The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 31 filed suit today in Johnson County, seeking an injunction that would stop the threatened layoff of some 2,600 state of Illinois employees.
“AFSCME and our members are using every tool to prevent layoffs and the harm they will cause,” Council 31 executive director Henry Bayer said. “Frontline staff shortages have already eroded the timeliness and quality of basic services and resulted in more than $100 million in overtime, much of it forced, in the last fiscal year alone. Layoffs will make those problems worse.
“In addition to being ill-advised, we also believe these layoffs are illegal,” Bayer added. “We have a very strong case that the state is violating the AFSCME contract by failing to bargain over the layoffs, putting employees at risk in understaffed prisons, and contracting out work that should be done by our members. Many of these factors are the fault of past administrations that neglected and mismanaged state government, and we want to work together with Governor Quinn to address them. We can’t do that, however, as long as any AFSCME member is facing layoff.”
One a scale of one to ten - with ten being most agree and one being most disagree - rate how strongly you support or oppose AFSCME’s tactics vs. the governor.
* Another blast at Gov. Pat Quinn by his Democratic primary opponent Dan Hynes. From a press release…
With classes set to begin today and no resolution to the University of Illinois admissions scandal, Illinois Comptroller and Democratic candidate for Governor Dan Hynes today said Pat Quinn had mishandled the situation, and by failing to deal with it in a timely manner had in fact contributed to the growing chaos.
“As classes resume this week, University of Illinois students are returning to chaos,” Hynes said. “The Governor has mishandled this situation from the beginning, and it is unacceptable that we find ourselves at this point as a new school year begins.”
Noting that the initial story broke last May, and that University administrators who presided over the mess remain in place while the Board of Trustees is in turmoil, Hynes called Quinn to account for his plodding and botched handling of the situation.
“The people of Illinois have a right to be angry as to how and why this chaotic situation has dragged on so long,” Hynes said. “The entire summer has gone by without a resolution, and now matters only seem to be accelerating further off the rails. The Governor has taken a bad situation and made it worse.”
Hynes was critical of the Governor’s failure to resolve the scandal, calling it an abdication of true leadership.
“The Governor should have set up a process to acquire all the facts and chosen a course of action by the first of July - using the summer to resolve this problem. Instead, the University of Illinois is in chaos as school begins. As with his approach to Illinois’ budget crisis, and his failure to fire Blagojevich political appointees like EPA Director Doug Scott, this is just another example of Pat Quinn failing to lead, and every day the situation just gets worse. Public relations is not a substitute for leadership.”
What rating would you give the effectiveness of this campaign press release? Explain.
Sneed is told a soon-to-be released statewide poll conducted by Dem national pollsters Greenberg, Quinlan & Rosner shows Dem U.S. Senate hopeful/state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias beating Republican U.S. Senate opponent Mark Kirk in a head-to-head race. “Alexi has a solid lead over Kirk . . . outside the margin of error of 3 percent,” a source said.
†To wit: “The telephone poll of 805 people statewide was taken in early August, and even after a battery of equally weighted positives and negatives Giannoulias still came out ahead,” the source added.
* The Tribune editorial board railed today against the way legislators decided to define what is and isn’t candy in a new law that removes the sales tax exemption from candy.
As I’ve already told you, legislators relied on a solution devised by the Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board which settled on exempting candy with flour in it.
Here’s our test. If it comes in a brightly colored wrapper and it’s a staple of Halloween and you know you shouldn’t have it and you feel a little guilty eating it and yet you can’t help yourself, it’s candy.
OK, so try writing that into an actual law, Tribsters. The reason the SSTGB came up with this idea is that it’s simply impossible to draft legislation which claims that anything enclosed in “brightly colored wrappers” which is also a “staple of Halloween” is candy, and everything else isn’t.
The fact that the Cubs and this newspaper have been corporate cousins is a constant vexation for Tribune sportswriters and editors: No matter the coverage, some readers — why, hello, South Siders! — will accuse the paper of rampant favoritism.
Except the editorial characteristically failed to mention the enormous tax break that Sam Zell devised, which was mentioned earlier today on this blog…
His sale of the Cubs also is structured to minimize taxes. It calls for Tribune to retain a 5 percent stake in the team. Otherwise, the $845 million sale would trigger massive capital gains, as Tribune paid only $20.5 million for the Cubs in 1981.
* A few days ago, the Tribune reiterated its criticism of college presidents who want to lower the drinking age to 18 by, um, pointing to a study which showed binge drinking among male college students rose more than 30 percent since the drinking age was raised to 21.
Hoookay.
* Last week, the edit board stomped its feet on the U of I trustee matter…
Quinn said he still holds out hope that the trustees will step aside voluntarily, but he also signaled that he’s confident he has the authority to remove them if they don’t.
That would be a fitting way to deliver on the promised week of reform.
