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This just in… Guv wants to make nice *** Fitz responds *** Greens gear up *** Footlik hits the airwaves ***

Monday, Nov 5, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller

* 12:54 pm - The governor sent a letter to the four tops today…

The Honorable Emil Jones
The Honorable Michael Madigan
The Honorable Frank Watson
The Honorable Tom Cross

Dear Legislative Leaders:

I am writing to invite you to a leaders’ meeting in my office in Springfield at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow morning. The purpose of the meeting is to continue discussions on a long-term transit solution for the Chicago area and an infrastructure bill for the entire state.

Last week, in order to prevent the RTA and CTA from cutting service, increasing fares and laying off workers, I provided the transit agencies with an additional $27 million to keep their operations running through the end of the year.

But the events of last week made clear there is no consensus among legislators on how to provide a long-term solution to the RTA and CTA. What was clear, however, was that a significant number of legislators of both parties and both chambers want to address the state’s critical infrastructure needs together with the needs of the RTA and CTA. That certainly is a reasonable approach and one that creates a bipartisan opportunity to pass a capital bill and find a long-term solution for mass transit in the Chicago area.

Now is the time to seize this opportunity. But to do that, we must all be willing to come together, put past differences aside, and work in good faith to solve these problems and meet these challenges. People across Illinois are counting on us to get the job done without further delay. Let’s avoid another transit crisis and make the needed investments in our aging infrastructure.

I look forward to seeing you all tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Rod R. Blagojevich
Governor

* 1:06 pm - Word’s going around that the governor wants to “turn over a new leaf” with the leaders - particularly Madigan. As someone just pointed out to me, the last time the governor sent out that message Tim Mapes’ wife was fired.

* 1:59 pm - The US Attorney’s office has filed its response to George Ryan’s emergency request for bail from the US Supreme Court. Read it here.

* 2:49 pm - The Illinois Green Party is filing a bunch of candidates today…

In the Illinois House, the Greens have filed in the 15th, 9th, 21st, 41st, 68th districts.

For Congress, Greens have filed in the 3rd, 5th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th and 16th districts.

And there’s still more than two hours to go.

* 3:00 pm - 10th Congressional District Democrat Jay Footlik is on the air with a new TV ad…

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Ronen; Granberg; Lightford, Halvorson, Luechtefeld, Reis; Smith; NFL; Cullerton; Osmond; Ethics (Use all caps in password)

Monday, Nov 5, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Question of the day

Monday, Nov 5, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller

First, the setup, from Kristen McQueary…

Supporters of a federal shield law [for reporters] say one is needed because law enforcement agencies have come to rely too heavily on the news media to pursue certain cases. Prosecutors are subpoenaing reporters, demanding they reveal confidential sources and, in some cases, intercepting reporters’ mail and phone calls, secretly, to help further their own criminal investigations. To properly carry out the media’s crucial “watchdog” role, we need a law that sets ground rules for the pursuit of confidential sources and provides both reporters and sources a level of comfort that they will be protected.

Opponents, including U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, say the hype skews reality.

Considering the global flow of information, cases of reporters going to jail for refusing to reveal confidential sources remain scant, in his opinion.

Most reporters operate free of government intervention in their day-to-day reporting, he believes.

Fitzgerald took a rare opportunity to share his views in the Washington Post, where he penned a letter to the editor last month. As the lead investigator of the Valerie Plame leak case, he - not surprisingly - opposes a shield law. Since 1935 when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled reporters are obligated to comply with grand jury subpoenas, Fitzgerald argued there has been no shortage of investigative journalism.

“A compelling case has not been made for jettisoning the legal framework that has guided this process for the past 35 years,” Fitzgerald wrote.

But the larger issue is whether highly publicized cases of jailed reporters who refused to divulge confidential sources have created a chilling effect by silencing both whistle-blowers and reporters pursuing controversial stories.

Now, the question: Should a federal shield law be put in place to prevent the jailing of journalists who won’t divulge sources? Explain fully.

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Our own Olympic Games

Monday, Nov 5, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Not all of the Statehouse games are being played by Gov. Rod Blagojevich. My syndicated newspaper column looks at House Speaker Michael Madigan…

n the hyper-overreactive world that is the Illinois Statehouse, every move made by every major player is analyzed to death to see who is zooming whom. House Speaker Michael Madigan’s Illinois Gaming Board reform plan is a case in point.

Madigan unveiled his proposal last week. And while the idea has drawn praise from reformers like the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, it includes language that looks designed specifically as a jab at his political nemeses.

For instance, Madigan’s proposal would ban all contacts about Gaming Board matters between the board and the governor’s office, state senators and Senate staff but not a word about Madigan’s House. Zing.

And…

Madigan is just chock full of games these days. The House speaker unveiled a new budget implementation bill last week that took a big swipe at Blagojevich.

School advocates were saying last week that if the BIMP bill didn’t pass by Friday, more than 700 school districts across the state would see reduced state aid payments next month. The BIMP also provides new money for schools in the form of a higher “foundation” level and more money for special education reimbursements. Madigan has declined to pass a Senate-approved BIMP bill because, he says, Jones violated a budget agreement during the summer overtime session. Jones points the finger of blame right back at Madigan.

