in (Republicans) best interest to vote for this,” said Sen. Donne Trotter, D-Chicago, sponsor of the road-construction plan. “If not, then they are just playing political games.”

The Sun-Times has more.

Senate Republicans called Thursday’s deliberations a political charade never intended to truly address the state’s massive infrastructure needs because there was no reliable funding source built into the program. GOP critics also charged the governor could not be trusted to ensure construction work would be spread evenly to Democratic and Republican districts and questioned why the Blagojevich administration did not lobby them when their votes were essential.

“These people have no idea what it takes to govern. We’re on the floor tonight debating the issue, and they want to talk about it tomorrow. This is ludicrous,” said Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson (R-Greenville). “You talk about politics. That’s what it’s about with this governor. He’s not sincere or serious about doing anything.”

But Sen. Rickey Hendon (D-Chicago) defended Blagojevich and said Republicans who didn’t follow the Democrats’ lead were putting politics over school kids.

“You hate the man,” Hendon said. “Let me tell you, I trust the governor. . . . More importantly, you should support the children of Illinois, even if you don’t like Rod, even if you don’t like me, even if you don’t like President Jones.”

The Tribune had the best lede.

A long Thursday at the Statehouse started with a bang but ended with a whimper for Democrats who couldn’t persuade Republican lawmakers to add crucial support for a multibillion-dollar school construction and public works plan pushed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

A thunderbolt struck the Capitol complex with a blinding flash as lawmakers gathered in the morning, temporarily disrupting the Senate’s sound system. Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago) quipped that it was “divine intervention” meant to quicken budget talks that will keep lawmakers in session past Friday’s scheduled adjournment.

More here.

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False alarm

Friday, Apr 7, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

Sneed has the story.

Former Gov. George Ryan and wife, Lura Lynn, aren’t the only ones anxiously awaiting the verdict in his federal corruption trial.

*To wit: Nail-biting reporters scurried en masse to the Dirksen federal building Thursday when it was learned two women jurors who have been wearing casual clothes during deliberations were spotted in more formal attire — thereby sending a vibe to the fourth estate that a verdict might be imminent.

*Nit wit: This should have been a “not yet” hint: Two female jurors maintained their exercise routines Thursday by donning headphones and walking the stairs outside the jury room.

Yesterday, when the jury decision rumors began, I sent an e-mail to a reporter friend who is covering the trial. He sent this back (slightly edited for content):

It’s BS as far as I can tell. I’ve been checking and we have someone down there. 780 AM reported that “two jurors dressed nicely today.” Well, it’s the forewoman, who ALWAYS dresses nicely, and the hot North Shore Marathoner Mom, who also often dresses nicely. Sun Times sent 7 people over, but they’re apparently treating it as a dress rehearsal.

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JBT under fire

Friday, Apr 7, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

Judy Baar Topinka takes some heat for her comments in yesterday’s George Will column.

Yet what can pass for candor or eccentricity in drawing voter attention to a low-level state office becomes magnified under the glare of the race for governor. How her comments, or her latest rendition of “Lady of Spain,” will play with voters in the Nov. 7 election is an open question.

“You can pop off sort of under the radar when you’re the GOP Lincoln Day speaker or the warm-up act,” said Christopher Mooney, a political scientist at the University of Illinois at Springfield. “When you’re the top dog, then people take everything you say much more seriously and pay more attention to it.”

On Thursday, nationally syndicated columnist George Will wrote about Topinka’s challenge to Blagojevich. He said that Topinka “speaks about her opponent with a Chicago vigor: He is `slick’ and `has little weasel eyes.’” […]

But some Republicans are privately expressing concern that Topinka’s campaign has not made a quick transition from a primary in which she largely played defense as the front-runner to a general election in which the level of competition against Blagojevich, a seasoned campaigner, is much higher.

More here.

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The Burke beat

Friday, Apr 7, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

The Tribune has a good backgrounder today about the politics of the Illinois Supreme Court.

The selection this week of Anne Burke, wife of powerful Chicago Ald. Ed Burke (14th), to the state’s highest court has drawn new public attention to the long-standing role of politics in the state’s judicial system.

Many of the justices who have served on the state Supreme Court once stood, hat in hand, before political party leaders as they sought selection for a county judgeship that became a steppingstone. Freeman and Bilandic, Appellate Court judges in 1990, sought the backing of Cook County Democratic Party leaders when they successfully ran for the Supreme Court.

Freeman defeated Mary Ann McMorrow in the Democratic primary in 1990. Two years later, McMorrow got the backing of the Democratic Party organization and won a seat on the high court. McMorrow, the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court, announced Wednesday that she was stepping down and had recommended Burke as her replacement.

“The idea that we get our judges from Mt. Sinai is just not the case,” said Abner Mikva, a former federal judge and congressman who acknowledges politics and knowing then-President Jimmy Carter played a role in his selection to the federal bench. “They’ve all come through some political process at some point. But what matters most is what you do once you get there.”

The Sun-Times editorial board has some reservations about the way Anne Burke was appointed to the Supreme Court this week.

But while we have no problem with the passing of the torch between the two accomplished jurists, we have some reservations about how the torch was passed. McMorrow announced her retirement Wednesday and presented the appointment of Burke by Supreme Court members as a fait accompli. We have no idea who else, if anyone, was considered. That’s emblematic of a judicial selection process in Illinois dominated by insiders. Burke has proved herself to Illinoisans. We suspect she will be overwhelmingly elected if she runs to win a full 10-year term in 2008. But that doesn’t change the fact that the process should have been more open.

The Tribune edit board also weighed in on a separate issue.

But Burke also has raised questions that stem from her behind-the-scenes influence on decisions affecting the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services in recent years. She used a local gossip columnist to steer policy debates and made concerted efforts to discredit former DCFS Director Jess McDonald, who did more to bring stability and professionalism to the department than any director in decades. McDonald had not reacted as Burke and her husband, Ald. Edward Burke (14th), had wanted during their disputed quest to adopt a foster child.

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Morning shorts

Friday, Apr 7, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller

Â· Skinner: “The Republican National Convention has again been set too lateâ€”Sept. 1st through 4th–for the next GOP presidential nominee to be placed on the Illinois ballot without changing state law.”

Â· Ryan can’t get an answer:

RMMF: “Mr. Speaker am I safe to buy tickets for the Blue & Gold game on April 22nd?”

Speaker: (walking up the stairs) “It should be a good game!”

RMMF: “I know, that’s why I want to go. But will I be safe getting tickets with session?”

Speaker: (smiling) “I don’t know?”

Â· Royko at the Goat

Â· Random thoughts during the jury waiting game

Â· Friday Beer Blogging: Back to Basics Edition

Â· “Maybe a forced time-out might be in order.”

Â· “The nomination of social liberal Judy Baar Topinka by the Illinois Republican Party for Governor last month will provide a case study as to why the national GOP must avoid a pro-choice nominee for President in 2008.”

Â· Doug Wilson Is A Stud

Â· “We hate to burst the bubble of those who are hoping Senator James Meeks will put together a third party bid for governor, but folks, he’s not running.”

Â· More on the Mass Health Insurance Plan

Â· Peoria Pundit: Are ethanol cars really better for the environment? They certainly arenâ€™t good for Peoriaâ€™s budget

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