Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Tuesday, Feb 16, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Dear General Assembly,

A major increase in the price to register as a state lobbyist has been halted by a federal judge who deemed the $1,000 annual fee too high.

U.S. District Judge Joan Gottschall issued a preliminary injunction late Friday that puts on hold the 2009 law that nearly tripled registration fees for most lobbyists.

More than 3,900 lobbyists and lobbying groups have been registered in recent years, but none was required to register or pay fees this year while the state awaited action in the lawsuit.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, which brought the case, argued that the state law violates the constitutional right to freedom of speech because it requires an unreasonable fee to lobby before the Illinois General Assembly.

This law would cost a small not-for-profit whose executive director doubles as a part-time lobbyist $2,000 a year - half for the exec director’s fee and the other for the association’s fee. Ridiculous.

* Dear Aaron Schock and John Shimkus,

I don’t think anybody is asking you to give back project money that you voted against…

Two congressmen representing the Springfield area Friday defended earmarks they requested for local projects, even though they voted against the measure that paid for them.

Republican U.S. Reps. Aaron Schock and John Shimkus were at Lincoln Land Community College to tout a $350,000 grant for a green technologies education program. Both voted against the budget bill that funded the project after pushing for its inclusion as an earmark.

Some are just asking you to be honest about how y’all rail against spending while you’re in DC while using that spending to glorify yourselves back home.

* Dear Illinois Responsible Budget Coalition,

Your group’s abbreviation - ILResponsibleBudget - is a bit, um, off. And your Internet promo video? Ummm…

* Dear IllinoisIsBroke.com,

The form e-mail that you want citizens to send to their legislators is intellectually dishonest and, frankly, an insult…

If you would like my support (and the support of my considerable circle of family, friends and acquaintances) this election year, then take a public stand for fiscal responsibility. Publicly promise to balance the state budget by cutting expenses until they are in line with revenues. Reform our unaffordable pension and retiree health care programs. Please assure me you will be part of the solution and not a continuation of the problem.

How about giving people the real scoop on what cutting expenses by $13 billion a year - close to 40 percent of state spending - would do to the budget?

* Dear SouthtownStar editorial board,

The problem with the current redistricting process isn’t that strongly Democratic areas have lots of Democratic legislators and strongly Republican areas are represented by Republicans…

While population shifts during the past 15 years created a more stable Democratic base in the south suburbs, Democratic control of the remapping process in 2001 formally extinguished any chance of bipartisan south suburban representation.

We’re not picking on the Democrats. Republicans control other parts of the state, and residents there are not well-served, either. The point is, competition infuses accountability into government.

A non-partisan map would still undoubtedly produce lots of all-Republican and all-Democratic districts. That’s just how people cluster themselves. I seriously doubt, for instance, that you could get more than the one Republican House district they have today in Chicago. Heck, you might not even get that if the districts aren’t allowed to cross-over into the suburbs - as the redistricting plan you’re supporting would require.

The way you get some minority party representation in those areas is to go back to the pre-Cutback Amendment days.

* Your turn…

…Adding… Dear Chicago Tribune editorial board,

Calling (again) for the downsizing of the capital bill is crazy on a number of fronts, including the shape of the job market these days. Then there’s this…

Engineers are recommending Illinois invest at least $27 billion into fixing its deteriorating infrastructure — about double the state’s $13 billion budget deficit.

The American Society of Civil Engineers performed a study on Illinois’ infrastructure and gave the state a D+ overall.

The study looked at Illinois’ aviation services, bridges, dams, drinking water, water ways, rail services, roads, transit and wastewater infrastructure. Each category was rated and the average grade was found. […]

Drinking water received a D+, and the engineers group recommended a $13.5 billion investment in the next two decades is to get the state’s drinking water up to par. As for wastewater, the group recommended $13.4 billion go into new infrastructure over the next 20 years in Illinois. […]

“Much more is needed than what that capital bill is funding,” King said. “Our capital bill in Illinois is going to hit some of our infrastructure, but a substantially larger investment ultimately is going to be necessary.”

51 Comments

Dillard won’t concede today - *** UPDATED x2: Commenters are live-blogging returns and new Brady guesstimate ***

Tuesday, Feb 16, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* 12:23 pm - Sen. Kirk Dillard told Crain’s that he won’t concede the GOP governor’s race today, even though we’re going to get a new total in the race by the end of the day…

…Mr. Dillard said the date that counts is Feb. 23. That’s the date by which the county clerks have to report all of their numbers — absentee and otherwise — to the State Board of Elections.

“I’m going to wait” until then, he said, “wait until they send the real numbers to Springfield on the 23rd and make sure all of them have been double-checked. […]

While putting off any possible concession, Mr. Dillard did seem to confirm political talk that he won’t seek a recount unless the official tally cuts his margin to about 100 or less.

Asked specifically about 100, Mr. Dillard replied, “That might be a good number to go off of.”

*** UPDATE 1 *** Some diligent commenters are live-blogging local election board results as they come in. Help them out if you can.

*** UPDATE 2 *** Pantagraph…

On a day that saw county election officials throughout the state putting the final touches on vote tallies from the Feb. 2 election, it appeared as though state Sen. Kirk Dillard made some inroads into Brady’s 420 vote lead.

Unofficial tallies in Cook and DuPage counties showed Dillard gaining more than 120 votes from absentee and provisional ballots.

