* Here’s the outline…
Schools would get about $515 million more, though $148 million of that boost would be used for long overdue school construction payments, negotiators said. Classroom spending would be lower than last year’s extraordinary boost of about $550 million.
Chicago Public Schools would get about 20 percent of that total, or slightly more than $100 million, under the proposal, said Sen. Donne Trotter (D-Chicago), the lead Senate Democratic negotiator. Mayor Richard Daley had asked for $180 million more, but school officials acknowledged earlier this week they could live with an extra $130 million.
Trotter said spending overall would go up $2.1 billion in the proposal, but questions still exist over how to pay for the sizable increase. Despite a dismal economy putting a damper on tax revenues, lawmakers hope to collect as much as $1 billion more in the next fiscal year.
The new spending would be supported in part by an auction of the state’s long-dormant 10th riverboat casino license, from which they hope to reap as much as $575 million. But support for some pending measures to help avoid budget shortfalls is in doubt.
* And…
But the big question that remains is whether it’s in balance. […]
Trotter says if those revenue measures don’t pass, an out-of-whack budget could be sent to Governor Rod Blagojevich for possible big cuts.
* Also…
llinois House committees Friday approved major parts of Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s public works construction program, including a massive expansion of gambling and leasing the Illinois lottery.
However, the fate of the plan is still uncertain as lawmakers drive to pass a budget and adjourn by Saturday. Time may run out before the capital plan can be approved. And one key lawmaker said Blagojevich must still convince legislators that he can be trusted to ok construction projects in their districts before the capital plan will be approved.
“I think the governor has a lot of work to do convincing people he can be trusted,” said Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie, who is sponsoring the gambling expansion bill. […]
Some committee members said they voted for the bill only to get it to the House floor where all representatives would have a chance to vote on it.
*** UPDATE 1 *** There’s a leaders meeting at 5:30 to discuss the capital plan. The caucuses were given te final capital language at noon today and they’ll discuss any changes they want. The bill is huge and complicated, so some House Dem members are saying that passing that gigantic thing at this late date probably wouldn’t be prudent. Others say the issue is too important to put off until November. It’s highly doubtful that the plan will pass by tomorrow, but there will likely be some fireworks.
*** UPDATE 2 *** This is pretty basic stuff, but here’s more on what the governor faces with the budget deal…
But the deal could force Blagojevich to be the bad guy.
Legislators haven’t come up with a way to pay for the proposed new spending. If they pass an unbalanced budget, Blagojevich either would have to veto the whole thing - potentially triggering months of gridlock - or pick and choose which programs to cut.
He might have to slash programs for important constituencies, close prisons or scrap health care expansions. […]
“Will the governor have to make some reductions? More than likely he will,” Trotter said.
*** UPDATE 3 *** Clean Car bill update…
Supporters of a bill to impose California’s stringent emission standards on cars sold in Illinois are hoping for a showdown vote before the Illinois General Assembly’s scheduled adjournment Saturday.
Although Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, is one of the bill’s co-sponsors, it’s unclear whether a vote will happen during the end-of-session rush. “I don’t do predictions,” said a spokesman for the speaker. “It’s on the calendar, but it’s obviously controversial.” […]
The auto industry and its allies are fighting hard to keep the bill bottled up as legislators rush to finish bigger issues, such as next year’s state budget and long-term funding for infrastructure improvements. […]
Environmental groups claim to have 45 solid votes for the bill, including 37 co-sponsors, and they count about 40 likely votes against it. That leaves about 33 undecided or uncommitted, with 60 votes needed for a majority. The auto industry spokesman declined to comment on that assessment of the bill’s support.
The process would start all over in the Senate, however. It’s taken since February of 2007 to get this point, which isn’t very far.
*** UPDATE 4 *** Capital bill grows by almost $3 billion..
State lawmakers are now trying to push through a construction-spending spree that’s swelled to nearly $34 billion in the final hours of their legislative session. […]
A breakdown provided by the governor’s office shows the state would come up with $21 billion, the federal government would provide nearly $10 billion and local governments would contributed $3 billion for an unofficial total of $33.7 billion in spending over at least the next five years.
The preliminary breakdown shows $2 billion for school construction and another $165 million to provide $50,000 maintenance grants to every school district in the state. Public universities would get $1 billion, community colleges and private universities would get $300 million apiece.