That sort of misguided, overheated, under-thought rhetoric (”Throw them all out for the symbolic value regardless of the consequences or actual evidence!”) helped prod Quinn into backing himself into a corner on the issue, as we’ve alreadydiscussed.
The Tribune editorial page is one of the most feared entities in Illinois politics. Newspapers all over the state follow its lead like so many sheep. Politicians routinely ask “How high?” when the edit board says “Jump!” Yet time and time again the page proves why it shouldn’t be taken too seriously.
* On Friday morning, I suggested that Gov. Pat Quinn’s call for the resignations of two African-American U of I trustees looked a lot like Quinn’s failed demand that Roland Burris resign from the US Senate.
Congressman Bobby Rush says Governor Pat Quinn should stop asking two University of Illinois Trustees to resign. […]
In a letter sent to Governor Quinn [Friday], Rush calls trustee James Montgomery an “outstanding citizen.” And he says trustee Frances Carroll is a person of honor and high moral character.
Rush, of course, played the race card right off the bat with the Burris appointment, and kept up the heat when Quinn took over as governor and pushed for Burris’ ouster.
And Eric Zorn isn’t making Quinn’s task any easier…
Did making a few phone calls on behalf of applicants they felt were deserving of admission to the U of I despite falling below conventional threshholds constitute such malfeasance that it demands termination? Well then we should be demanding the resignations of numerous state lawmakers who did the same.
Does remaining silent or failing to investigate when there were certainly major hints that all was not on the square rise to the level of neglect of duty? Well then Quinn himself should resign for being a silent enabler and occasional apologist for now indicted former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, his running mate in 2002 and 2006.
If those responsible for the “Clout Goes to College” scandal start losing their jobs or resigning in order of culpability, from the top down, and we get to Carroll and Montgomery on that list, then yes, they should go. But until then, this still looks like grandstanding and symbolism.
But Quinn told reporters Sunday that he’ll be at a military funeral in Romeoville on Monday and will instead act later in the week.
Using a military funeral as an excuse is typical Pat Quinn.
* Meanwhile, Comptroller Dan Hynes whacked Gov. Quinn again yesterday. This time, it was over a Chicago Tribune report that the IEPA was allegedly not doing its job. From the AP summary…
Dozens of criminal cases against polluters were not pursued because former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s administration would not refer cases to Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, according to a published report Sunday.
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has not sent a criminal case to Madigan’s office for two years, according to a Chicago Tribune story, which cited interviews, state records and memos. By contrast, in 2003, the IEPA sent nearly 30 cases to the attorney general’s office.
The report said members of the ousted governor’s administration refused to work with Madigan’s office due to political feuding.
Quinn held a press conference with IEPA Director Doug Scott and Attorney General Lisa Madigan yesterday and praised Scott’s performance…
“Doug’s been a good friend of mine,” Quinn said. “I worked with him as lieutenant governor and governor on this mission … to make sure that we have a healthful environment for every person in Illinois.”
Which led to this attack by Hynes…
“It is troubling enough that Governor Quinn has failed to act on this matter. I am appalled, however, that even in light of the facts revealed in the Tribune that Governor Quinn would praise Scott’s tenure in office.”
“The Governor’s inexplicable delay in removing Blagojevich appointees, from Director Scott to his budget team, prevents our state from moving forward. Governor Quinn likes to talk about making tough choices. This is not a tough choice - it’s a no-brainer,” Hynes said.
Director Scott, however, claimed the Trib report contained several “factually wrong” items, but didn’t specify what those were.
* Related…
* Lethal bacteria strikes Illinois inmates; prisons fail to notify state: The virulent bacterial disease, which over decades has developed a resistance to antibiotics, also has infected guards and even visitors. Those infected can become carriers for life with the potential of infecting relatives.
* Quinn grapples with prison cuts amid budget mess
* Can Anita Alvarez ‘Just Say No?’: That also may be harder to do to the one prominent Democrat who endorsed Alvarez back in her highly competitive primary was then-Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn. He stood with Alvarez when none of the other old boys were in sight.
* Blagojevich prosecutor didn’t want impeachment case to end quietly: “I wanted a fight,” David Ellis said. “I wanted them to challenge me every step of the way, because I thought I could overcome that challenge.”
* My weekly syndicated newspaper column takes a look at the Illinois Republicans…
Republicans, as a class, tend to pine for the good ol’ days - mainly, the eras when they were in power.
That’s been especially true in Illinois as the Republicans, uniformly blown out of power by George Ryan’s scandals and George Bush’s leadership style, have tried repeatedly to use the good ol’ days to convince voters that they should be returned to stewardship status. For instance, every chance they get they trot out former Gov. Jim Edgar - one of the few living historical Illinois figures who still represents moderation and good governance in many voters’ minds.
But Edgar wasn’t even at last week’s Republican Day event at the Illinois State Fair. I ran into him earlier in the week, after Wednesday’s rainstorm. He was walking alone through the fairgrounds, heading for his car. He had a horse in a race, but the race was canceled because of the storm so he was leaving.
