The Imperial Illini
Tuesday, Oct 16, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
* This is just ridiculous…
After drawing fire in 2003 for using chartered airplanes to travel to and from meetings, the University of Illinois Board of Trustees has curbed private flights and cut back on travel expenses.
But some trustees have taken up the expensive habit of being chauffeured to and from university-related events.
* The News Gazette looked at chauffeured limo costs for a few different meetings. Here’s just one of them, from March 13 of this year…
The university paid Premier Limo $3,767 to chauffeur four separate trustees in four separate cars from the Chicago area to Urbana, where the meeting was held in the Illini Union, and back again. Trustee Robert Sperling’s bill: $1,002. Trustee Niranjan Shah’s bill: $942. Trustee James Montgomery’s bill: $940. Trustee Frances Carroll’s bill: $882.
Another $3,200 or so was spent on driving the trustees around campus, including to and from the Illini Union to the President’s House on Florida Avenue. That amount was paid to the Urbana campus’ motor pool for the use of the cars and the drivers’ time.
* All told, the trustees have racked up over $14,000 in limo expenses this year alone. Here’s the university’s response…
“There is no big spending or excessive spending by the board of trustees when it comes to travel,” UI spokesman Tom Hardy said. “What you have is a handful of trustees who for personal or professional reasons a car service represents a safe, efficient mode of transportation to carry out their volunteer, uncompensated role as trustees, as policymakers and stewards of the University of Illinois.”
Trustees are not being driven around in limos, Shah said. They’re four-door sedans, such as Lincoln Town Cars.
LOL. These guys are something else.
Go read the whole thing. It’s even worse than this post suggests.
…Adding… From the story…
[Board secretary Michele Thompson] said she has ridden Amtrak between Chicago and Champaign, but the trains are not always on time. Trains also do not leave Chicago early enough to deliver trustees to meetings in Urbana that start at about 9 a.m.
Try Greyhound, Ms. Thompson. They have a bus leaving every morning at 6:15, arriving at 9:10. Perhaps the board of trustees can push back the meeting starts by a few minutes.
…Adding more… From Premier Limo’s website…
We adhere to the strictest attention to privacy, promptness, quality, courtesy and above all luxury.
[Emphasis added]
And how does the company describe what the university claims are just “four-door sedans”?
Luxury Sedans
Photos from the site…
 
…And another addition… Gov. Blagojevich made a big deal out of the chartered flights when he first took office…
He also cited several examples of “wasteful spending” that showed “an utter lack of accountability,” such as… a trustee’s chartered flight from Chicago to Urbana that could pay a full year’s tuition at the University of Illinois.
The chauffered limos are now on his watch. We’ll have to wait and see how he justifies this.
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Question of the day
Tuesday, Oct 16, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From a press release…
Today, Steve Sauerberg, M.D., announced the endorsements of the Chairman of the State Republican Party and the President of the Republican County Chairmen’s Association. “I am honored to have the endorsement of Andy McKenna and Randy Pollard,” said Sauerberg. “A unified Republican Party can and will help to return Illinois values to Washington by replacing ultra-liberal Dick Durbin next November.” […]
The President of the Republican County Chairmen’s Association, Randy Pollard, echoed McKenna’s praise for Sauerberg. “Steve has put together a tremendous campaign - successfully recruiting supporters and building a motivated volunteer base,” said Pollard. “Steve’s campaign is both an opportunity to unite the Republican Party and an opportunity to send a Senator to Washington who is committed to representing all Illinoisans.”
Question: What’s the over/under on Sauerberg’s final vote percentage next November?
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Reform and renewal, Indian pharmacist edition
Tuesday, Oct 16, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
* An investigation of a “major fundraiser” for Gov. Rod Blagojevich who was also a member of the governor’s transition team came up empty. But the investigation came under investigation…
A state Medicaid fraud probe into a major fundraiser for Gov. Rod Blagojevich was fraught with complaints from career investigators that they were hindered by political interference during their three-year case, a Tribune investigation has found.
The first investigator on the case reported that he got a call from his boss, the state’s top pharmacy regulator, asking him to do a favor for the fundraiser, a Joliet drugstore owner who helped get the regulator his job.
In the months that followed, other investigators complained that a proposed audit was scaled back, that an investigative subpoena was stalled and that they suspected the pharmacist was forewarned of their strategies, according to the former senior assistant attorney general who oversaw the Medicaid probe.