Check out what’s at the bottom of the story…
But billions more in spending remains unspecified, at least to the public, at this point. For instance, there’s $1 billion set aside only for “revitalization” to be distributed by the Illinois Finance Authority.
*** UPDATE 5 *** The Statehouse has been evacuated because of the tornado warning. Members are in the basement.
*** UPDATE 6 *** The leaders meeting wasn’t started when the tornado evacuation order was issued. Most are in the tunnels under the capitol complex. No idea yet whether the meeting will go on as planned, or whether the General Assembly will reconvene tonight.
Hail has been reported, but no touchdowns or even sitings of tornadoes have been confirmed.
*** UPDATE 7 *** The SJ-R is live-blogging the storm. You can also listen online or on your radio to Jim Leach do the play-by play on WMAY.
*** UPDATE 8 *** The alarms have been turned off at the Statehouse, but people are still being advised to stay sheltered. The first storm is passed, but another big one is on the way. It’s not expected to produce a tornado, but high winds are likely.
*** UPDATE 9 *** A third storm has been spotted in Morgan County, and there are signs of rotation.
*** UPDATE 10 *** The House has canceled session for the rest of the evening. As of now the Senate is still waiting it out.
*** UPDATE 11 *** The leaders meeting will convene at around 7:45 tonight.
*** UPDATE 12 *** The Senate is in recess for committees. It is uncertain whether or not they will reconvene tonight.
*** UPDATE 13 *** The Senate has canceled any more floor activity for the night. However they are still in committee.
*** UPDATE 14 *** The leaders meeting has ended.
Officially they are expressing optimism. However, the House Democrats are saying that they have not had adequate time to review the Capital Plan. They are not promising or even speculating yet as to a vote.
Also, it appears that a 12th river boat license may be on the table.
*** UPDATE 15 *** 9:10 P.M. Senate President Jones, Senate Minority Leader Watson, and Governor Blagojevich are still currently meeting.
They are trying to hash out significant differences between Jones and Watson on the bill.
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Question of the day
Friday, May 30, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The setup…
Workers represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees say contract proposals by the governor’s office would hurt them and the public they serve.
Thousands of union members joined Unity Pickets at about 36 offices, nursing homes and prisons around the state on Thursday, from far-south Anna to Waukegan, where protesters circled and chanted in front of the Ann M. Kiley Developmental Center, 1201 Dugdale Circle.
Marvin McBride, president of AFSCME local 785, which represents 351 employees at Kiley, said the one-half percent pay raise offered by the state would amount to a pay cut when factoring in a proposed 50 percent increase in health insurance deductibles, co-payments and pension contributions. […]
Overtime is also an issue in negotiations. Cuts in staffing have caused a shortage of technicians who work directly with Kiley’s 222 mentally disabled residents.
* The question: If the union’s contract expires without an agreement, should the workers strike? Explain.
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Budget and end of session roundup
Friday, May 30, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* One House member asked the presiding officer (Rep. Joe Lyons) last night if members could check out of their hotels on Friday, since the calendar didn’t show a Saturday session…
“Representative, we will be here Saturday. Nice try,” said Lyons.
That’s pretty much what everybody else was told as well.
* Things are moving along…
State Sen. Donne Trotter, the Senate’s budget point man, said negotiations, were mostly complete, with the exception of some human services programs.
* And schools appear to be in line for a big boost…
Illinois schools could receive up to $500 million more from a new state budget coming together in Springfield, a key lawmaker said Thursday.
* But the budget won’t be balanced. The $16 billion pension bond bill, which passed the Senate yesterday and would free up $500 million, isn’t likely to pass the House. That might not be such a bad thing…
A University of Illinois economist says a pension borrowing plan pushed through the state Senate by Democrats Thursday is “nothing more than a book-keeping gimmick” that won’t solve the state’s long-term financial problems.
Jeffrey R. Brown, director of the U of I Center on Business and Public Policy, said the plan passes the burden of future pension debt to the next generation of taxpayers.
“It is a classic case of using smoke and mirrors to try to fool the public into thinking we have done something meaningful when we have not,” said Brown.
* A Senate-approved $530 million funds sweep has a better chance of passing the House, but…
Even without those two infusions of cash, Senate Republicans said the Democrat budget isn’t balanced because it is overly optimistic about state tax collections next year. Democrats think things like personal and corporate income taxes and sales taxes will increase by $1 billion, despite the economic downturn.
The governor will essentially be told to use his line item and reduction veto powers to bring the budget into line. They used to do that all the time in the 1970s and 1980s.
