* First there was the millions of dollars in agriculture-related money magically released the day before the recall vote in the Senate…
“The Senate president (Emil Jones of Chicago) came on the floor today and told us we could go ahead and start making notification of our soil and water districts and extension offices,” Demuzio said.
Sen. Demuzio voted “No” on the recall proposal. [UPDATE: Sen. Demuzio did say a few weeks ago that she was going to be a “No” on recall.]
* Then there was today’s announcement that IDOT was moving an office with 150 jobs out of Springfield to Benton and ignoring state law in the process.
Sen. Gary Forby of Benton missed the recall vote, but has a good excuse.
* Now comes word that Stateville prison in Joliet may remain open….
MEDIA ADVISORY
State Senator AJ Wilhelmi will be joined by Senate President Emil Jones to make a major announcement regarding the proposed closure of Stateville Maximum Security Correctional Center.
Sen. AJ Wilhelmi (D-Joliet) voted “Present” on recall.
* As a side note, Rep. Brent Hassert has been downplaying impeachment talk lately…
But until there is more evidence of wrongdoing by the governor, some critics of Blagojevich oppose impeaching him, including the second-highest ranking Republican in the Illinois House, Rep. Brent Hassert (R-Romeoville).
“Somewhere down the line that might change, but right now I don’t see anything that’s impeachable,” Hassert said.
Hassert is on the list of invitees to the Stateville press conference.
*** UPDATE 1 *** The Joliet Herald News has more…
Legislators have found a way to keep Stateville Correctional Center open.
“The word is out that Stateville is not going to be closed,” said state Sen. A.J. Wilhelmi, D-Joliet. “I am proud that we have been able to accomplish this.” […]
State Rep. Brent Hassert, R-Romeoville, said good news is coming.
“Based on my conversations with the governor’s office over the week, I feel we’re going to be in good shape,” said Hassert, whose district includes Stateville.
*** UPDATE 2 *** More magic money discovered since the Senate’s recall vote…
Blagojevich also released an additional $32 million for programs such as medical research grants and community college grants for veterans.
The governor has been saying for weeks that there just wasn’t any money in the budget for these otherwise worthwhile programs and that he had to focus on other priorities, like healthcare… and, apparently, not being recalled.
*** UPDATE 3 *** Legislators, governor’s office flatly deny any pressure was exerted on recall…
On Friday, word spread that the Blagojevich administration was backing off plans to shutter Stateville — the massive state prison in Joliet. An announcement is planned Monday, but Wilhelmi said one has nothing to do with the other.
“Absolutely not,” he said. […]
Asked why he didn’t vote “no” if he felt so strongly, Wilhelmi said, “I didn’t want to engage in what I think is a silly debate. It didn’t deserve any of us engaging.” [..]
Spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff said the projects had been held up because there isn’t money. If senators decide the projects are a priority, the state would consider delaying payments to health-care providers and schools to get around budget constraints. But she denied there was any connection between the local funding and the recall vote.
“No!” Ottenhoff insisted when asked the question.
* But Pat Quinn disagrees…
“The governor really let us down here,” Quinn said. “He was working behind the scenes to keep the recall amendment off the ballot. Voters should be very upset. Instead he was out there opposing it.”
* And…
“I don’t think it is a coincidence at all,” said Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, a prominent proponent of the drive for recall. “[The governor’s office] basically told senators if you want this money back, then you have to vote ‘no’ on recall.”
* And what the heck?
The southern Illinois city of Benton, apparently the leading candidate to become the new home of the Illinois Department of Transportation’s division of traffic safety, has no building that would accommodate the agency, according to Benton Mayor Gary Kraft.
43 Comments  
|
Rezko lawyer plans brief defense
Friday, May 2, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The testimony phase of the Rezko trial may wrap up early next week…
Tony Rezko’s lawyers originally said they would take weeks to present their defense case. Then they said it could take days.
Today, his lawyers said the whole thing could be done in an afternoon, or possibly a day and a half.
The prosecution said they will likely rest Monday. Rezko lawyer William Ziegelmueller said the defense could be done by late Monday, maybe Tuesday.
* However…
The shortened time frame apparently will not change St. Eve’s plan to start closing arguments on May 12. Before that, the lawyers still have to hash out jury instructions.
* More…
One of [the defense witnesses] is a forensic accountant who is expected to testify that Ata could not have taken the kind of cash from his family business that he has claimed.