But with the pressure on, Madigan couldn’t resist playing another game.

Buried on page 25 of Madigan’s alternative BIMP bill was language that authorized Secretary of State Jesse White to make grants to “units of local government, school districts, educational institutions, private agencies, not-for-profit organizations, and for-profit entities.” The grants under White’s control would cover education, transportation, construction, capital improvements and social services.

In other words, Madigan essentially wanted to give White the powers normally delegated solely to the governor and his agencies.

Thankfully, Madigan withdrew that proposal and submitted another one without the above language. But it gives you an idea of how far things have gone this year.

* Finke, meanwhile, isn’t convinced that a capital projects deal is near…

All of those people out there thinking they were going to get projects out of a new capital bill just might want to slow down a bit.

A few weeks ago, the Senate passed a capital bill that earmarked money for all sorts of great and wonderful projects. Since then, the administration has been running all over the state with the project list trying to win support for the capital bill from local officials, construction unions and whoever. The idea was the locals would pressure their House members to support the capital bill because this project or that one would get funded.

The problem is the House wasn’t involved in drafting that project list. This is how Cross - an avid supporter of a capital bill - summed it up Friday. “As far as I’m concerned, what came over from the Senate is not what we are going to work from. We are going to start over.”

So don’t assume that just because your favorite project was on the list before that it will still be there when, or if, a capital bill is finally approved.

* And then there’s this…

With the ink barely dry on a new state budget, two recently released financial reports already are raising concerns about whether state revenues will keep pace with spending.

Both the bipartisan Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability and Comptroller Dan Hynes issued reports warning that income from some state revenues — particularly the sales tax — could be lower than expected.

Unless things turn around, and neither report was optimistic that will happen, the state could be facing financial shortfalls before the budget year ends.

The forecast is for more pain.

* Meanwhile, I’m curious what you think of this…

Since 2003, the governors of Midwestern states have trekked from Germany to Japan in hopes of jump-starting economic expansion and job growth back home. And, by their own accounts, each of their trade missions has returned dividends.

In Indiana, Honda officials are building a new car plant. In Iowa, European wind farm manufacturers are mulling investments.

One governor, however, stands alone.

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has not ventured outside the nation’s borders in any official economic development capacity since taking office in 2003.

Other governors have taken heat for traveling the world. Blagojevich seems content to govern from his house.

* Other stuff, compiled by Paul…

* Blagojevich has put off friends and foes

* Governor’s wife received commission from state contractor

* Editorial: Blagojevich shows why Illinoisans need recall power

* Mark Brown: Giving voters recall powers wouldn’t help

* Officials promise quick fix to state’s finance woes

* Gaming opponents odds look bleak

* Rep: Fritchey: Don’t be afraid of a Con Con

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Ghosts or not?

Monday, Nov 5, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller

* There’s been much talk online that at least one of Congressman Dan Lipinski’s Democratic primary opponents is a “ghost candidate.”

For instance, here’s the Daily Kos take…

Palos Hills mayor Gerald Bennett — a close Lipinski ally — is supposedly entering the race officially today. The goal isn’t for Bennett to be competitive. The goal is to split the sizeable anti-Lipinski vote since he and his daddy don’t trust the voters to keep him around in a head-to-head contest.

* Roll Call also took a look at the race…

Nearby, on the southwest side of Chicago, nothing is stirring at the campaign office of another Democratic contender in the 3rd district, lawyer Jim Capparelli. A map of the district is posted on the wall and a table is lined with clipboards and phones, but while it is just four months to primary day, there is no activity inside.

* The Sun-Times’ Mark Brown takes a closer look today at two of the three Democrats who have filed in the race. First, he offers up a bit of history…

Two years ago, U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski challenger John Sullivan, a prosecutor, said a second challenger, John Kelly, was lured into the Democratic primary to split opposition to Lipinski in this district that stretches from Chicago’s Southwest Side to the southwest suburbs. Accused ghost Kelly bested Sullivan, 26 percent to 20 percent.

* And now on to the current contest…

But Capparelli, Bennett and Lipinski all angrily deny the two are ghosts running to help Lipinski. […]

Bennett says that with his name recognition and contacts, his candidacy “will be the first serious challenge the Lipinskis have had in 23 years.” […]

Capparelli — no relation to Democratic Committeeman Ralph Capparelli from the Northwest Side — claims support of Local 399 of the Operating Engineers and Teamsters Local 786. Many of his positions — on the war and abortion, for example — appear to mirror Lipinski’s.

The most interesting thing about Brown’s column is that last little revelation. Lipinski is on the House Transportation Committee, so he has a measure of control over what gets spent where. Other transportation unions seem to have a high opinion of him, and it’s doubtful that any union that depends on Congress for jobs would go out of its way to anger Little Lip.

That Teamsters local does road work (they represent concrete truck drivers, among other things), although the Operating Engineers local represents mostly building maintenance workers.