* Still, sticking points remain…
The main sticking point in the overall budget appears to be with the House Democrats, who want to increase spending for human services. But Hannig said the House tomorrow likely will present two more substantial portions of a budget that would represent an agreement between the chambers.
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Pay raise politics
Friday, May 30, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* This won’t work, but it’ll make some people feel good…
While Senate President Emil Jones and his new chairman of the Senate Rules Committee have so far managed to avoid holding up-or-down votes on a pair of resolutions aimed at blocking legislative pay raises, the topic continues to rile up lawmakers who don’t think it’s appropriate to receive an 11.7 percent salary hike during a recession.
Fifteen lawmakers from the House and Senate gathered Thursday to denounce Jones’ tactics and demand a Senate vote on the issue. The pay increases would push lawmakers’ base yearly salaries to $73,000 and also boost the pay of judges and statewide officials such as Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
* But not everybody agreed…
Later Thursday, a supporter of the pay raises said the lawmakers who want a Senate vote on the issue should stop pointing fingers at others.
“If they’re unable, because they’re not very effective legislators, to convince the leadership to do what they want them to do, who are they blaming?” said Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline. “I mean, the blame should sit in their lap.”
* The pay raises won’t be included in next fiscal year’s budget…
Trotter also said funding for pay increases of nearly 12 percent for legislators and other government officials, including Gov. Rod Blagojevich, is not included in the proposed spending plans.
“No, unfortunately, you guys have learned all our tricks on that one,” a laughing Trotter told reporters in the Senate press box. “So, you know, we couldn’t hide it nowhere and get away with it. So we just left them out.”
The same thing happened two years ago. They’ll just fund the raises next year and legislators will receive lump sum checks.
* How the pay raises will break down…
Under the recommendations, rank-and-file lawmakers would see their salaries jump from $65,353 to $72,985 next July. Legislative leaders, such as Jones and House Speaker Michael Madigan, would see their pay increase from $91,824 to $102,547.
Additionally, Gov. Rod Blagojevich, whose yearlong showdown with lawmakers has caused delays in education and agricultural funding and almost shut down government last year — would receive an increase of more than $20,000, boosting his salary to $192,773 from the current $170,917.
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Feds checking the fine print
Friday, May 30, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Meddling bureaucrats strike again…
A 2006 Illinois law that allows diners to carry home an unfinished bottle of wine is going to cost Illinois 3% of its federal highway construction money, or about $23.4 million this year.
A letter to the state from the U.S. Department of Transportation dated Wednesday said the money has to be transferred to measures against driving while impaired by alcohol, enforcement of drunk-driving laws and highway safety programs.
The state law amended the Illinois open-container law, allowing diners to carry resealed bottles home in a special tamper-proof, one-use-only bag. The amendment passed by wide margins in the Illinois House and Senate and took effect last year.
However, the letter says, the law failed to specify that the bottle has to be carried in the trunk or in the rear of the vehicle, in order to meet federal requirements. Illinois has 30 days to issue a rebuttal and show why its law does comply with federal requirements.
You’d think that other state statutes would clearly cover this situation. Open bottles, even in a bag (of any kind), already have to be placed far away from the driver. To declare this again seems kinda redundant, but that’s a big chunk of money we stand to lose, so I suppose the feds will force Illinois to amend the law.
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This just in… Senate passes pension bond bill
Thursday, May 29, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* 1:02 pm - Speaker Madigan says the governor may be delusional…
A reporter asked about talk that lawmakers don’t trust him.
BLAGOJEVICH: You know, I think you hear a lot of rhetoric on both sides from people in the political process. That’s just rhetoric. It’s not at all unusual here in Illinois. You hear people in Washington say that about each other.
But House Speaker Michael Madigan, an opponent of Blagojevich’s, says the governor’s leadership style is a problem.
MADIGAN: Well if he thinks it’s rhetoric, then he ought to talk to the members of the legislature who day in and day out tell him to his face that they don’t trust him. So maybe he is delusional.
Audio from Chicago Public Radio…
[audio:cityroom_2008.mp3]
[Or click here if the player doesn’t work for you]
* 3:37 pm - John Patterson scored a quick interview with Gov. Blagojevich by staking out the guv’s favorite Statehouse entranceway - the Capitol basement loading dock…
Q: If the General Assembly sends you a budget that’s unbalanced, doesn’t have the revenues to match spending, what are the first things you’re going to look to cut?
