SurveyUSA
Wednesday, Dec 14, 2005 - Posted by Rich Miller
December trackers are online for US Senate.
Durbin: 46% approve, 39% disapprove.
Obama: 69% approve, 23% disapprove.
Discuss, if you’re at all interested.
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Question of the day
Wednesday, Dec 14, 2005 - Posted by Rich Miller
There are lots of rumors about how much money Edwin Eisendrath will spend in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. I talked to him about it yesterday and he flatly refused to comment.
How much do you think it will take to defeat Gov. Blagojevich in the primary? Is there any amount? What else will Eisendrath have to do to win?
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Killing the airport?
Wednesday, Dec 14, 2005 - Posted by Rich Miller
The Congressman isn’t happy.
Congress is expected to pass a defense bill this week that could indefinitely delay construction of the proposed Abraham Lincoln National Airport.
The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to pass overwhelmingly this week a bill supporting military personnel and their families, despite an amendment that would require all new airports be governed by a local airport commission.
Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., at a news conference Tuesday said Rep. Jerry Weller, R-Morris, added an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act of 2006 that would require the Federal Aviation Administration to approve only local airport commissions if the governing body is composed of a majority of local residents who live in the county where the airport is located.
The amendment would give Will County officials governing power over the proposed airport and the 4,200-acre footprint, essentially eliminating the Abraham Lincoln National Airport Commission or ALNAC, largely made up of municipalities in Cook County.
“Weller’s amendment is designed to kill the airport. This is bad legislation driven by politics,” Jackson said.
And this from the Sun-Times:
A spokesman for Weller (R-Ill.) refused to comment, answer any questions or even confirm that the proposal exists.
“All you’re getting is a big, fat no comment from us,” Weller spokesman Chris Kennedy said.
Open government at its finest.
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Way down
Wednesday, Dec 14, 2005 - Posted by Rich Miller
In the middle of a profile of the new head of the Chicago Crime Commission, James Wagner, we get this:
Because of state budget cuts and hiring freezes under Gov. Blagojevich, the Gaming Board has gone from 18 investigators when Wagner started there to just eight at present.
“That’s just not enough to do the job over there,” Wagner told me Tuesday, admitting that frustration with the situation at the Gaming Board was a major factor in his decision to leave after he was recruited for the Crime Commission opening.
There are 10,000 casino employees in Illinois, each of whom has to undergo a background check by the investigative staff before they can be licensed. Owners and managers are supposed to get more extensive background investigations. The Gaming Board also must investigate the companies that supply gaming equipment to the casinos.
“I really was not comfortable we had enough people to do a satisfactory job. We did the best we could, but I would strongly recommend that the state increase the manpower there,” said Wagner with the understatement one would expect from a career FBI agent.
I knew the numbers had dropped. But eight? Unreal.
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Doesn’t look so bad from here
Wednesday, Dec 14, 2005 - Posted by Rich Miller
This seems kinda quaint, considering Illinois has a fleet of state planes and a Tollway helicopter.
Gov. Bill Richardson found a surefire way to bypass traffic while heading to a bill-signing ceremony in Albuquerque last spring: Instead of driving the 60 miles south, he hopped aboard a speedy state police helicopter.
The New Mexico governor has taken 40 trips on the sleek state-of-the-art chopper since December 2003, when the state bought it for $3.8 million.
There’s nothing illegal about the governor’s flights — which take place, according to his administration, only if the aircraft is not needed by police.
But some Republicans accused Richardson, who is often mentioned as a possible Democratic presidential candidate, of showboating.
Showboating? What about this?
Bobby Rahal helped Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich open three new Open Road Tolling lanes on Dec. 11. The lanes allow drivers with I-PASS to get to their destinations faster on I-294 because they no longer have to slow down or stop at toll booths.
Rahal drove a red 2005 Indianapolis 500 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car through the new Touhy Avenue Plaza.
“Thanks to Bobby Rahal for coming out today to dramatize how Open Road Tolling lanes will allow motorists to get to their destinations faster,” Blagojevich said. “I’ve been coming out for each Open Road Tolling opening because I want drivers to know we are doing everything we can to reduce congestion.”
Now that’s showboating, my friends.
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Duckworth still waiting
Tuesday, Dec 13, 2005 - Posted by Rich Miller
And Roskam no longer has a primary opponent.