* Ata took an early retirement “offer” from his employer after the FBI questioned him shortly after the 9/11 attacks. He was worth $12 million in 2004. So, he apparently didn’t need the money a state job would bring. Why did he want the job? Redemption for being pressured out of his old job…
You didn’t need your state job to pay the bills?” Duffy had asked Ata earlier. “I did not.”
“Your state job had nothing to do with money, did it sir?” Duffy asked
Ata: “No it did not.”
Duffy tried to portray Ata as having a sense of pride to be the highest-ranking Muslim in the Blagojevich administration when he acted as the Executive Director of the Illinois Finance Authority from 2004-2005.
“One of the ways to get redemption was through a state position, is that fair? ” Duffy asked.
“That’s fair,” Ata said.
* More…
But Ata did agree that he sought a state post because, “I felt I needed to prove myself again through a position.” Duffy asked whether Ata wanted to have the highest position in the Blagojevich administration of anyone in the Muslim community.
“It was important to you?” Duffy asked.
“Yes,” said Ata, who was appointed executive director of the Illinois Finance Authority.
Thoughts?
13 Comments
|
This just in… *** IDOT to ignore law ***
Friday, May 2, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
[This is getting really long and we have some new information. Comments are now closed on this post. Click on this link for the new updates and comment there instead.]
* 11:00 am - IDOT is planning to move 148 jobs out of Springfield to the southern Illinois town of Benton. IDOT is blaming the price of the lease at its “Annex” building on Dirksen Parkway. It’s a $1.7 million annual lease, but city officials have already pointed out to the administration that there are tons of empty office buildings in town that could be leased for far less.
The building is managed by Bill Cellini’s company, and there are already accusations that the governor - who is taking big hits lately in the Tony Rezko trial - may be looking to distance himself from someone else who has played a role in the trial.
The governor is also being accused privately today of trying to curry favor with Sen. Gary Forby, a Benton Democrat. Forby, a likely “Yes” vote on recall, was not in town yesterday for the Senate’s recall debate.
This could be a stretch. Forby’s wife had surgery yesterday, so he had a very good reason to be home, but this issue is being raised since the governor also promised to release millions of dollars in agricultural program funding shortly before the recall vote.
More in a bit.
* 11:10 am - The SJ-R now has a story online about the move…
“Governor Blagojevich is committed to growing the economy of southern Illinois,” the news release quotes [IDOT Secretary Milton Sees] as saying. “This move will bring new families and jobs to an area that needs them the most.” […]
The [Springfield] building costs about the same per square foot as IDOTs office at 300 W. Adams in Chicago, the news release said.
One legislator’s reaction was swift and strong…
But state Sen. Larry Bomke, R-Springfield, said he believes Gov. Rod Blagojevich is being vindictive in the move and is reacting to low voter approval from central Illinois.
“I’m calling for the House to start impeachment proceedings,” Bomke said today. “This is absurd. I mean, this guy has destroyed the state. He’s destroying communities. He’s destroyed families. Enough is enough.”
* 11:27 am - Mayor Tim Davlin’s response…
“It’s hard to constrain the feelings I have following this announcement. Clearly, this is a devastating blow to our community and as Mayor, I cannot sit idly by without criticizing the decision.
“Any argument that the lease held by IDOT is too expensive will simply not pass a test of credibility. Everyone in government understands that leases are renegotiable and landlords understand that leases can and should be re-negotiated when times so dictate. Moreover, Springfield, the capital city, has hundreds of thousands of square feet available to house these positions, so economics does not even play into the debate.”
“I call on the governor to reconsider what I believe to be a shortsighted decision. There is more at stake than the state budget here. This decision runs the risk of devastating Springfield families.”
“Our economic viability as a city is at stake, and there is no political alliance that will stand in my way of fighting for the people of the Springfield community.”
*** 11:37 am *** I’m wondering whether this office closure is even legal. Check out the State Facilities Closure Act.
*** 11:58 am *** Oh, man, check out the local Benton Chamber of Commerce membership under retail businesses. Not much there.
And then there’s entertainment.
No doubt that they need some more jobs.