Governor: Look, I can’t believe the General assembly would send me a budget that’s not balanced. The General Assembly knows that the constitution requires a balanced budget. I find it hard to believe that they would send me a budget that’s not balanced. So I think it’s kind of a moot question.
I have confidence they’ll do the right thing and send me a budget that’s balanced. I understand last year … I choose to believe that was an aberration when they sent me a budget that was more than a billion dollars in deficit. I have to think, acknowledging that, that they would never do that again. So I’m confident they’ll send me a balanced budget.
Believe it, guv. Last year was no aberration.
* 3:50 pm - I told subscribers that this approp bill would pass today and about some of the other stuff in this brief report…
State lawmakers have started sending pieces of a new state budget to Governor Rod Blagojevich while they’re working on an agreement on the entire spending plan.
The House voted 61-53 Thursday to send the governor a measure already approved by the Senate that would pay for operations in smaller state agencies next year.
Democrats in both chambers say their approval should signal that budget talks are on track to be wrapped up by Saturday. If not, the session goes into overtime.
But lawmakers say some key points still need to be resolved. They include how to pay for as much as $2 billion in extra spending and how much spending to include for human services and education.
*** 4:09 pm *** The Senate just finished voting on the $16 billion pension obligation bond plan. The bill passed with 37 votes. They held their caucus completely together despite several open threats of desertion. Whatever you think of the bill, it looks like the SDems are finally all on one page for the first time in well over a year.
The bill now goes to the House.
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Question of the day
Thursday, May 29, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sun-Times…
Justice will not have been served if [George Ryan] is released from prison early. […]
Despite his conviction, and an appellate court decision affirming it, Ryan, as far as we know, has never admitted to breaking any laws. And in his persistent efforts on Ryan’s behalf, Thompson reveals his own reluctance to acknowledge Ryan’s guilt.
* Daily Herald…
Ryan has never recognized his conviction. […]
On the night before he went to prison, he struck a defiant pose, proclaiming his innocence and saying he would begin his sentence “with a clear conscience.” […]
To grant him special favors after all that would not only be unfair. It would invite the public’s continued cynicism about our institutions of government.
* Bernie has some background on the Ryan-Bush relationship.
* Question: Should President Bush commute George Ryan’s sentence and set him free? Explain. [Note that we’re not talking about a full pardon here, just a commutation.]
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Reform and Renewal, Part 9,688
Thursday, May 29, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Keep in mind when reading these first couple of excerpts that these are the same people who want us to trust them with a $16 billion pension obligation bond, a $31 billion capital spending plan, a Lottery lease, etc…
An audit of Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s Office of Management and Budget found that the state’s top fiscal office did not competitively bid some services and failed to maintain even the most basic records of major financial activities.
* And…
Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s Office of Management and Budget improperly awarded state contracts and had difficulty monitoring others, a state audit said Wednesday.
The review by Auditor General William Holland found that the budget office did not issue contracts based on required competitive bidding procedures. It also wrongly paid employees for travel expenses and failed to document workers’ pay raises.
“As the management agency of state government, they’re setting a poor example,” Holland said.
* From the auditor general’s summary…
The Office did not exercise adequate controls over contractual agreements.
The Office did not exercise adequate control over its interagency agreements and related travel expenditures.
The Office did not exercise adequate control over its travel functions. […]
The Office did not fully comply with annual financial reporting requirements set forth by continuing disclosure undertakings.
The Office did not comply with provisions of the Accountability for the Investment of Public Funds Act…
* Aaron Chambers discusses another audit of CMS and Health and Family Services…
…CMS and HFS — the agency responsible for managing the state’s health care programs — forged an agreement under which CMS raided nearly $20 million set aside for state worker health insurance to pay costs associated with worker’s comp. This is the “health care governor,” after all.
CMS also had trouble keeping its fiscal years straight, Holland’s audit found.
Go read Chambers’ post for the full effect. Horrid.
* Meanwhile…
The largest state government employee union is upset with the Blagojevich administration’s contract offer that the union says will result in a pay cut for its members.
The offer doesn’t meet the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees’ idea of a contract that gives state employees “decent wages, health care they can afford and secure retirement,” AFSCME spokesman Anders Lindall said.
“The administration is seeking to shift significant new health-care increases on state employees and new pension costs and pay (increases) that wouldn’t keep pace,” Lindall said Wednesday. “The end result would be a pay cut for state employees who in recent years have seen their ranks reduced sharply and their workloads increased at the same time.”