We chatted for several minutes, mostly off the record at his request. Edgar made it clear that he hasn’t formally endorsed anyone for governor yet, even though most people think he wants state Sen. Kirk Dillard to win. Edgar said that Dillard had a good chance of winning the general election, and Dillard returned the favor the next day by repeating Edgar’s name again and again, everywhere he went.
But Dillard was one of just a few politicians at the fairgrounds last week who wanted to look back in time. Most others tried their best to focus on the future, which now looks brighter to more Republicans than it has in many years.
“I’ve never even met George Ryan,” is one of state Sen. Matt Murphy’s best lines on the gubernatorial campaign trail. Congressman Aaron Schock, the nation’s youngest U.S. House member, delivered the red meat keynote address to the gathered crowd’s delight. At just 28, Schock was 9 years old when Edgar was first elected governor.
There was a hunger at the State Fair which was almost completely lost after Republicans realized late in George Ryan’s term that they were doomed to exile. The Republican Day crowd was the biggest I’ve seen since the 2000 presidential campaign. Dozens of candidates showed up, many coming out of the woodwork to ride that massive energy wave they believe will arrive on Illinois’ shores next year.
The GOP also turned the page on the contentious rein of state party chairman Andy McKenna, who surprised almost everyone by abruptly announcing his resignation before the event. More than a few grumbled that McKenna’s self-centered move had taken attention away from the day’s success, but the party swiftly and almost unanimously voted to name McKenna’s replacement shortly after he resigned. Republican National Committeeman Pat Brady, who’s proved popular with both moderates and many conservatives, was given the helm.
Imagine, a state Republican chairmanship succession that was accomplished without screaming threats of retaliation. Unreal.
McKenna’s unexpected announcement helped overshadow the only other big controversy of the day. Sen. Murphy unveiled a cable TV ad which blasts Sen. Dillard’s tax and spend record and attempts to tie the DuPage County Republican to Cook County Board President Todd Stroger and Rod Blagojevich. Dillard’s supporters seemed to be the most furious at McKenna for attempting to focus the day on himself, but McKenna probably did Dillard a big favor by distracting attention away from the Murphy ad.
As noted above, Dillard is the most likely candidate to invoke the state’s past, partly because he was so involved in it. Edgar’s chief of staff, Jim Thompson’s chief legislative liaison. Much of the Old Guard is with Dillard. His event last Wednesday night was jam packed with people from the good ol’ days. But Dillard has also attracted a young, energetic crowd of campaign staff, volunteers and supporters. He’s not totally living in the past.
Meanwhile, in Chicago, members of the Cook County Democratic Central Committee gathered behind closed doors to interview candidates for the slating process. At one point, somebody reportedly voiced a fear that the conference room was bugged.
The Democrats are on the run and the Republicans appear to be getting their act together. But there’s a very long way to go until Election Day, and this still is a Democratic state.
* Related…
* Indiana’s Republican governor offers advice to Illinois GOP “Part of our formula here has always to keep the debate very civil—never personal criticism—and always try to have a better answer,” Daniels told the Tribune. “If Illinois Republicans think they’ll come back simply by putting up a picture of the former governor or lamenting the decline of this or that, then that’s not enough, and they wouldn’t deserve a return to office.”
* Suburban man goes to State Fair, comes away GOP chairman: “Let’s give Mike Madigan a great deal of credit. He’s one of the greatest political operatives this country’s ever seen, but the reality is now and has been for the last six years all about gathering power for Democrats and not serving the citizens of Illinois. Certainly I take a lot of lessons from the way he’s garnered the power but I don’t think the way they run their operation is necessarily in the best interests of the state and we’ve seen that the last six years. We don’t even have a budget. They’ve borrowed us into the next century and they’ve fought with each other. My hat’s off to his political skills, but those skills don’t necessarily translate into the state being run any better.”
* Doug Finke: Gene saves the day for GOP: Republican county chairmen (party leaders, not county board leaders) held a meeting and prepared to recite the pledge. Oops. There was no flag in the room for them to face while reciting. What to do? Why, call on a fellow named Gene to come to the rescue. Gene was wearing a shirt decked out in an American flag pattern. He came forward, and the group of assembled Republicans pledged allegiance to his shirt. You have to wonder how conservatives would have reacted had Democrats done the same thing.
His sale of the Cubs also is structured to minimize taxes. It calls for Tribune to retain a 5 percent stake in the team. Otherwise, the $845 million sale would trigger massive capital gains, as Tribune paid only $20.5 million for the Cubs in 1981.
* At Cook County Forest Preserve: Top staffers give — and get
On average, the exempt employees were paid $98,071 last year. Nine of them saw their salaries increase 19 percent or more between 2006 and 2008.
Most of the Shakman-exempt employees — 24 in all — have contributed to the campaign funds of Cook County Board President Todd Stroger; his late father, former board President John Stroger; or the 8th Ward Regular Democratic Organization that John Stroger controlled.