While that number could be significant since Dillard ran stronger than Brady in the Chicago area, Brady told reporters in Springfield he could offset that gain with additional votes being tallied in downstate counties.

I think we have a better number in comments.

55 Comments

Question of the day

Tuesday, Feb 16, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Out of everyone who lost primary races earlier this month, which candidates do you think have the brightest futures? Which have the dimmest? Please answer both, and explain.

53 Comments

Cohen’s letter filed and black central committee members slam Madigan

Tuesday, Feb 16, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The Democratic Party of Illinois filed paperwork this morning with the State Board of Elections withdrawing Scott Lee Cohen from the lt. governor’s race. Cohen gave his withdrawal letter to the party on Friday.

But every African-American member of the state central committee sent out a press release yesterday announcing that they’re unhappy with party chairman Michael Madigan’s latest moves. From the release…

Today several members of the Illinois Democratic State Central Committee sent a scathing letter to Democratic Party Chairman Michael Madigan to express their concern about his interest in abolishing the constitutional office of Lieutenant Governor. Calling the proposal “premature,” party officials also questioned the chairman’s political motives saying that such a decision would “profoundly alter the state’s electoral and succession processes.”

Authors of the missive include Congressman Bobby L. Rush (D-1CD), State Representative Constance “Connie” Howard (D-1CD), Congressman Jesse L Jackson (D-2CD), Jr., Alderman Carrie Austin (D-2CD), Congressman Danny K Davis (D-7CD), State Representative Karen A. Yarbrough (D-7CD) and Committeeman James K. Polk (D-18CD). The unique coalition is a powerful voting bloc within the Democratic Party base, with each committee member representing nearly every African-American vote in the State of Illinois.

Their bloc of votes could be the deciding factor in who fills the open seat for Lieutenant Governor in a vote that is expected in March.

From the letter…

As Speaker, you of course can offer a Constitutional Amendment that would profoundly alter the State’s electoral and succession processes. However, advancing legislation that impacts the Democratic Party without a discussion or an endorsement from the Democratic Party leadership is premature. There should be no divergent interests between you in your role as party chairman and us in our role as party committeemen and committeewomen. Therefore, prior to your public announcement about your support of the elimination of a constitutional office, the Democratic State Central Committee should have been consulted.

The members also say they want a more open process…

The Party Chairman and Democratic State Central Committee must set forth uniform, comprehensive and transparent criteria for this selection. We believe that, among the criteria, our party leadership should be publically advancing a vetting process that considers a candidate’sexperience; public record; electoral viability; ability to strengthen the Party’s overall ticket; and the candidate’s overall electability. A candidate’s ability to raise resources as well as geographic, racial and gender balance should also be considered as the Central Committee fills this vacancy.

Madigan responded via his spokesman…

The chairman will take the vetting suggestions under review. He disagrees with the notion that a member of the General Assembly should check with a political committee before introducting legislation

* Meanwhile, Congressman Jackson may have tipped his hand the other day…

While Jackson said he didn’t favor one person, his description of the ideal candidate seemed to match a certain Chicago alderman. His wife, Ald. Sandi Jackson (7th), considered running for lieutenant governor last year.

“The ticket needs some excitement,” Jackson said. “It needs someone to capture the imagination of the electorate by selecting someone who knows how to run a campaign, who knows how to respond quickly to prisoner release ads and to Harold Washington ads and to the state’s deficit woes. That candidate has to bring resources nationally, and it’s hard to imagine the existing candidates, who couldn’t beat a pawnbroker in the primary process, are capable of beating a lumberjack in the general election.”

Rep. Howard was forthright in her support of Rep. Art Turner…

“If Miss America made some not-so-wholesome decisions and she was moved out of the way, No. 2 would be the person,” Howard said in explaining her support so far for Turner. “When the No. 1 person can’t do it, No. 2 moves up. (Turner) is very qualified. He’s well respected by all members of the caucus and by members on the other side of the aisle.”

So, black members of the central committee appear divided for now on who should replace Cohen, but they’re united in their criticism of Madigan.

This selection process is in danger of flying way out of control. Maybe Rep. Franks does have the right idea and they should just leave it open.

* Sheila Simon said she’d love to get the call…

Though she said it would be highly unlikely, SIUC law professor Sheila Simon said she would “say yes quickly” if the State Central Committee of the Democratic Party asked her to run for Illinois lieutenant governor.

Glenn Poshard said he’s not interested…

Poshard said he has not contacted Gov. Pat Quinn or any of Quinn’s representatives in relation to the position, and he has absolutely no interest in doing so.

“I have a job here, I have a new contract (as university president) and that’s what I’m going to do for the rest of my career,” Poshard said.

…Adding… They’re coming out of the woodwork, campers…

An Olivet Nazarene University professor has thrown his hat into the crowded field of Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor following Scott Lee Cohen’s abrupt resignation last week.

And, 40-year-old Jesse Lee Maggitt, a Plainfield resident and professor of military science at Olivet for the past year, hopes it will catapult him into politics.

* Related…

* Lawmakers trying to sort our future of lieutenant governor’s office

* Two proposals would make next lite gov the last one

* Mike Lawrence: Fix lt. governor process, but don’t overreact

42 Comments

Reining in red light cameras?