* Harish M. Bhatt is the pharmacist in question…
As a member of the governor’s transition team, Bhatt said, he put forth the names of Indian-American professionals suggested from within that community to fill state posts. Two of those he recommended became members of the state’s Board of Pharmacy, and another became the director of drug compliance for IDFPR, the state’s top pharmacy regulator.
* That regulator recommended by Bhatt is apparently Yashwant Amin, who the Tribune claims “took over the top regulator’s job in September 2003 with the responsibility of overseeing the agency’s staff of seven pharmacy auditors.”
A month after Amin was appointed…
“[Veteran auditor James F. Thorns] stated that on Friday, Oct. 3, 2003 Thorns received a phone call from Amin, Thorns’ boss,” State Police Special Agent Mario Mollo wrote in an investigative report obtained by the Tribune. “Amin told Thorns that he had a ‘good friend’ and Amin wanted to know what Thorns could do to help his friend.
“Thorns asked Amin what friend he was alluding to and Amin told Thorns his friend’s name was Harrish [sic] Bhatt. Amin told Thorns that he talked to Bhatt after Thorns’ visit to Basinger’s Pharmacy on Friday, Sept. 5, 2003.”
* Amin flatly denies that statement by Thoms, who died in 2006. This is the response from the Blagojevich administration…
“It sounds to me like all you have is some unsubstantiated allegation from a dead guy,” [IDFPR spokeswoman Susan Hofer] said.
Actually, no. As the Tribune article notes, some people who are still very much alive are not happy about the way that whole thing went down.
* Related…
* The Association of Indian Pharmacists in America recently held their 14th annual banquet at the Holiday Inn Express in Elmhurst. This event was attended by well-known celebrities, including Gov. Rod Blagojevich and spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, along with over 600 members and invited guests., according to an organization press release.
“AIPhA has made significant gains in the political arena, having earned newfound respect and co-operation with a plethora of state representatives,” the release added. “Through its efforts, AIPhA has brought government officials to the table and has opened dialogues never before possible. Even now, AIPhA is preparing itself to work with the state on many issues including measures to: increase access to pharmaceutical care to every citizen of Illinois; enact legislation that will properly monitor and control Pharmacy Benefits Managers’ irregular and incoherent policies that have financially crippled the state and pharmacies alike.”
* “The Association of Indian Pharmacists in America (AIPHA) supports Illinois Covered as the most comprehensive plan proposed to date to provide health insurance to all Illinoisans, and the Gross Receipts Tax proposal to provide the funding necessary to successfully implement the program,” said Harish Bhatt, Executive Director of the AIPHA.
* Three days of lavish festivities will ring in the 57th Indian independence day on Aug. 15 in Chicago with the Indian American community inviting Bollywood stars Sanjay Dutt and Madhuri Dixit as Grand Marshals.
Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) president Raghu Nayak said the two stars will join Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. […]
Harish Bhatt, parade chairman, said this year the FIA expected 40 floats showcasing India’s traditions, culture, costumes, religions, languages, music, dance and cuisine.
* And a photo of Blagojevich with Bhatt…
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More from Weller’s district
Tuesday, Oct 16, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
* New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann is Congressman Jerry Weller’s choice to replace him in DC. Baldermann had a couple of harsh words for his likely Democratic opponent yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson…
Baldermann also picked on Halvorsen’s part in the state’s budget mess.
“The last thing we need is that kind of dysfunction brought to Washington,” Baldermann said.
* But Weller could be a liability for Baldermann, as this excerpt hints…
Weller was supposed to appear at Monday’s breakfast with Baldermann, but cancelled because a family-related issue, said McLean County Republican Party Chairman John Parrott.
Weller’s retirement announcement came amid questions surrounding land investments in Nicaragua and the finances of his wife, a South American politician.
* Meanwhile, another GOP hopeful has dropped out of the race…
Homer Glen Mayor Jim Daley said his decision to withdraw his name from the pool of candidates interested in the 11th Congressional District seat vacated by U.S. Rep. Jerry Weller all came down to timing.
* And another one considers a bid…
Also Monday, a 30-year-old Chicago Republican announced he will vie for Weller’s seat.
Jimmy Lee, who served on the White House Initiative on Asian and Pacific Islanders, has not previously held public office, but worked on Republican Jim Ryan’s 2002 campaign for governor and has served as an advisor to Dupage County Board President Bob Schillerstrom and former state Treasurer Judy Barr Topinka.