The Strogers and the party organization have gotten a total of $49,870 in campaign contributions from the exempt employees since the mid-1990s. The biggest contributor: Deputy Comptroller Alvin Lee ($12,100), followed by district police chief Richard Waszak ($8,050).
That’s their right, says district spokesman Steve Mayberry, who says Todd Stroger never has solicited forest preserve employees for campaign cash.
As it has at times in recent weeks, a community meeting about Chicago’s bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics soon veered off into a heated discussion about other things.
* Comptroller Dan Hynes has been endorsed by the Laborers’ Union in the Democratic primary for governor. That’s a pretty big one. Gov. Quinn dinked around with the capital bill so long that he alienated lots of unions in the process. And Hynes has worked hard to win union support over the years.
The Laborers also endorsed Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias for US Senate today.
* Speaking of Giannoulias, take a look at some of the crosstabs from that recent Rasmussen poll between him and Republican US Senate candidate Mark Kirk. Kirk leads Giannoulias by 3 points, 41-38, according to the poll. But African-American voters favor the Democrat by just 61-27. That’ll probably change unless something really bad happens in the primary race against Cheryle Jackson.
Democrats break 63-22 for Giannoulias. That many self-identified Democratic voters favoring a declared Republican candidate is not good news for the Dems. Cheryle Jackson’s numbers with Democrats are worse - 51-28. Republicans are more solidly behind Kirk, 71-13 against Giannoulias and 76-9 against Jackson.
Independents and others go 45-18 for Kirk over Giannoulias. Those numbers ought to set off alarm bells. Not just for Giannoulias, but Democrats.
* But a group of conservative activists has sent a letter to Republican county chairmen asking that they support Patrick Hughes for Senate instead of Mark Kirk. From the letter…
We find the candidacy of Congressman Mark Kirk for this key position on the 2010 November ballot completely unacceptable.
At this time when grass roots voters of both parties are outraged by the attempts of liberal Democrats to unnecessarily expand government at the expense of tax payers, we believe it is necessary to nominate a candidate for U.S Senate who clearly articulates mainstream Republican values. Unfortunately, Congressman Kirk’s record in Washington has not represented the fundamental values and positions of the Republican Party on issue after issue.
We remind you that only mainstream, right of center Republican Candidates… Al Salvi and Peter Fitzgerald… have run competitive U.S Senate races since 1980. We believe it is important for you, the Republican County Chairs, who represent the real grassroots of the Party to express your view on the matter.
We strongly recommend to you the candidacy of Patrick Hughes, a successful attorney and developer from Hinsdale who shares our mainstream conservative values. Pat Hughes is 40, married with three children, a leading opponent of Pat Quinn’s 50% tax increase, and a vocal opponent of Barack Obama’s plans to bury tax payers under cap and trade, socialized medicine, continued growth of our national debt, and a complete rejection of our fundamental moral values.
The letter was signed by Paul Caprio of Family-Pac, Rev. Bob Vanden Bosch of Concerned Cristians of America, David Diersen of Taproot Republicans, former state Rep. Penny Pullen, talk show host Sandy Rios, Ralph Rivera of Illinois Citizens for Life, Tom Roeser, Phyllis Schlafly of the Eagle Forum and David Smith of the Illinois Family Institute.
* US Sen. John Cornyn, the chairman of the NRSC, speaks about Alexi Giannoulias…
On a day when Illinois Republicans got a chance to show voters they’re ready to capitalize on the scandal of former Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich, their message was stepped on by an unexpected leadership upheaval that underscored a chronic lack of cohesion.
Andy McKenna stepped down as Illinois GOP chairman Thursday, and stunned party leaders quickly selected Pat Brady, the state’s liaison to the Republican National Committee, as his successor.
Pat Brady’s quick election to party chairman “underscored” that the IL GOP appears to be getting its act together and is becoming more cohesive, not less. McKenna’s surprise announcement was just a typical stunt by a man who loves himself a bit too much. Brady appears to be a worker, not a publicity hound, but he still handles himself well in front of the cameras…
* I haven’t seen a GOP Day crowd like yesterday’s in many a year…
The old timers say there was a larger turnout this year for the party’s picnic and earlier breakfast. And one reason, for sure, is the fact that six candidates for governor showed up looking for statewide name recognition while pushing reform.
A bigger reason is that the Republicans smell blood in the water, and for once it’s not their own.
* Quote of the day goes to Sen. Matt Murphy, a GOP gubernatorial candidate who had this to say about the Illinois Democrats…
“Can you smell the opportunity?” Sen. Matt Murphy (R-Palatine) said. “Have they put the damned ball on a tee for us or what?”
* Yes, there is opportunity, but the Republicans still have some big weak spots…
Republican leaders also introduced a candidate for secretary of state, Aurora business consultant Robert Enriquez. Until now, the GOP had no takers for the job of challenging popular Democratic Secretary of State Jesse White.