Iraq war veteran Ladda “Tammy†Duckworth is ready to run for the congressional seat held by retiring Republican U.S. Rep. Henry Hyde. The question remains: will she be able to?
As of Monday afternoon, the Hoffman Estates helicopter pilot who lost both of her legs and severely injured her right arm in an insurgent attack, had not been released from active duty in the Army. And that means Duckworth can’t engage in any political activity or she risks a potential dishonorable discharge and loss of benefits.
With less than a week remaining to file for a spot on the March 21 Democratic primary ballot, Duckworth’s supporters do not appear worried yet. […]
On the Republican side of the 6th Congressional District race, state Sen. Peter Roskam of Wheaton found out he won’t have a primary opponent after all. John Vivoda, president of the Glen Ellyn Elementary District 41 school board, dropped out Monday.
UPDATE: It appears that Duckworth will be cleared tonight. She plans an announcement Sunday on ABC’s This Week.
Turns out, the Hotline story that this was based on was wrong and has been amended (in my haste to get this up and get out the door to do some Christmas shopping, I neglected to include the link).
UPDATE: Sources clarify that it’s possible she will make her campaign announcement before the show’s taping, so the “This Week’ interview would not be an exclusive.
Update 2: A campaign source adds that while Duckworth will be on This Week she will not be volunteering a campaign announcement on the show. She is running for the seat, and will be making an announcement before Monday’s filing deadline.
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Question of the day
Tuesday, Dec 13, 2005 - Posted by Rich Miller
‘Tis the season for giving, so I’m curious what books you plan to give and what you’d like to receive. Extra credit for Illinois books or authors.
(Suggested by a commenter.)
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Big spending ahead
Tuesday, Dec 13, 2005 - Posted by Rich Miller
A gaggle of millionaires and a governor with a boatload of cash combine to make Cindi’s prediction fairly obvious.
As candidates formally began their march to the March 21 primary Monday, experts predicted the 2006 election season will be an expensive one.
With crowded primary races for governor, lieutenant governor and state treasurer, candidates likely will easily surpass records set in recent years.
“We will definitely see some big spending,” said Cindi Canary, executive director of the Campaign for Political Reform, which tracks campaign spending in Illinois.
Consider this your primary predictions open thread.
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Interesting guests at Gutierrez event
Tuesday, Dec 13, 2005 - Posted by Rich Miller
Do you really think he’ll run?
Congressman Luis Gutierrez has big political plans that may include a run for mayor of Chicago.
On Monday night, Gutierrez appeared at a rally in Humboldt Park. He did not make any formal announcement, but CBS 2’s Rafael Romo reports the congressman sounded a lot like a candidate.
“I’m ready! Are you ready?†Gutierrez called out at the rally. He says he’s not running for mayor yet, but he looked like a candidate.
“Imagine just for a moment what we could do with all of those if they were spent on the mayor’s office on the fifth floor,†Gutierrez said.
According to the story, Ald. Ed Burke and First Lady Patti Blagojevich were both in attendance.
“Congressman Gutierrez is intelligent, he’s thoughtful, he’s caring, he’s also quite funny,†Mrs. Blagojevich was quoted as saying.
No word on whether the Congressman went all Joe Pesci on the First Lady for that “funny” remark.
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Playing in the primary?
Tuesday, Dec 13, 2005 - Posted by Rich Miller
A commenter pointed out yesterday that it almost seems as if Governor Blagojevich is deliberately trying to engage Jim Oberweis and provide him free publicity. I don’t know if that’s really the case or not, but I can see how some might feel that way.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Oberweis, who was widely criticized for his tough stand on illegal immigration when he ran for the U.S. Senate last year, suggested Monday he was ahead of the curve on the issue and voters now might agree with him.
“I was too early. People weren’t ready for that issue,'’ he said after a news conference in which he criticized Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s plan to launch a new mortgage loan program designed to help poor and immigrant families buy homes. “But it’s a serious issue. People are starting to understand how serious it is.'’
On Sunday, Blagojevich’s office outlined his proposed Opportunity I-Loan program that would allow Illinois to provide state-guaranteed mortgages to people without traditional credit histories.
But Oberweis characterized the program as little more than an effort to assist illegal immigrants. “Break our laws and we’ll reward you with a home. That’s the message Rod Blagojevich is sending out,'’ he said.
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