*** 1:04 pm *** Dan Long, the director of the Legislative Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, just told me that this office closure does fall under the State Facilities Closure Act. There will be an opportunity for public input…
Within 10 days after it receives notice of the proposed closure, the Commission, in its discretion, may require the State executive branch officer with jurisdiction over the facility to file a recommendation for the closure of the facility with the Commission. […]
If a recommendation is required by the Commission, a 30‑day public comment period must follow the filing of the recommendation. The Commission, in its discretion, may conduct one or more public hearings on the recommendation.
But all the Commission can do is issue an advisory opinion.
****** 2:19 pm ****** Not surprisingly, IDOT says the Facilities Closure Act doesn’t apply…
“This is a relocation. It is not a closure per se,” said IDOT spokesman Brian Williamsen.
“That’s absurd. That’s absolutely absurd,” said Sen. Larry Bomke, R-Springfield. “The act applies to leased facilities and if they aren’t going to lease it, that’s closing it. The law means nothing to (Gov. Rod Blagojevich).”
Sen. Jeff Schoenberg, D-Evanston, agreed.
“The law explicitly states that the act would indeed apply,” Schoenberg said. “There really isn’t any wiggle room in the law despite the administration’s interpretation.”
Director Long said the same thing when I asked him about this earlier. This falls under the law’s jurisdiction. Period.
[This is getting really long and we have some new information. Comments are now closed on this post. Click on this link for the new updates and comment there instead.]
73 Comments
|
Question of the day
Friday, May 2, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Steve Dahl and Ron Santo “debate” in the Tribune today over which Chicago baseball team has the best ballpark.
Dahl’s tongue in cheek piece can be enjoyed here, and Santo’s dreary tome can be scanned here.
* Question: Which Chicago baseball park do you prefer? Explain fully, please.
62 Comments
|
Not a banner day in the Senate
Friday, May 2, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Yesterday will not go down in history as the Illinois Senate’s finest moment…
“I need a pay raise. I need a pay raise,” [Senate President Emil Jones] told reporters who asked him about the [salary increase] proposal.
* You wonder if Senate President Jones knows how he comes across to the public when he makes comments like that on the same day that he helped engineer the defeat of a recall proposal and then refused to call the alternative House version for a vote…
Some Illinois Republicans maintained that the Senate’s version was designed to fail because it made so many more public officials, including judges, eligible for recall.
Rep. Jack Franks (D-Woodstock), who sponsored the House proposal, predicted his version of recall would have passed and was denied a “fair shot.”
Franks’ narrower proposal would have only allowed voters to toss out legislators, the governor and other statewide officials.
* Jones said yesterday that Franks admitted the Senate version was superior to the House version and snapped at reporters who asked why he didn’t call the House proposal for a vote.
But at least two of Jones’ own members admitted publicly that they didn’t support the Senate version because it included local officials…
Sen. John Sullivan, D-Rushville, was among the senators who opposed the recall plan on Thursday.
“My biggest concern was for local officials,” Sullivan said. “I know how difficult it is to get people to run for alderman and for city council and for mayors. This would have created a situation, in my opinion, that would have made that even more difficult.”
Sen. Deanna Demuzio, D-Carlinville, also voted “no” and echoed Sullivan’s comments, saying: “Who would want to take on the responsibilities of running for a local municipality or city in rural Illinois?”
* Other Senate Democrats said they couldn’t support their chamber’s proposal because it included judges. The Tribune’s editorial quotes one of those Senate Dems today…
Even the Senate debate was rushed. But some of it was telling. Sen. John Cullerton voted to deny citizens the right to recall the people they put in office. Cullerton was aghast at the notion of “turning over to an outside entity” the question of whether to recall inept judges.
Yes, you, Illinois voters, are that much-feared “outside entity.”
That’s such a complete lie and/or evidence of gross incompetence that it makes me believe the Trib’s editorial page will do anything it can to smear whoever dares question its authority. Cullerton was referring to the fact that the recall proposal required that the Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board file a complaint against a judge before that judge could be recalled. That’s the “outside entity” he was talking about, not voters. The Tribune needs to retract that utterly false statement.
* The bottom line, though, is that if Franks’ proposal had made it to the floor then a whole lot of Senators would have either voted for it or they would’ve been forced to come up with another excuse. We’ll never know.
* There is a bright side, however. As Dan Johnson-Weinberger wrote over at Illinoize yesterday, the odds of the voters approving a constitutional convention just went up…
The main justification for voting yes on the constitutional convention is now clear: the only practical way to give the electorate an opportunity to improve the Illinois Constitution is through a convention. The General Assembly is not able to improve the Constitution.