The GOP still lacks a major candidate for attorney general.
* And Congressman John Shimkus’ admission that the Republican position is “Just say no” probably could use a rethink…
* Eric Zorn lays out the trap that Gov. Pat Quinn set for himself on the U of I trustee “scandal” pretty darned well. Here’s a little, but you should definitely read the whole thing…
The commission report was clear that some trustees were more deeply involved in attempting to game the admissions process than others. But rather than try to sort them out, he decided to go for a clean sweep and rely on the trustees to participate gladly in the grand symbolism of it all.
It’s also safe to assume Quinn didn’t anticipate the holdouts would be the only African-American members of the board.
“In my community, resignation is a sign of guilt,” Carroll told WTTW-Ch. 11’s Rich Samuels in an interview broadcast Tuesday. “I am not guilty and I have nothing to do with the admissions scandal.”
She added: “I think I’m due a little bit more respect than to be treated like chattel — thrown out. And I kind of resent that.”
Chattle? Hmm. Nothing like gratuitously employing a word associated with African-American slavery to raise the political stakes.
The other targeted African-American trustee is a wealthy lawyer, and he plans to fight any dismissal in court. The state Constitution allows the governor to remove anyone he has appointed for cause…
The Governor may remove for incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office any officer who may be appointed by the Governor.
But the Supreme Court has ruled that appointees can fight their dismissals in court.
* If the racial rhetoric cranks up further, we may expect to see the same sequence of events that transpired with Roland Burris. Quinn loudly demanded Burris’ resignation for weeks, then backed off after a group of black politicians and clergy met with him privately and told him to shut the heck up.
Quinn has already extended the deadline for mass resignations several times. Last week, he said he’d give the trustees the weekend to mull over their fate. Earlier this week, he said he would wait until the end of the week. Now, he’s saying next Monday is the drop dead date. That backtracking shows Quinn knows he’s in a bind here.
It’s usually best to think grand edicts through before issuing them. Quinn just never learns. Remember the end of July doomsday? He was forced to back away. Remember his rhetoric about the absolute, desperate need to pass a “mini” capital bill by April? He still hasn’t issued the bonds for that program. Remember his strident vow to fumigate government? Whatever happened to that?
*** UPDATE *** Judge Kelley just called and said he has zero recollection of saying the phrase “trailer trash,” and said he doesn’t usually say things like that. The judge did say, however, that he used the term “trailer park” numerous times, and admitted that it was probably a poor choice of words. He was apparently displeased when the GOP didn’t completely abide by an agreement hashed out the previous day, and he said he was flabbergasted when the two sides began arguing loudly in his court room.
Anyway, he doesn’t have a transcript at the moment and neither do I, but I’ve been an admirer of Judge Kelley’s work for a long time, so I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt here.
*** UPDATE 2 *** A lawyer who was present claims the judge didn’t use the trailer trash phrase.
[ *** End of Updates *** ]
* This got absolutely no news coverage today, but a pal of mine was in the courtroom yesterday and confirmed that Judge Kelley did, indeed, call the Illinois Republicans “trailer trash.” From a press release…
A visibly angry Sangamon Circuit judge Thursday chastised Republication Party leaders for seeking to silence U. S. Senate candidate Andy Martin. The judge compared the Republican tactics to “trailer trash.”
“I feel as tough I am overseeing a trailer park,” Chief Sangamon Circuit Judge Patrick Kelley said in an emergency hearing. The court protracted [sic] Andy Martin’s free speech rights for the second day in a row.
Among other things, the Republicans allegedly attempted to prevent the perennial candidate Martin from campaigning on the State Fair’s Director’s Lawn, the location of the annual Republican Day event. Judge Kelley ordered them to allow Martin to campaign.
Martin is what you could call a rather “colorful” character. He regularly sues people whom he believes have slighted him. But the man did receive over 240,000 votes in the GOP US Senate primary last year and won quite a few counties.
Still, it is rather surprising - and wholly newsworthy - that the widely respected Republican jurist Kelley would direct such harsh remarks towards his own party leaders.
* I want all of you to use extreme caution in comments on this post. Extreme. I don’t want anybody filing lawsuits. Not that anyone would succeed, but I don’t need any aggravation. Lifetime bans could be issued for violators. Understood? Thanks.
* Meanwhile, speaking of lawsuits, this was quick…
A federal lawsuit filed by Cook County political insider Victor Santana against the county’s tax appeal board has been tossed out.
U.S. District Judge Milton Shadur determined Santana’s lawsuit, which alleges he was made a “scapegoat” in a brewing corruption scandal, was improperly written and in some cases appeared to lack merit.
“Neither the defense counsel nor this court may fairly be required to cope with such an obviously noncompliant pleading,” penned Shadur of Santana’s 70-page lawsuit that alleges everything from conspiracy to constitutional violations.