Tuesday, Feb 16, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Shortly before the primary, a top Democratic campaign strategist admitted that Sen. Rickey Hendon’s lt. governor campaign may have struck a populist nerve. One of Hendon’s campaign pledges was to end red-light cameras. He came up with the proposal mainly because one of his opponents, Rep. Art Turner, had voted to expand the cameras in Illinois. The Democratic strategist thought that, in the right hands, this could be a great campaign issue.

A Senate Republican has beat him to it…

One suburban lawmaker hopes to eradicate most red-light cameras in the state, which he said wrongfully target hundreds of Illinois drivers who made legal right-hand turns, and his proposal to that effect gets a first airing in the legislature today. […]

If his proposal becomes law, red-light cameras could still be stationed in construction zones and railroad crossings, but nowhere else.

Duffy’s proposal, which is scheduled for debate in a Senate committee today, comes on the heels of legislation proposed by state Sen. John Millner, a Carol Stream Republican, that would rewrite the current red-light camera law.

Millner’s proposal, which is backed by suburban police chiefs, would mandate that red-light cameras be painted yellow and signs be installed to remind drivers they must stop on red.

Duffy characterized Millner’s push to reform the red-light camera law as “worthless.”

So has a House Republican hopeful…

Valentine’s Day captured passion of another kind — the ire of Chicago motorists who joined a nationwide protest Sunday against red-light cameras.

Nearly two dozen protesters armed with posters took over the southeast corner of Addison Street and Western Avenue. They called for drivers to honk their horns to protest communities they say are using the cameras, which snap photos of drivers running red lights, to generate revenue rather than reducing crashes.

“They’re stealing our money,” car passenger Adrian Cruz shouted out his window.

Scott Tucker, who organized the protest and is the Republican candidate for the 11th District state House seat, said he’s supporting pending legislation to rid automated ticketing machines in Illinois.

The Daily Herald has jumped partially on board…

We greatly appreciate lawmakers’ recognition of the problems associated with red-light camera enforcement. But they should be fashioning legislation that addresses the clearly identified problems:

Locating cameras based on volume of traffic, rather than safety data; concentrating tickets on minor right-turn infractions; assessing high $100 civil fines that don’t get reported on a driver’s safety record.

Letting the private camera companies maintain records, rather than local governments, whose actions are subject to public scrutiny; and failure to focus attention on unsafe straight-through violations of red lights.

Repainting signals and writing new signs may have some value in helping motorists better understand the laws they are supposed to follow, but until these more significant issues are addressed, red-light cameras will remain an unfair, inconsistent, ineffective and inappropriate means of enforcing red-light laws.

Hendon also has a bill…

Senate Bill 2477 would limit the red-light camera impact by blocking minor infractions.

That measure, pushed by Sen. Rickey Hendon, D-Chicago, would give drivers a break by saying cameras cannot issue violations when drivers come to a stop one foot or less past the stopping point.

* Statehouse roundup…

* Senate prepares for confirmation vote on Illinois State Police director: State Sen. Dave Luechtefeld, R-Okawville, said feedback from troopers has shifted, but he can’t yet promise a vote for him. “At first, it was negative,” Luechtefeld said. “And of late, it’s been positive.”

* A legislative gamble that must lose

* Madigan blocks hearing on GOP ethics proposal

* Front license plate bill dies in committee

* Ill. senator wants change for Chicago Public Schools

* Supporters Vow a Fight to Keep Local School Councils

* Stripping LSCs’ power won’t help city schools

* Lawmaker wants state cash for early kindergarten

* Koehler pitches development plan

* Teen ’sexting’ ban not ready to hit send: Lawmakers want more input before making decision on bill governing racy text messages

* Proposals seek ’sensitive balance’ in teen sexting: As proposed, sending a “sext” could bring a $1,500 fine and six months in jail. Asking someone to send you a “sext” could bring a $2,500 fine and a year in jail.

* Senate Committe OKs DCFS Child Death Investigation Task Force

* Michigan Reps Blame Illinois For Asian Carp Threat

* Feds pass on surest solution to Asian carp advance

* Local reps criticize malpractice ruling

* New legislation would slow pilot process for HMO

* Raffle to benefit Illinois parks, outdoor programs

* Rep. Burke: From deputy city clerk to lobbyist

10 Comments

Harsh budget realities

Tuesday, Feb 16, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The Sun-Times deals with some harsh budget realities…

Making Medicaid more efficient is, without a doubt, a part of the answer to the state’s budget crisis.

But it’s time to be honest about how much we can actually expect to squeeze out of the program.

Republican gubernatorial front-runner Bill Brady and others have suggested that moving all or most of the state’s 2.4 million Medicaid recipients into HMO-style managed care networks could cut spending by $1 billion or more.

We find that hard to believe, considering that Illinois already spends less per Medicaid beneficiary than most states. Not to mention that the state’s existing managed care programs, while successful, haven’t generated nearly that much in savings.

Actually, Brady has said that the savings could be in the $1.2 billion to $1.8 billion range.

* As part of the deal that gave Gov. Pat Quinn an extra three weeks to present his new budget, state revenue and spending particulars will be posted online soon, and the Peoria Journal Star wants people to get involved…

Nobody should be shy about responding to the invitation. In a state of 13 million people, there might even be some who are actually informed in the ways of finance, public and private alike. If anybody can truly find a way to hack $13 billion out of discretionary spending without crippling the state, more power to ‘em. Minority Republicans need to get in the game, too. Even if Democrats freeze them out of budget talks again, it will give them ammunition with voters to say, “See, we tried. This is our plan, with specifics.”