Labor unrest is just what this administration needs.
Not.
* Related…
* Lawmaker laments ’session of nothing’
* A lot has to happen in three days
* Lawmakers racing the clock on budget
* Lawmakers hustle to craft spending plan
* House Democrats: little chance of passing capital plan
* Governor optimistic on big plan
* Editorial: Prospects for Illinois Works are dim
* Pension reform bill advances to full House
* Comptroller says Illinois needs to find other higher education funding
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* Eric Zorn urges Attorney General Lisa Madigan to announce right away that she’s running for governor…
Don’t wait. Announce today that you’ll challenge incumbent Rod Blagojevich for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 2010.
* Zorn notes that Blagojevich has a big fundraiser planned for next month, so an announcement now would dry up the governor’s money…
And his re-election strategy, assuming he runs again, will likely be similar to his 2006 re-election strategy: Build up huge campaign reserves and use his financial advantage to discourage opposition and bury those who do run against him in an avalanche of commercials.
* He also lists several possible Democratic contenders who are currently mulling gubernatorial bids, including Paul Vallas, Alexi Giannoulias and Dan Hynes. A “multi-candidate primary” would be Blagojevich’s best bet for reelection, Zorn says, but if Lisa jumped in now…
Only a fool would decide to challenge you, and the prospective candidates above aren’t fools. But neither are they quitters. If you wait for one or more of them to get in first, you may find yourself sharing the protest vote in the primary.
* I see several flaws in this argument…
1) Blagojevich’s fundraising abilities have already been hobbled by the ongoing federal probes. The ethics bill, if it becomes law, would further damage his fundraising capabilities by not allowing him to raise money from state contractors. Also, half the money he raised last year went to legal fees. If Rezko is convicted in a way that points directly at Blagojevich, those legal fees will exponentially rise. Heck, they’ll increase anyway because there are plenty of other investigations afoot.
2) Dan Hynes is a Mike Madigan ally, so he’ll likely keep his powder dry while Lisa mulls. Vallas probably won’t be able to raise money in the Greek community as long as Alexi is keeping his options open. The same thing goes for potential LMadigan backers. Vallas’ 2002 campaign was so poorly run that he may not even be seen as a credible challenger. Plus, if Barack Obama is elected president, Giannoulias might be appointed to the US Senate.
3) Giannoulias appears to relish the chance of challenging Lisa Madigan in the 2010 gubernatorial primary, if it comes to that. Obama beat the Madigan machine in 2004 (Obama’s primary victory over Hynes) and he and Obama did it again in 2006 (Giannoulias’ primary victory over Paul Mangieri), so they’re not exactly quaking in their boots. The Alexi folks are painting the possible matchup between their guy and Madigan as a rerun of Obama vs. Clinton.
4) As far as the multi-candidate primary goes, Blagojevich might be indicted or even on trial by 2010. Also, Blagojevich’s only remaining hardcore base is among African-American voters in Chicago and Cook County. An Obama endorsement of Giannoulias (whether he wins the presidency or not) would wipe out the guv’s base.
5) AG Madigan told me a couple of weeks ago that she’s likely to announce her decision after the November election.
6) If she announces now and the ethics bill becomes law, she won’t be able to raise money from any company that does business with the administration, or has bid on contracts. She might disavow the cash anyway, but a formal declaration would legally close off that money. [Correction: A commenter is right to point out that she’ll have to formally file with the state as a candidate before that money is cut off, but raising money from those contractors after she has announced would surely be frowned upon.]
7) I’m not singling out Eric here, but a universal rule is to never take political advice from a journalist or pundit. They’re usually wrong. And I include myself in that category.
That being said, Eric doesn’t have a horrible idea. It could work. But the Madigan family is the epitome of political caution. They like to have their ducks completely in line before they make a move. It might make sense on several levels, but I don’t see it happening yet. We’ll see how the rest of the media responds.
Anything I’ve missed? Or, is Eric spot on?
…Adding… If AG Madigan announced today, she’d be drawn directly into the ongoing fight her dad is waging with Gov. Blagojevich. MJM says guv is “delusional,” Lisa is asked for comment. Etc., etc., etc. All bad.
*** UPDATE *** From Zorn…
I’ll be a panelist this evening on “Chicago Tonight” (7 p.m., WTTW-Ch. 11) in a discussion about the 2010 race for governor in Illinois.