The lawsuit was filed by Santana against the Cook County Board of Review for banning him from the private office areas and allegedly implying to the media that he was part of a scandal over fixing property tax appeals.
* How afraid of Mark Kirk are the national Democrats? Well, Sneed reports that Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart has been approached to run for the job…
• • The report: Several Sneed sources claim that Dart, who has had a boatload of national publicity this year, was approached several weeks ago by a top top Dem to seriously consider running for the U.S. Senate seat once occupied by President Obama.
(The “top Dem,” who has heavy influence in Cook County and the Obama administration, verified the report, but asked to remain unidentified.)
• • The response: “The sheriff is seriously considering it and will announce his decision by the end of the month,” said a top Dart source.
• • The reason: Dem sources, who are furious that Chris Kennedy “went underground” and pulled out of the Senate race late in the game, tell Sneed they feel the present list of Dem Senate candidates, state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and the Urban League’s Cheryle Jackson, is fairly weak.
Sneed admits further into the story that few believe Dart will actually run, but stories like this won’t help either Giannoulias or Jackson.
The average cost of family premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance in Illinois jumped 30 percent from 2003 to 2008, according to a Commonwealth Fund report.
The average family premium was $9,693 in 2003 in Illinois. It increased to $12,603 in 2008. The average premium for single coverage jumped from $3,692 in 2003 to $4,643 in 2008, a 26 percent hike, the report found.
The five-year increase averaged 33 percent across the nation, ranging from a high of 45 percent in Indiana and North Carolina to a low of 25 percent in Michigan, Texas and Ohio.
Illinois’ jobless rate rose to 10.4 percent in July even though the pace of job losses is slowing.
That’s up slightly from 10.3 percent in June.
The Illinois Department of Employment Security released the new figures Thursday. They show the state lost another 13,000 jobs in July, bringing the number of unemployed statewide to 692,500.
Nearly 14 percent of home mortgage loans in Illinois were in foreclosure or behind on payments at the end of the second quarter, up from 9 percent a year earlier, according to a report from the Mortgage Bankers Association.
Past-due loans hit 9.2 percent, up from 6 percent a year earlier. The percent of loans in the foreclosure process stood at 4.7 percent, up from 3.1 percent.
Illinois ranked 14th in delinquencies and 17th in foreclosures started.
Machinery sales for the three months through July fell 48 percent from a year earlier, compared with declines of 47 percent in the period ending in June and 43 percent in May, Peoria-based Caterpillar said in a regulatory filing.
Illinois suffers from the fourth-highest level of childhood obesity in the nation, with Chicago kids checking in heavier than the rest of the state. Yet, while many school districts are phasing out sweet treats, Chicago Public Schools officials continue to say, let them eat cake.
A McHenry County jury refused late Thursday to award damages to a Richmond man sentenced to death after he was wrongly convicted of the 1993 murders of his parents.
The Chicago Transit Authority is delaying the purchase of 140 accordion-style hybrid buses because the state has not provided promised funding to complete the $122.7 million deal, officials said Thursday.
Tribune Co. is expected to seal its deal to sell the Chicago Cubs to the family of bond salesman Tom Ricketts by early next week, according to a person close to the transaction.
* I posted some video of Attorney General Lisa Madigan yesterday, but we left part of it out.
AG Madigan starts out joking about the fact that she has no GOP opponent as of yet. But then she notices my intern Mike videotaping the interview and begins talking to him. She kinda/sorta praised his performance on the blog during my vacation, but then teases him about something he wrote here…
* My old and dear friend Brian Monahan was in town this week and volunteered to help with the video duties yesterday. He got stuck taping all the speeches. Neither Mike nor Brian are in town today, and Mike accidentally took both of my video cameras back to Champaign last night, so, unfortunately, we won’t have much in the way of videos from Republican Day. I do have my iPhone, though, so I may do something.
* Sen. Matt Murphy has unveiled a new TV ad during the State Fair which whacks a fellow GOP gubernatorial candidate, Sen. Kirk Dillard. From a press release…
The ad contrasts Murphy’s record as a fiscal conservative with one primary opponent, Senator Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale), whose votes have contributed to the state’s financial woes. In 2008, Dillard voted to raise the sales tax in Cook County as well as the collar counties and in 2003 he voted to give then Governor Rod Blagojevich $10 billion in bond borrowing. The ad also calls the Hinsdale Senator a “long-time insider” highlighting his 30 years in state government, a point Dillard himself is making on the campaign trail.
Except, the ad never actually mentions Dillard by name…
According to the Tribune, the ad is currently running in the Springfield/Champaign cable market. It’s more of a symbolic act, but it does indicate that Murphy will not allow Dillard to emerge unscathed.