The Pantagraph rails against giving the governor extra time…

Delaying the budget message causes harm to everyone in the state. It contributes to the chaos and uncertainty that is plaguing this state, causing it to stagnate — or worse.

The sooner Quinn puts his budget on the table, the sooner the state can craft a plan to get our state out of the huge crater we are in.

But Finke has it right when he takes on Republicans who have blasted the idea…

Do you really think it would make any difference if Quinn submitted his budget ideas Wednesday rather than in three weeks? Anybody going to get more money? Are cities and schools are going to be better off if (maybe) they learn three weeks earlier how much money they will get? Not that it matters since there’s no money to pay them anyway. Those extra three weeks will make lawmakers actually seriously deal with the budget meltdown instead of again looking for the easy way out?

Frankly, the Republicans came off sounding like their colleagues at the federal level — the Democratic leader wants something so we’ve got to oppose it. Just because.

It’ll be interesting to see if the GOP lawmakers think they are scoring points with the public and keep up that approach all year long. It will be a long session.

* The state is about to refinance about $1.4 billion of its general obligation debt in order to save a few bucks…

The fifth-most-populous state expects to save about $29 million in 2010, $27 million in 2011 and $100 million over the life of the securities with its refinancing, said Kelly Kraft, a budget spokeswoman for Governor Pat Quinn.

* A few thousand people are planning to descend on Springfield this week to protest impending budget cuts. Those rallies almost never work because the Statehouse has become pretty much completely desensitized by repeated organized shows of force by one group or another. But, I suppose, they gotta do something.

* Related…

* How you could get a say in fixing state budget: The Web site - www.budget.illinois.gov - will post on Feb. 24 the tax revenues for the current budget year and how they’ve been spent so far. Also posted will be projected revenues for the next budget year, which begins July 1, and all the projected program costs, debt payments, pension liabilities and other spending pressures.

* SJ-R Opinion: Madigan, Cross must find common ground

* State can’t afford to improve dental service for poor, official says

* State libraries may be the next victim of state’s financial woes

* Fiscal Sustainability: Our State and Its Flagship University

* [SIU] expects cuts next fiscal year

* Borrowing plan no solution: Desperate times produce desperate measures, and this request to borrow based on the unreliable promises from a near-bankrupt state has to be among the most desperate of all.

* Quinn approves budget delay bill

* Quinn budget speech now set for March

* Lawmakers allow Quinn to delay budget address

* Illinois to receive increase in specialty crop grant funds

* Lawmakers considering income limits on free rides for seniors

* Free transit rides in Illinois come under fire

* Senior perk cutback advances on free transit rides

13 Comments

Brady awaits vote counts, and a look at Brady’s record

Tuesday, Feb 16, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* We will likely know a whole lot more about who really won the Republican gubernatorial primary today…

We should know later today more about the results of this month’s Republican primary election for governor. State Senators Bill Brady and Kirk Dillard are separated by just a few hundred votes.

Today’s the day all the county clerks offices around the state must finish counting absentee and provisional ballots. State Sen. Dillard says his campaign’s math shows him 300 to 400 votes behind State Sen. Brady but, Dillard notes, anything can happen with votes left to count.

Dillard says, “Clearly, I’d rather be in Senator Brady’s position than mine, but I want to make sure all 110 election authorities have double-checked everyone and that the stats statewide that people work off of are accurate”.

* Crain’s claimed last week that Sen. Brady compared the experience of 27 year-old GOP lt. governor nominee Jason Plummer to Thomas Jefferson’s alleged writing of the US Constitution at a tender age. Actually, Jefferson wasn’t even in the country when the Constitution was drafted and approved. But an audio recording of Brady speaking to reporters last week has Brady comparing Plummer’s experience to Jefferson’s drafting of the Declaration of Independence at the age of 33.

It’s still probably unwise to compare Plummer to a founding father, but at least when talking to reporters Brady knew the difference between the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

* And my syndicated newspaper column looks back at Brady’s legislative record and looks ahead at the election. This is an abridged version of the look subscribers got at Brady’s record last week…

One of the biggest doubts about state Sen. Bill Brady’s gubernatorial campaign - assuming he survives a potential recount of the Republican primary - is whether he can transform himself from a primary candidate into a serious general election candidate.

Like most members of the state House and Senate, Brady has never once faced a real general election opponent.

Brady, of Bloomington, focused almost solely on his downstate base and barely campaigned at all in the suburbs during his Republican gubernatorial bid, so independent suburban women might as well be foreigners to him. Since Illinois is such a “Blue” state, he’ll have to convince thousands of Democratic-leaning voters to cross over for him.

After almost two decades of “speaking Republican,” Brady essentially needs to learn how to speak the language of a general election.

One thing he’ll need to do with that new language is explain his voting record. My interns Barton Lorimor and Dan Weber helped me scour Brady’s legislative record last week. Here are some of the results.

Many of the bills Brady introduced since 1993 show he can make a good case that he is a reformer. He has sponsored legislation to limit campaign contributions, for instance.

Brady sponsored a bill to prohibit state contractors from contributing to legislative campaigns. He put forward a bill to prohibit any reimbursement for out-of-state travel if a campaign fundraiser was involved in the trip. He also sponsored a bill to shine some light onto the always controversial legislative pork program.