That was quick.
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* What the heck is up with this?
Jeffrey Duerwachter isn’t a player in Chicago real estate. He doesn’t even own a home. Duerwachter, 39, lives with his parents in Wilmette. He did OK last year at work, making $1,756 a week working on the set of the new Batman movie filmed in Chicago.
But he did even better investing, making a $413,000 profit by buying and immediately reselling a historic South Loop building that once housed the Chicago Defender, the city’s biggest African-American newspaper. And he did it all in one day — June 8.
Duerwachter reportedly paid $3.72 million for the building and a vacant lot, and flpped it the same day to a company owned by Matthew O’Malley.
Remember him? O’Malley’s the guy who runs the Park Grill Restaurant in Mayor Daley’s prized Millenium Park. As the Sun-Times notes, this deal became controversial “after the Chicago Sun-Times disclosed in 2005 that O’Malley and his partners won the 20-year deal with the Chicago Park District to run the restaurant while he and a top park district official, Laura Foxgrover, were romantically involved and having a child.”
* Anyway, back to the real estate flip…
O’Malley bought the property with three loans — including $1 million in city pension funds managed by DV Urban Realty Partners, a company co-owned by Mayor Daley’s nephew, Robert Vanecko, and one of Daley’s key African-American allies, Allison S. Davis. This was one of the investments Davis and Vanecko made after their newly created company was hired to manage $68 million for five pension funds for city workers, police officers, Chicago teachers and CTA workers.
Gee, I wonder if something’s hinky there.
* Meanwhile, Tony Rezko has more legal trouble…
Antoin “Tony” Rezko, who is standing trial on federal corruption charges in Chicago, is wanted in Las Vegas for failing to pay $472,275 in gambling debts to Caesars Palace and Bally’s and related processing fees to the Clark County district attorney’s office. […]
At Caesars, between March 25 and July 14, 2006 Rezko cashed a $195,000 personal check that came back for insufficient funds and was given $55,000 in markers on four other occasions, according to the complaint. He also was given four markers totaling $200,000 on July 13, 2006, at Bally’s, the complaint said.
* Duffy responds…
[Rezko defense attorney Joe Duffy] said Rezko had “old debt” in Nevada with two casinos that is covered by a settlement agreement. “Why they decided to issue a warrant, I do not know,” Duffy told the Tribune late Wednesday.
* And the Rezko jury is taking its own sweet time…
All told, it has taken the jury of 10 women and 2 men more than two weeks to deliberate for a combined 6 1/2 days. With this week book-ended by a holiday and a day off on Friday, jurors could confer for as little as 2 1/2 days.
Rezko is facing 24 counts, so the jury has so far deliberated an average of 2.2 hours on each count.
* Somewhat related…
* NU grads say Daley too small for big day
* Expediters’ role under federal scrutiny at latest City Hall probe
* Children’s Museum lists rejected sites: Reilly noted that Children’s Museum vice president Jim Law, Daley’s former special events director, has spent the last year insisting that Grant Park was the “only location considered.'’ “Now we’re supposed to believe he wasn’t telling the truth. The museum team is running dangerously low on credibility,'’ Reilly said.
* Children’s Museum lists 37 alternate sites
* Stroger gets backing for final 4 for hospital oversight board
* Sangamon County State’s attorney candidate wants to create anti-corruption unit
* Senator’s Pension More Than Former Salary
* Jurors send mixed signal on Rezko deliberations
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Morning Shorts
Thursday, May 29, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning
* Editorial: Lead and crime
* John F. Harris: The signature defect of modern political journalism is that it has shredded the ideal of proportionality.
* Lawmakers attempted to clarify their intentions Wednesday by altering Scott’s Law to add that it should apply only to those drivers who cause property damage or death or injury to another person… motorists have complained that the harsh fines have been handed down against anyone passing even the most trivial of traffic stops.
* Gov. Rod Blagojevich has been sent legislation that would require a stiff prison sentence for a person convicted of giving a gun to a minor who then goes out and commits a crime.
* CTA operator error suspected in derailment
* DuPage County Board freezes most members’ salaries
* Harness racing expansion proposal dies in committee
* Follow the GOP Leaders (Out the Door)
And to make matters worse, Hastert backed a deeply flawed candidate, Jim Oberweis, to replace him. Oberweis lost the special election in March.
* The Price Of Pampering At The Conventions? $500K
* City urged to roll out bicycle rental plan
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