* And then there’s this…
“We have a chance to do what we want to do, and that’s impeach the governor of Illinois,” [Sen. Mike Jacobs] said. He called on Blagojevich to “do the right thing” and quit first.
* Related stuff…
* Recall cartoon
* Anticlimactic
* Senate rejects recall proposal
* Recall amendment officially dead, for now
* Recall Amendment Fails In Senate
* Illinois: Voters will not get recall option
* State Senate Kills Recall Amendment
* Recall plan narrowly defeated in Illinois Senate
* Con Con Considerations: Special Election, or Regular?
* A Trip down Memory Lane (con-con version)
34 Comments
|
Capital plan funding options
Friday, May 2, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Daily Herald has some comments by Senate GOP Leader Frank Watson about the various funding mechanisms for the capital construction bill being discussed by legislative leaders…
…legislative leaders emerged from closed doors to say they continue to have good discussions on piecing together a multibillion-dollar construction spending program, but how to finance it remains elusive.
Senate President Emil Jones Jr., a Chicago Democrat, emerged to tell reporters everything was on the table, including an income tax increase.
Next out of the governor’s office was Senate Republican leader Frank Watson of downstate Greenville, who promptly said an income tax was off the table.
Watson said lawmakers were discussing raising vehicle fees, selling off a portion of the state lottery and gambling expansion to come up with the needed billions.
“Nothing’s concrete,” he said.
[emphasis added]
As I told you yesterday, Jones said he doesn’t think that gaming expansion will fly because the Senate has passed it twice and Speaker Madigan has not let the proposals move.
I’m curious which of those above options do you prefer to fund the capital plan?
* Meanwhile, despite tons of rumors to the contrary, it doesn’t appear that IDOT completely shut down operations on May 1.
38 Comments
|
McQueary examines Ozinga’s Machine ties
Friday, May 2, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Kristen McQueary has a must-read column today on new congressional candidate Martin Ozinga III. She includes his bigtime contributions to Gov. Blagojevich’s campaign fund and details even more…
Ozinga has opened his checkbook for gubernatorial candidates, Chicago aldermen, Mayor Richard Daley, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District officials and city ward organizations.
His company, Ozinga Bros., holds a lucrative and powerful position as the sole provider of concrete for city of Chicago projects. He’s handled the big kahunas: Sox park, Soldier Field and the reconstruction of the Dan Ryan, sending his red-and-white striped trucks to pour ready-made cement wherever needed.
* McQueary then asks whether someone who plays in that sandbox can stay clean. Ozinga replied that he and his family have longtime personal associations with Mayor Daley, and adds…
“He knows we’re Republicans from the south suburbs. Maybe because he knows that, our experience with the city of Chicago has always been straightforward, very professional, regulated and aboveboard. That’s the simple story.”
* Kristen concludes…
After 40 minutes, I wasn’t entirely convinced. For railing against the system, Ozinga is doing pretty well within it, running a multimillion-dollar company and befriending politicians on the charity and fundraising circuit.
But she also looks at the positive side. Go read the whole thing.
10 Comments
|
Morning shorts
Friday, May 2, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning
* 105-0: House OKs audit of gov’s $1 mil. church pledge
* Madigan: Cut Illinois American water rates
Madigan and state Rep. Renee Kosel (R-New Lenox) have joined forces to oppose Illinois American’s rate hike request, but the ICC has a history of being generous with utility companies.
* Gov’s ex-aide: I gave Rezko cash
* Ali Ata testifies he paid Rezko, donated to Blagojevich
* Blagojevich got gifts from fundraiser now under indictment
* Rezko trial: ‘He was being watched’
* Hoffman’s name comes up at Rezko trial
* Political threats, hired lobbyists and ward organizing - Children Museum supporters, opponents in high gear
* EPA official ousted while fighting Dow
* Voters and ID cards
* Big splash over probe of suburban mayor’s pool house
* Burt’s back: Natarus now lobbying City Hall
* Stellar public servant should need no defense
* Summer jobs, new city park programs aim to curb youth violence
City Hall will spend $1.5 million to provide 1,000 summer jobs for young people in 10 impoverished neighborhoods with the highest levels of teen violence, the mayor said.