Brady sponsored several bills that will probably appeal to independents. Brady was chief sponsor of a House bill in 2005, for instance, that created an Illinois Conservation Corps for young adults. Brady co-sponsored a bill (along with Barack Obama) for seniors to make sure they didn’t lose any benefits under the federal prescription drug program.

On the other hand, there are plenty of bills and votes lurking in Brady’s record that could hurt him this fall.

For instance, Brady sponsored legislation that allowed pharmacists to refuse to dispense emergency contraception based on their religious beliefs.

Sen. Brady is 100 percent pro-life, so he sponsored legislation to ban the use of state funds for stem cell research. Brady has sponsored legislation to repeal the state’s Firearm Owner’s Identification Card. And he has repeatedly introduced constitutional amendments to do away with the State Board of Education.

Sponsorship is only one aspect of a legislator’s history. Their voting records are often more important and usually contain far more landmines.

Brady voted against a bill requiring a state insurer to cover mammograms and pap tests, probably because the coverage list also included emergency contraception. He voted against the statewide smoking ban.

Sen. Brady voted against a bill creating a physician loan repayment program for doctors who agreed to practice in Illinois for at least three years. Brady has consistently voted against increasing the minimum wage. He voted against a bill to ban large-capacity magazines in certain guns.

A couple of years ago, state Sen. Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) was attacked by the Republicans for voting in favor of a few tax exemptions. An exemption on certain vehicles was deemed a “tax break for the rich so they can get deals on their limos.” Tax exemptions for racehorses and planes were portrayed in a similar manner. Like Holmes, Brady voted for all three bills.

The Pat Quinn campaign believes it can easily portray Brady as an out-of-touch, wealthy ultra-conservative this fall.

To overcome this, Brady needs to make this race essentially a rerun of the 1980 Carter-Reagan campaign. Carter, after all, was overjoyed when the Republican Party nominated that unelectable right-winger from California. But Reagan’s strong personality, the tanking economy, rising crime, Carter’s bumbling and a huge overreach by the Democratic congressional majority, along with the twin international embarrassments of the Iranian hostage crisis and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, combined to override the ideological divide. Democrats voted for Reagan in droves.

If you substitute “Rod Blagojevich” and “Scott Lee Cohen” for the USA’s international humiliations of 1980, our Illinois situation looks eerily similar.

Late last week, Brady again proposed permanently outlawing gay marriages and civil unions. That sort of thing will be great for the Republican base, but it’s time Brady started learning to speak to everyone else.

For a little context, last year’s Paul Simon Institute poll tested a couple of hot-button social issues…

* The report noted the respondents answering spread themselves nearly equally among three alternatives regarding same-sex unions:

29.3 percent favored full marriage rights.

35.3 percent favored civil unions.

31.3 percent favored no legal recognition.

* In terms of the legality of abortion, most of the respondents took a middle position of three offered:

Legal under any circumstances, 28.3 percent.

Legal only under certain circumstances, 51 percent.

Illegal under all circumstances, 17.8 percent.

* Brady on Fox Chicago Sunday…

* Related…

* GOP defends Dillard’s decision not to concede

* Brady bides time, but looks ahead to race with Quinn

* Brady, Dillard play nice as final GOP votes await counting

* Local Republicans Anxious About Election Results

* GOP lieutenant governor pick talks about his past, vision for office

* GOP Lt. Gov. nominee Plummer says nothing to fear in his background

* Like Cohen, GOP nominee spent big in lt. governor bid

* Reading between the lines of GOP lieutenant governor nominee’s resume

* Lawmakers trying to sort out future of lieutenant governor’s office

* Two proposals would make next lite gov the last one

38 Comments

Jason Plummer’s resume inflation and Bill Brady botches US history

Saturday, Feb 13, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The Tribune takes a closer look at Republican lt. governor nominee Jason Plummer’s claims on his bio and finds some discrepancies and resume inflation…

Plummer highlights his service as a Navy intelligence officer, but he received his commission just last September and has yet to undergo training.

He touts his creation and operation of a wireless Internet provider while still a college undergrad, yet public records show it was his father who owned the firm and Plummer was never listed as an officer.

He has referenced his experience working for former U.S. Sen. Peter Fitzgerald and a conservative think tank, but doesn’t always mention both jobs were internships.

Plummer also had a short stint as Madison County Republican chairman during which he oversaw the opening of a GOP office in a strip mall owned by one of his family’s businesses, which received more than $13,000 in rent.

Go read the whole thing.

* And Sen. Bill Brady botched US history when trying to defend his new running mate…

Mr. Brady also strongly defended the man Illinois Republicans nominated for lieutenant governor, lumber industry official and heir Jason Plummer.

Though just age 27, Mr. Plummer “is ready” to lead the nation’s fifth largest state if need be, Mr. Brady said.

“How old was Thomas Jefferson when he wrote the Constitution?” Mr. Brady asked. “Age isn’t the only barometer of qualification.”

In fact, Mr. Jefferson was 33 when the Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776. The constitution was written more than a decade later.

Oops.

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He gone

Friday, Feb 12, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Finally…

Scott Lee Cohen, the Chicago pawnbroker and onetime Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, submitted a letter Friday to state Democratic Party officials withdrawing his candidacy.

The letter, given to a representative for state party chairman and House Speaker Michael Madigan, will be handed over to the Illinois State Board of Elections when state offices open Tuesday following the Presidents Day holiday, a Cohen spokesman said.