He said he is in the process of moving into the district, which stretches from Chicago’s south suburbs to Bloomington-Normal.
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* As expected, state Rep. Aaron Schock has a big money lead in the GOP primary to replace Congressman Ray LaHood…
State Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, has netted $375,913 since filing candidacy with the Federal Election Commission in mid-August. John Morris, who for the last 10 years has overseen private fundraising as vice president for development for WTVP-TV, Channel 47, has raised about $218,210, according to federal campaign disclosure reports filed Monday.
Heartland Partnership CEO Jim McConoughey has roughly $55,000 in cash on hand, a spokesman said. The actual amount he raised wasn’t yet posted by early Monday evening.
They must have an early deadline in Peoria. McConoughey loaned himself $50,000 and raised just $5,300 during the quarter.
Schock spent about $74,674, leaving him with more than $301,000 in cash on hand, while Morris spent about $20,500 and has about $197,350 in cash
Dick Versace just got into the race, so he doesn’t have to file his disclosure report until January.
* It appears that Schock had several of his contributors send in the maximum amount for both the primary and general elections. 41 of his 193 contributors sent in $4600, so over $94,000 of that cash can’t be spent until after the February primary. Even so, Schock still raised more for the primary than Morris and he has a big leg up on the general.
* The Tribune has more on other races…
Kirk [raised more than $525,000 and] had more than $1.5 million in his campaign kitty at the end of the reporting period, reports showed.
Seals, who nearly upset Kirk a year ago in his maiden political campaign, focusing on the war in Iraq, raised an estimated $300,000 during the third quarter, giving him close to $500,000. Footlik, an adviser on Jewish affairs under President Bill Clinton, raised nearly $200,000, bringing his contributions to around $480,000.
* And Bean’s numbers…
In the northwest suburban 8th District, two-termer Bean of Barrington had about $1 million in her fund after raising about $377,000. […]
Bean’s leading Republican opponent, Long Grove businessman Steven Greenberg, has raised about $180,000 since he announced his campaign in July. Republicans Kirk Morris of Gurnee, the father of a Marine killed in Iraq, and Ken Arnold, a health benefits consultant from Gurnee, did not file.
* Lipinski race…
Chicago’s 3rd District race witnessed a rarity: a challenger raising more than the incumbent in a primary. Mark Pera, a Cook County assistant state’s attorney, raised $100,000 for the third quarter. Lipinski raised $76,000. The second-term incumbent still leads in cash on hand, $321,000 to $180,000.
That cash on hand is probably the more important number, however, and Little Lip has a clear lead. Still, Pera showed he can rake in cash, so we’ll see.
* Hastert’s seat…
In the far west suburban 14th District, Oberweis and Lauzen are virtually tied in the amount of cash on hand. Lauzen had $528,000 left as of Sept. 30 after spending only $17,000, while Oberweis had $178,000 left and announced he added another $325,000 Monday. Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns raised about $68,000 and had $51,000 left.
On the Democratic side, retired physicist Bill Foster raised the most at nearly $209,000, and added $200,000 of his money. Geneva attorney Jotham Stein collected $61,600 to push his total to $105,000, but he had less than $34,000 left. John Laesch, who lost to Hastert in November, raised $45,000 and had about $20,000 left.
* From the Bill Foster campaign…
In unitemized contributions, we were the clear winners in all of this. That’s the measuring stick of grassroots support since those are the low dollar donors. In fact, we outraised our primary opponents combined and the GOP field combined.
DEM
Foster: 38710.98
Laesch: 19254.87
Stein: 11837.27
GOP
Burns: 9638.50
Lauzen: 5395.00
Oberweiss: 2200.00
Lots of grist. Discuss away…
*** UPDATE *** Dan Hynes endorses Foster. From a press release…
Illinois State Comptroller Dan Hynes announced today his endorsement of scientist and businessman Bill Foster for Congress in the Democratic primary election.
“Bill Foster is the type of voice we need in Washington to bring real change to families here in Illinois,” said Hynes. “His background as a scientist and a businessman gives him the ability to take a fresh look at the challenges our country faces. I’m proud to give him my support.”
It should be interesting to see how second-time candidate John Laesch responds. Laesch was known for his goofy rantings last year and he hasn’t disappointed this year, either. When Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias endorsed Foster, Laesch had this to say…
“Laesch shrugged off Giannoulias’ endorsement, calling him “just a wealthy guy who bought himself an office.”