***UPDATE : 4:30 pm- Dillard Responds***
[posted by Mike Murray]
***End of Update***
* Meanwhile, the Democrats are planning to take a swipe this morning at GOP US Senate candidate Mark Kirk before the Republican Day festivities kick off at noon. From a press release…
Before the start of the Illinois Republican Party’s rally today at the State Fair grounds, local Democratic and community leaders will join together to ask Republican Senate candidate Mark Kirk why time and again he has supported corporate special interests and President George Bush’s failed policies over what is best for Illinois’ economy and working families.
DATE: August 20, 2009
LOCATION: West Side of the Goat Barn, State Fair Grounds
TIME: 11:45 AM
PARTICIPANTS: Margaret Blackshere, former President of the IL AFL-CIO
Jim Moody, Sangamon County Chair
Special Guests
It’s probably a safe bet that the goat barn was chosen for a reason.
Hinsdale real estate developer Patrick Hughes announced Wednesday that he is entering the Republican primary for U.S. Senate, challenging U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk for the party’s banner.
Hughes, 40, says he was part of a grass-roots push to lobby against Gov. Pat Quinn’s proposed income tax hike. The attorney has never run for public office before.
HUGHES: [President Obama’s] popularity has faded significantly. I think that the policies that people are looking for are policies of limited government, of fiscal responsibility, and the Obama administration, particularly with their stimulus plan, and with the cap and trade energy tax legislation and with the health care legislation has shown to the American people that they’re not committed to limited and to effective government and fiscal responsibility and to low taxes.
At least five other Republicans are vying for the Senate nomination. The biggest name among them is Congressman Mark Kirk. But Hughes says Kirk is out of the mainstream of Republican thinking.
* Related…
* Senate Hopeful Mark Kirk facing Upward Battle for Immigrant Votes
* Illinois Rep. Kirk Gets Another Senate GOP Primary Opponent: At least six other Republicans have filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to run for the seat of retiring Democrat Roland W. Burris. They are John Arrington, a former alderman from Harvey; Tom Kuna; Don Lowery, a former state circuit judge; political activist and frequent candidate Andy Martin; Eric Wallace, who was decisively defeated in a 2006 bid for the Illinois state Senate; and Robert Zadek, a businessman.
* U. S. Senate candidate Andy Martin wins court settlement in lawsuit with Republican Party
* Gubernatorial candidate Bob Schillerstrom. 2pm-ish.
Abes Trading Post
2704 Peoria Rd.
* Sen. Dan Rutherford, candidate for Treasurer. 2:00 -3:30 PM (Following the GOP Luncheon)
Cold Refreshments on Republican Day
Franny’s Tavern
Corner of 8th & Sangamon Avenue
Outside State Fair Gate 11
* Sen. Kirk Dillard for Governor. 2:30-4:30 pm.
Reception @ the Miller Tent
Illinois State Fairgrounds
Live Music and Refreshments
* Frank Edwards for Governor. 2-4 pm.
Free Pizza & Beverages
Fulgenzi’s
Corner of 9th & Sangamon
* Adam Andrzejewski for governor. 2-5 pm.
Vic’s Pizza
Beer/wine and wings.
* Senator Bill Brady Republican Candidate for Governor 2010. 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Free Illinois State Fair Republican Day Reception
Sangamon County Republican Party Headquarters
1132 E. Sangamon Avenue, Springfield
(just east of the Fairgrounds’ Main Gate)
* Sen. Matt Murphy for Governor. 2-4pm
Stadium Sports Bar
2300 N Peoria Rd
Springfield
Beer and pizza
[McKenna] said he was leaving in advance of the end of his term next year to give Republicans a chance to pick a new leader before the Feb. 2 primary election.
The move, he said, also will give him “the freedom to be involved in primaries”—something he said he has avoided as state Republican chairman. McKenna also will run a newly formed “victory fund” for state and federal candidates under the auspices of the state GOP.
***UPDATE***
[posted by Mike Murray]
* 2 pm - Here is some video Rich shot at the fair…
* There was some actual news yesterday during the annual State Fair festivities, but it was mostly ignored…
The [Democratic] party’s county chairmen’s association voted to endorse Alexi Giannoulias in next February’s primary for U.S. Senate. […]
Some downstate county chairmen wondered why the other Senate candidate, Chicago Urban League President Cheryle Jackson, did not politic at this year’s state fair.
“She hasn’t called, hasn’t said nothing, hasn’t been around, hasn’t introduced herself,” said Rocky Raikes, Lasalle County chairman.
Just months after insisting that a new state ethics law prohibits the Illinois Democratic Party from endorsing or giving financial support to candidates in a primary, Gov. Quinn plans to attend a closed-door meeting of Cook County Democratic officials today to seek their support in next year’s election. […]
Asked about the Cook County slatemaking Wednesday at the Illinois State Fair, Quinn told reporters: “I’m going to go up there to talk to them. I believe in talking to everybody. What they do is up to them.”
Seeking clarification, I called Quinn’s campaign finance chairman, Don McNeil, who said the governor plans to ask for the Democratic committeemen’s support “as individuals,” not a party endorsement.