“We didn’t want this to continue through the weekend,” said Cohen’s spokesman, Baxter Swilley. “We gave it to the state party, and they will file it. We consider the matter closed.”

Swilley declined to provide a copy of the letter until it was accepted by elections officials. He said the one-page letter simply states Cohen is relinquishing all rights to the nomination.

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Things to consider while the governor is in the bunker

Friday, Feb 12, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* My Sun-Times column looks at the lt. governor’s mess…

Gov. Quinn hasn’t been doing public events this week. I don’t really blame him.

Quinn managed to survive the Democratic primary by a few thousand votes, only to realize a few hours later that he had been paired on the ticket with a pawnbroker who had been arrested for allegedly holding a knife to his girlfriend’s throat and had allegedly attempted to rape his wife, among other things.

When that news broke, I’ll bet everybody at the shuttered Dan Hynes campaign breathed a collective sigh of relief. “Hooray! We lost!”

Michael Sneed reported in Thursday’s Chicago Sun-Times that at least 70 people had contacted the governor’s office asking to be the new lieutenant governor candidate.

Some are surely legitimate, but I imagine that many others are coming out of the woodwork.

“Hi. Can I apply for the job?”

Sure. What are your qualifications?

“Well, I work at a massage parlor and my ex-boyfriend once tried to slit my throat.”

Click.

State Rep. Arthur L. Turner (D-Chicago) finished second in the lieutenant governor’s race and says he’s a natural choice. But if he couldn’t defeat the nightmarish Scott Lee Cohen, how the heck is he going to help the Democrats beat the Republicans?

Turner has been involved in a long-running feud with state Sen. Rickey R. Hendon (D-Chicago). Most people figure Hendon got into the lieutenant governor’s primary to take black votes away from Turner, his fellow African-American legislator and longtime political nemesis. Whatever it was, it worked. If Quinn chooses Turner, Hendon will certainly make lots of trouble for the governor in the Illinois Senate.

Friends of S. Raja Krishnamoorthi think he should be the choice. Krishnamoorthi is an Indian American who lost to Rep. David E. Miller for comptroller in the Democratic primary. Republicans were worried that Krishnamoorthi would win that race and be the spark that fully ignited the extensive and wealthy Indian-American community on behalf of the Democratic Party.

But choosing an also-ran such as Krishnamoorthi would be a direct slap at Turner and his African-American allies. No way.

Rep. Mike Boland (D-East Moline) finished fourth in the lieutenant governor primary and thinks he ought to be named to the ticket. Yeah. OK. Skip over the No. 2 guy to choose somebody who finished way back in the pack? Right. Check. Next!

Dan Hynes really ought to be the one to step up here. His millions of dollars in negative TV ads almost worked, but the incumbent is now damaged goods. Hynes doesn’t want to run as Quinn’s second banana, and Quinn can’t stand the sight of Hynes, so that’s that. Too bad for both men, because a Quinn/ Hynes ticket would have been dramatic enough to put this mess behind them and help rehabilitate both their images.

Attorney General Lisa Madigan might want to run for governor in four years, so there’s some talk of picking an elder statesman such as Southern Illinois University President Glenn Poshard. He’s a conservative Downstater, which would bring some much-needed balance to the completely liberal Cook County ticket. And he’s old enough that he wouldn’t have the ambition to run for the top job when Quinn is finished.

Maybe state Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo) has the right idea. Franks wants the party to just leave the spot open. Don’t fill the Cohen vacancy.

It’s a useless, do-nothing job anyway, so why even bother replacing Cohen?

No matter whom the Democrats choose, somebody will be miffed, so picking nobody could avoid that morass and allow them to focus on Jason Plummer, the Republican lieutenant governor nominee — an unknown, very conservative 27-year-old who spent his family’s money to win the nomination.

It’s something to consider.

* Related…

* Fox Valley State Rep. Franks says leave Lt. Gov. slot empty

* Ill. state representative says Quinn should run solo

* House Speaker Michael Madigan speaks to John Williams

* Lt. Gov. job — mend it, then end it

* Lawmakers trying to sort our future of lieutenant governor’s office

* Two proposals would make next lite gov the last one

* `What if?’ game could result in a real winner for Illinois

* Ex-Nominee’s Troubles Stain Pawnbrokers

* The hidden advantages of the Dems’ Scott Lee Cohen fiasco

* Is The Ball In Quinn’s Court?

* Simon: ‘Yes’ to lieutenant governor, if asked

* Poshard says he has not interest in lieutenant governor’s post

* State GOP chair defends party’s nominee for lieutenant governor

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Mid-day Shorts

Friday, Feb 12, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Former Senate hopeful reflects on a career of firsts

* Meet State Sen. Bill Brady

* Brady Wants to Ban Same-Sex Marriages

* You read it here first: `Bill Brady, too extreme for Illinois’

* On second thought, a political career might be a be bad move

* An Election Sets a Record, and Not a Good One

There are nearly 1,444,000 registered voters in Chicago. Turnout for the Feb. 2 primary was 27.2 percent, the worst for a non-presidential primary, but apparently better than the still-unofficial statewide figure.

* Low voter turnout a blessing?