“I don’t think it’s a big endorsement of any kind,” he said.”
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Tax hikes spur goofy quotes, Detroit card
Tuesday, Oct 16, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Our quote of the week is found in a Sun-Times story about an aldermanic revolt against Mayor Daley’s proposed tax hikes…
Ald. George Cardenas (12th) said he got an e-mail from an angry constituent who warned him to “get your hands out of my pocket, you stooge.”
Why would anyone admit that? I almost spit out my coffee when I read Cardenas’ quote.
* More from the story…
“If this budget would pass right now with all these taxes, I suspect that probably half of the people who voted for it would not be in this Council next time around because this one has eyes. It’s going to walk all over the place,” said Ald. Ed Smith (28th), former chairman of the City Council’s Black Caucus. […]
Ald. Richard Mell (33rd) was so desperate for a way out of raising property taxes, he proposed raiding the long-term reserve fund created to shore up the city’s bond rating after the $1.83 billion deal that privatized the Chicago Skyway.
When Johnson warned that the fund was for “major emergencies like catastrophes,” Mell said, “If you talk to some of the people I’ve been talking to — to them, this is a catastrophe.”
* The Tribune has more…
After being grilled by aldermen, [Budget Director Bennett Johnson III] told reporters “we are going to try our best to build consensus” on the best way to balance next year’s budget. He said employee layoffs are an option “if people want to cut services.”
But to wipe out the proposed property-tax increase by cutting payroll would mean 2,160 job cuts, one in five workers who have duties not related to public safety, he said.
“If we want to be like Detroit, Toronto, San Antonio, Jacksonville, all these places where they are cutting services, it is a downward spiral that’s hard to get out of,” Johnson said.
Ah, the ol’ “Detroit card.” I wondered when that one was gonna be played.
* Meanwhile, over at the county, the budget deficit will be smaller than first projected, “just” $230 million, but lots of tax hikes are on the table…
Stroger told commissioners what to expect in a series of meetings Monday. They say going to the store, filling up at the gas pump, parking downtown, talking on the phone or even warming up your furnace could cost more in order to help cover the county’s costs.
Under the proposed budget, property taxes would be hiked to pay for the Forest Preserve District. To pay for county government, Stroger is considering doubling the county gas tax to 12 cents a gallon, doubling the downtown parking tax to about $40 for monthly users and possibly renewing a push for an increased sales tax, just weeks after commissioners shot down a 2 percentage point hike.
Already on the table are hikes to utility and phone bills. “Everything’s on the table,”Commissioner Mike Quigley (D-10th) said.
* Making things worse for Stroger…
Adding a wrinkle to the budget debate is a critical presentation today from the health community concluding that the county hospital system has been so mismanaged, control should be put in the hands of an independent, medical panel.
* And…
The Institute of Medicine of Chicago, meanwhile, is circulating a petition in the local health-care community asking the county to shift control of the system immediately to an independent board charged with reversing what the institute calls a “precipitous decline” in services
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Morning shorts
Tuesday, Oct 16, 2007 - Posted by Paul Richardson
* Chicago Public Radio: Marines march into CPS; Daley defends Marine academy
* Schools struggle with meaning of silence law
* Luciano: On silence law
It’s not as if there’s ever been a ban on prayer in schools. Students can pray all day. And, just as with the moment of silence, they can even pray in their heads. I do it all the time, especially as deadline approaches. I’ve gotten so accustomed to this, my lips don’t even move. That’s OK. God can hear.
* Cops let Ald. Tunney skip license hassle
* Ald. embarrassed for getting cell-phone ticket
* Union leader Fitzgerald dies at 57
“He was a true champion of working men and women - a great guy who never forgot where he came from,” Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Monday.
Mr. Fitzgerald, 57, a longtime resident of Chicago’s Beverly community, died Saturday in his home in the Little Village neighborhood after a brief illness, according to sister Maureen Kelly, of Evergreen Park.
A year ago, for health reasons, he stepped down as business manager and financial secretary of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 134. In that role for 11 years, Mr. Fitzgerald raised more than $625,000 in political contributions - only one measure of his influence.
* Opinion: Did Poshard’s dog eat this bibliography?
* Sun-Times Editorial: Don’t give up the SCHIP
Congress boosted the amount families in Illinois could earn to up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level — $61,950 for a family of four. In Illinois, SCHIP is used to partially pay for the state’s All Kids health insurance program.
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