The 786 backing of Capparelli isn’t solid proof that Capparelli is a Lipper shill, but it certainly is an interesting development.

* More congressional stuff, compiled by Paul…

* WurfWhile: New 6th Congressional blog, rubberstamproskam.com

* Congressman Shimkus to seek reelection

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Morning shorts

Monday, Nov 5, 2007 - Posted by Paul Richardson

* Radioactive waste in Illinois will need new home

* Caught in a ‘doomsday’ cycle

“I’ll be the first to admit that the number and increasing severity of doomsday plans, accompanied each time by stopgap funding measures at the last minute to postpone the crisis, create a serious credibility issue for the CTA,” said agency President Ron Huberman.

“My worst fear about the Band-Aid funding is that people will not believe we continue to be in a bad fiscal position that forces us to cut service and raise fares.”

* Commuters frustrated by CTA doomsday wavering

Riders say they’re tired of the “Doomsday” rollercoaster ride.

“Cause it’s ‘we’re going to do it,’ then ‘we’re not going to do it,’” said CTA rider Jessica Harris. “Somebody needs to just make a decision on what’s going on.”

“They need to really come with a solution and end it. It’s just like a big headache for people,” said CTA rider Andre McElroy. “If you are going to raise the fares, get it over with, let’s do it.”

McElroy says lawmakers need to come up with a permanent solution instead of all the “quick fixes.”

* CTA ‘doomsday’ postponed

* Legislators seeking consensus on transit solution

* Daley says permanent CTA fix needed

* Illinoize: Chicago-L announces transit funding rally
* Ryan reassigned to prison in Wisconsin

* Carol Marin: An apology by Ryan could spur hearing

Illinois has done better. It hasn’t had an execution since 1999. I’d argue that’s a point of pride for this state and a testament to what George Ryan did right.

Now, if only he’d do one more thing.

It’s something even his supporters wish he’d do: Offer a heartfelt, sincere apology for what he did wrong.

It wouldn’t keep him out of prison. It shouldn’t keep him out of prison. But, like his death penalty work, it would have meaning.

* Illinoize: 59% of McHenry Co. precincts have no GOP committeemen candidates

* American Airlines offers flights between Springfield, St. Louis

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin plans to participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Springfield to mark return of the service. He says the state capital deserves a reliable and convenient means of getting to major transportation hubs like St. Louis.

* Quinn joins motorcyclists in Veteran’s ride fundraiser

* WurfWhile: Councilman sues Naperville for violation civil rights

On Wednesday Naperville Councilman Dick Furstenau filed suit against the city of Naperville, the police chief and two officers claiming his civil rights were violated in his arrest New Years Day 2006 for shoving a police officer, according to the Naperville Sun. Furstenau has steadfastly denied the charges and has blamed the suit for his loss to Randy Hultgren in the 2006 Republican Primary for State Senate District 48.

* Schoenburg: Deal or no deal? Libri, Timoney explain strategies

So, is there a deal between the two major parties not to run candidates for countywide offices now held by the other side?

That’s a question that I’ve heard at least a few people ask as the filing period nears its Monday end and there aren’t any contests so far for Sangamon County circuit clerk, coroner, state’s attorney, auditor or recorder.

* Chicago Public Radio: Final show for controversial county tax levy

* Editorial: Bad money of Cook Co. health system

* How independent was $22,000 report of county finances?

* Editorial: Commissioners should not seek larger office staffs

More staff? For what? So they can have someone walk over to Stroger shot-caller Bill Beavers and ask him how to vote on a certain proposal rather than get up and find out for themselves?

Even if these were the most exemplary commissioners ever (which they’re not), it violates all the lessons of Good Government 101 to be asking for more for yourself when you’re telling cash-strapped constituents they have to pay more in taxes in the coming year.

* Cook Co. tax delays costs school district $1 million say officials

* Daley says he’ll cut back property tax increase request

* IOC President gets a look at Chicago

Though Rogge didn’t get into any specifics about Chicago’s chances for 2016, he did say he expected the city to present a “very strong” bid. He also said it’s “far too soon” to rank the seven bid cities. Baku, Azerbaijan; Doha, Qatar; and Prague, Czech Republic, also are bidding for the Summer Olympics.

“Chicago is doing like all the others,” Rogge said. “They are working hard, they are drafting their presentation.”

In his speech to The Chicago Council on Global Affairs and The Economic Club of Chicago, Rogge outlined the ideals and values of the Olympic movement, explaining that there is much more to the Olympics than the games themselves. Although the Olympics can provide significant financial benefits to the countries and companies involved, there is a higher-minded purpose, he said.

* Businesses show support for Olympic bid

* Opinion: A prayer to stop the killing

Mayor Richard Daley, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Pfleger all tout the goodness of more gun control, but all three of them shy away from the central issue. How can we take guns out of the hands of young men who join gangs, make their living selling drugs and rake in outrageous profits in the process?

* The Thicket: On moments of silence across the country

* Schools tiptoe into moment of silence compliance

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Monday, Nov 5, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller

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