* Friends and family say goodbye to John Gianulis

* Senate prepares for confirmation vote on Illinois State Police director

* Quinn approves budget delay bill

Without the extension, Quinn would have had to deliver his budget speech Wednesday. Now, he does not have to address lawmakers about his spending plan until March 10.

* Quinn budget speech now set for March

* Lawmakers allow Quinn to delay budget address

* Ill. lawmakers OK delaying budget speech

* How you could get a say in fixing state budget

The Web site - www.budget.illinois.gov - will post on Feb. 24 the tax revenues for the current budget year and how they’ve been spent so far. Also posted will be projected revenues for the next budget year, which begins July 1, and all the projected program costs, debt payments, pension liabilities and other spending pressures.

* A legislative gamble that must lose

Some pro-gambling legislators are pushing a plan to either charge a fee or withhold construction from communities that reject video gambling for bars and restaurants.

* Pork barrel perks ripe for the plucking

* Agencies fear state cuts will be setback for Illinois Q-C kids

* State libraries may be the next victim of state’s financial woes

* Fiscal Sustainability: Our State and Its Flagship University

Next year is even more worrisome. The $2 billion in federal stimulus funds will be gone. The false comfort of this year’s $3.5 billion in pension obligation notes may not return but the obligation to fund pensions will remain. Interest payments on borrowing will go up. This year’s FY ‘10 deficit will carry forward.
In short, as serious as things are now, FY ‘11 will be much worse. Our University of Illinois economists estimate we could be looking at a nearly $13 billion hole going into FY ‘11, a gap almost half of the entire State general fund budget.

* Groups pitch furlough days with a purpose

The Campus Faculty Association has scheduled a “teach-in” Monday afternoon on the UI’s budget crisis, demanding that budget decisions “be motivated by the core values of teaching, research and public engagement” and be “open, transparent and collaborative.”

* [SIU] expects cuts next fiscal year

* SIU board approves wind turbine

* Borrowing plan no solution

Desperate times produce desperate measures, and this request to borrow based on the unreliable promises from a near-bankrupt state has to be among the most desperate of all.

* Illinois to receive increase in specialty crop grant funds

The department intends to use the funds to award “mini-grants” that expand markets for fresh produce grown in Illinois and is encouraging specialty crop growers to submit a proposal before the April 30 application deadline.

* House Democrats block Republican attempt to get vote on campaign finance reform

Madigan argued that last year’s campaign finance bill was a compromise. It applied the limits on how much leaders and parties could give to candidates to only the primary campaign, and takes effect next year.

* Madigan blocks hearing on GOP ethics proposal

* Front license plate bill dies in committee

* Ill. senator wants change for Chicago Public Schools

* Supporters Vow a Fight to Keep Local School Councils

* Stripping LSCs’ power won’t help city schools

* Lawmaker wants state cash for early kindergarten

* Koehler pitches development plan

The plan creates an income tax credit of 25 percent on “qualified expenditures” incurred by a developer who restores or preserves a historic structure.

If approved by the legislature, the Peoria Democrat’s plan would become the first state income tax credit applied toward historical structures in Illinois.

* Free Rides for Seniors May Be Hitting Last Stop

* Lawmakers considering income limits on free rides for seniors

A one-person household with an income of $27,610 would be eligible under the guidelines. A two-person household could have a maximum income of $34,635. The circuit breaker program is used to set income guidelines to give seniors property tax relief and aid to buy prescription drugs.

* Free transit rides in Illinois come under fire

* Senior perk cutback advances on free transit rides

* Teen ’sexting’ ban not ready to hit send

Lawmakers want more input before making decision on bill governing racy text messages

* Proposals seek ’sensitive balance’ in teen sexting

As proposed, sending a “sext” could bring a $1,500 fine and six months in jail. Asking someone to send you a “sext” could bring a $2,500 fine and a year in jail.

* Senate Committe OKs DCFS Child Death Investigation Task Force

* Michigan Reps Blame Illinois For Asian Carp Threat

* Feds pass on surest solution to Asian carp advance

The surest way to prevent the huge, hungry carp from gaining a foothold in the lakes and threatening their $7 billion fishing industry is to sever the link between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River basin, created by engineers in Chicago more than a century ago.

* Illinois lawmakers upset over call to close locks in Asian carp fight

* Illinois Congressmen, Business Leaders Lobby Before EPA Asian Carp Hearing

* Madigan Sues “Storm Chasers”

In the complaints, Madigan alleges the companies defrauded Illinois residents of more than $243,000 by performing substandard or incomplete work.

* Customer, attorney general sue local contractor

* Local reps criticize malpractice ruling

* Police warn of ATM scam operating in suburbs

* Illinois Foreclosures Climb, Bucking the National Trend

* Initial jobless claims fell more than expected last week

The Labor Department said that first-time claims for unemployment insurance dropped by 43,000 to a seasonally adjusted 440,000. Wall Street economists expected a smaller decline of 15,000, according to a survey by Thomson Reuters.

* Downtown condo sales up in 4th quarter

* Condo market shrinks again

But other numbers in the report point to a stabilizing market. Buildings that are geared to first-time buyers and quote prices at about $290 a square foot are drawing the greatest interest and will lead a market recovery, said Gail Lissner, vice president at Appraisal Research.

* CTA Springs for New Trains

* CTA Purchases New Train Cars, Unions Reject Concessions

* The Pulse: Mayor’s Furlough to Grow to 29 Days

* Daley orders new city budget cuts

Mr. Daley said he’s also ordered a management study designed to move more police from desk jobs to street duty, and said he is continuing the city’s hiring freeze.