McNeil said Quinn continues to favor an open primary and to oppose spending party resources on any candidate in a primary contest.
But he specifically won’t join Dan Hynes in asking that the county party avoid slating statewide candidates.
And what’s his campaign finance chairman doing answering reporters’ questions?
* The news that Speaker Madigan won’t convene the state party until after the February election was picked up by Bernie Schoenberg…
Madigan also chairs the state Democratic Party, but said Wednesday that the central committee plans no endorsements and doesn’t plan to meet before the Feb. 2 primary.
* Instead, the media coverage was mostly about slight digs thrown at each other by Pat Quinn and Dan Hynes and the “spectre” of Rod Blagojevich…
Though he’s been gone almost seven months, the shadow of disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich hovered over the Democrats’ annual rally at the State Fair on Wednesday as early tensions surfaced in the primary race for governor.
As the memory of Blagojevich forced party leaders to walk on political eggshells, Gov. Quinn and his top primary rival for governor — Comptroller Dan Hynes — traded barbs.
“I respect Pat Quinn, and I find him to be a decent man. But this nomination must be earned, not bequeathed or signed or transferred. It must be earned,” Hynes said.
Quinn paid tribute to the legislative handiwork of three of the four Democratic statewide officeholders — Secretary of State Jesse White, Lisa Madigan and Treasurer and U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias — but snubbed Hynes. […]
“Those are people who want to work together. If you don’t want to work with our office, go your own way,” Quinn said, when asked if his snub of Hynes was deliberate.
* Quote of the day goes to potential gubernatorial candidate Rep. Jack Franks…
“I’m not a Chicago politician. I’m a farm boy from Marengo and I rely on common sense. And I think we need a change,” said Franks.
Farm boy? Really? Actually, he’s the son of and partner with a very successful trial lawyer. Here’s his official General Assembly bio…
Attorney; law firm of Franks, Gerkin & McKenna; Bachelors of Arts Degree in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin/Madison; law degree from the American University Washington College of Law; a member of several Chambers of Commerce in McHenry County
Nothing about being a “farm boy.” And he doesn’t sit on the Ag Committee, either.
Elementary students posted modest gains on the 2009 exams, continuing an upward trend. But high school scores tumbled, according to data released Wednesday.
Last year’s junior class posted the lowest pass rate — 51.6 percent — ever recorded on the math portion of the Prairie State Achievement Exam, given this past spring. Barely half of the students got over the bar in science, a slight drop from the previous year.
More than 30 percent of single-family homes in the Chicago metropolitan area had mortgages that were greater than the value of the home at the end of June, according to a report from First American CoreLogic. That’s 550,572 Chicago area homes with negative equity.
Statewide, 29.4 percent — 650,720 properties — had negative equity, also known as having an “underwater” or “upside down” mortgage.
The state and metropolitan area fared slightly better than the nation, which had 32.2 percent of properties with negative equity, the report said.
Union officials here are projecting a $7 million loss of taxable income to the Logan County economy if pending cuts of more than 100 state Department of Corrections employees take place at two local prisons.
That’s prompted the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees to launch a public campaign against the cuts announced recently by Gov. Pat Quinn. The campaign included a town hall meeting at the Knights of Columbus hall Wednesday night.
According to a press release on Wednesday afternoon, the mayor met Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to ask for increased efforts at the federal level to crack down on gang-bangers and drug dealers.
An Illinois tollway board member had been pitching his company to do land consulting work on other tollway systems and for construction companies, which a top ethics group says is an apparent conflict of interest.
David Andalcio, who was appointed to the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority board by then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich in 2003, has a company called Wynndalco Enterprises that was offering services on its Web site as a consultant for tollway and other transportation projects.
Allan Ackerman, a onetime mob attorney whose specialty of late has been crafting appellate arguments, said Wednesday he will formally join the ranks of the former governor’s legal team.
Ackerman referred to himself Wednesday as a “maven,” an expert who will organize the evidence, including more than 3 million documents in the case, and have it ready for the June trial.
Attorneys for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich say they’ll need three more weeks to listen to secret recordings that’ll feature prominently at his corruption trial.
Federal prosecutors and defense lawyers attended a 10-minute status hearing Wednesday where Judge James Zagel asked how preparations for a trial were going. Blagojevich didn’t attend.[…]
The next status hearing is set for Sept. 22. A trial isn’t expected to start until next year.
Burr Oak Cemetery’s remaining eight workers have been laid off since Friday, when the cemetery’s receiver learned in court he couldn’t make payroll, the SouthtownStar has learned.
Roman Szabelski, the appointed receiver charged with running the beleaguered historic cemetery in Alsip, said none of the money he’s requested from a Cook County judge to operate the cemetery has been released. The cemetery’s assets all have been frozen in the wake of a grave-reselling scandal in which four employees are charged with multiple felonies, including dismembering human remains.