* Daley orders police management review to put more officers on street

* Mayor Daley orders budget cuts

Mayor Daley on Thursday tightened the bureaucratic belt another notch by ordering a 6 percent cut in non-personnel spending in all city departments except police, fire and emergency services.

* Daley orders city departments to reduce spending

* Mayor Daley orders police budget review

* Daley suspends top ethics aide for 30 days

Anthony Boswell’s 30-day suspension without pay comes as Daley this week moved to weaken the Office of Compliance by shifting its oversight duties for city hiring to the inspector general’s office.

* Daley accused of retaliation in Boswell suspension

Boswell’s attorney Jamie Wareham offered no specific examples of the clout hiring. He simply said there was more at work in Boswell’s suspension than an attempt by Inspector General Joe Ferguson to snatch control of city hiring away from the Office of Compliance.

* Rugai proposes photo with every parking ticket

Only 12 percent of all parking tickets end up being challenged. That’s even though 56 percent of all tickets challenged last year ended up being tossed out, according to Administrative Hearings director Scott Bruner.

* Ald. Ed Burke Fights The War On Foam

* Foam Container Ban Not Appetizing To Food Vendors

* With county’s financial disclosures online, a win for open government

* Brother of ex-Ill. governor pleads not guilty

He said he was prepared for a tough fight at his trial, which is set to get under way June 3 before U.S. District Judge James B. Zagel.

“This is the battle of my life and I’m prepared to confront it,” the Nashville, Tenn., businessman said.

His attorney, Michael Ettinger, told reporters he is thinking of filing a motion to have his client tried separately from the impeached former governor.

* Blago brother pleads not guilty

* Robert Blagojevich Speaks of ‘Strained’ Relationship with Brother

* Robert Blagojevich: “I want my name back.”

* Blago Dances in “No Spin Zone”

O’Reilly asked only three questions of Blagojevich and had difficulty getting a straight answer.

* Record number of Ill. students take AP exams

Officials with the College Board says the decline in pass rates is due to more diverse populations taking the exams.

* Report says state’s children in crisis

* CPS Fears $267 Million Shortage In State Funds

* CPS won’t move Keller School

* District 21, teachers reach new contract deal

* Old Town School plans $18 million expansion

* Mokena SD 159 could use a strong foundation

* Facing $5.5 million deficit, Oswego schools plan to cut 87 jobs

* Probable cuts unveiled at U-46 budget forum

* No explanations for Dist. 158 parents

* Union representing Woodland teachers file complaint with state

* Rockford schools paraprofessionals agree to one-year wage freeze

* Rockford beats Chicago for highest child poverty rate

Statistics released today in the 2010 Illinois Kids Count Report show that 34 percent of Rockford’s children live in poverty. That’s 3 percentage points higher than second-ranked Chicago.

* Depth of Quad-Cities children in poverty ‘alarming’

* Kids Count report shows how kids are affected during difficult economic times

* Cicero ex-president ready to leave jail

Loren-Maltese was convicted in 2002 on racketeering charges for siphoning millions of taxpayer dollars.

* Convicted Loren-Maltese keeps Cicero insurance benefits

According to Hanania, former Town President Henry Klosak and the board passed an ordinance in 1992 that made elected officials over 60 eligible for town health insurance. In 1997, after Loren-Maltese was elected, the board expanded the ordinance, taking out the age requirement and amending it to cover elected officials and spouses for life. Children can receive the insurance up to age 19].

* Mayor: Belvidere has spent $95K fighting gangs

* Chatham home sales hit record

In fact, Pat McCarthy can rattle off a list of subdivisions in the works or expanding in Chatham — Foxx Creek, Manor Hill II, Glendale, The Willows, Oakbrook, North Pointe Commons and Avenal to name a few.

* Freeport holds public hearing on city’s future

* Libertyville wind turbine ban continued

* East St. Louis names new fire chief

* [Springfield]’s fourth union local votes against furloughs

Members of AFSCME Local 3738, which represents clerical, technical and professional employees throughout city and City Water, Light and Power departments, on Thursday voted 89-34 against the mayor’s proposed contractual concessions, according to Roger Griffith, staff representative for AFSCME Council 31.

* Yorkville aldermen OK old Kendall jail deal

* Lake County Jail cutbacks include Netflix account for inmates

But the curtain has been dropped on the perk now that the jail’s $35 monthly Netflix subscription has been canceled — a tiny portion of the $2 million in budget cuts that Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran disclosed Thursday.

* Tinley considers ways to ease higher parking fees

* Residents say Grayslake violating its own snow ordinance

* [Winnebago] County Board OKs bond sale for Bachman settlement

* [Peoria] County’s asphalt quality control requirement set to begin May 1

* Livingston Co. about to exit nursing home business

The Livingston County Board learned Thursday that the Illinois Department of Public Health has granted a probationary permit to allow Flanagan-based Good Samaritan Home to own and operate the county-owned, 122-bed Livingston Manor. A final permit cannot be granted until the state inspects Livingston Manor.

The probationary permit is good until March 31. Livingston County Board Chairman Bill Fairfield said the state will renew the probationary permit if the inspection isn’t done in time.

* Coles County delays repairs to courthouse bell tower

* Facing reality so hard to do in Belleville

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