* Daley speech focuses on teen jobs, violence
* Daley ready to slice city spending again
* Public Defender Takes Stroger to Court
* Failed clinic operator on county’s health board list
* Cook Co. commissioner has his say over meeting
“I was there with my vote when they really needed me,” Goslin said. “I voted against 13 different tax increases.”
* Friday Beer Blogging: Bud Lime Edition
8 Comments
|
|
Comments Off
|
Jones fires back at reporters (Audio clips)
Thursday, May 1, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Senate President Emil Jones told reporters this afternoon that “everything” is on the table to fund the capital plan, including an income tax increase, which he said he preferred. Gaming expansion, he said, appears not to be going anywhere in the House.
But the reason to listen to this audio clip is how he responds to reporters when asked why he didn’t allow the House version of recall to the floor after the Senate’s version died…
[audio:EmilRecall1.mp3]
[Or, click here if the player doesn’t work.]
* And it continues for a bit longer…
[audio:EmilRecall2.mp3]
[Or, click here if the player doesn’t work.]
* Jones also said this earlier today…
Senate President Emil Jones made it clear he’s in favor of the [proposed pay increase], which would come on top of a nearly 10 percent salary increase last year.
“I need a pay raise. I need a pay raise,” he told reporters who asked him about the proposal.
Comments Off
|
Another broken promise? *** UPDATED x2 ***
Thursday, May 1, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Earlier today, I told you that Senate Democrats were promised before the recall vote that tens of millions of dollars were being released by the governor for several agricultural programs, including 4-H…
“The Senate president (Emil Jones of Chicago) came on the floor today and told us we could go ahead and start making notification of our soil and water districts and extension offices,” Demuzio said.
Sen. Demuzio voted “No” on the recall proposal today.
* And, now, we get this from the AP…
State agriculture agencies on Thursday hoped to receive at least some of the $36 million in operating funds tied up in a state budget standoff, after being told an agreement had been reached between legislators and the governor.
But Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who started the impasse and must agree to release any of the money, so far isn’t confirming anything. His silence left some people skeptical that the money was on its way. […]
Some state Senate Democrats told those agencies, after a few dozen employees had been laid off, that a deal had been brokered to release the money.
‘’I asked him if he could released the ag funds and get that taken care of,'’ Senate President Emil Jones, a Chicago Democrat, said Thursday, adding that the governor agreed to release at least some of the money, less than $20 million.
But as of Thursday afternoon, the governor hadn’t said anything publicly about the money. Calls and e-mails to his office by The Associated Press were not beeg for some definitive word from the governor’s office that had not yet come.
It was just like this in the early years of the Blagojevich administration: No return calls from press staff.
Hey, maybe this wasn’t another Blagojevich double-cross, but it would be nice if the governor’s press people would at least tell reporters off the record that a statement was forthcoming.
*** UPDATE 1 *** The governor didn’t come out to speak to reporters this afternoon (big surprise, I know), so nobody could ask him about this story.
*** UPDATE 2 *** The governor’s office waited until long after the AP ran the story to get back to them…
Governor Rod Blagojevich has now agreed to release millions of dollars in state money he had been withholding from agriculture agencies.
Blagojevich spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff said today that the governor agreed to release the money after state senators complained about layoffs at the University of Illinois Extension Service and, among other things, the effect on 4-H youth programs.
Senators complained before the recall vote, the governor agreed to release the money, the recall proposal died. At least he kept his word.
17 Comments
|
[Rezko trial updates moved to this post.]
* 12:18 pm - The Senate is now taking up the constitutional amendment for recall. Listen or watch it live.
* 12:26 pm - If - If - the Senate passes the recall proposal today, the House plans to run it on Sunday. Speaker Madigan told the chamber a few minutes ago that the State Government and Administration Committee will meet at 1 o’clock Sunday afternoon. The House will then take up the constitutional amendment after the hearing.
Speaker Madigan claims he can move the bill from 2nd to 3rd Reading during a perfunctory session on Friday or Saturday. The Republicans questioned whether he could do it, but he said the parliamentarian informed him that it was acceptable.
I’m hearing that the recall rollcall is “close” in the Senate. Oftentimes, though, when these things hit the Big Board they get a lot more votes than anticipated. We’ll see. Also, keep an eye out for any motions filed.
* 12:28 pm - This may not be an extraordinarily long debate. Sen. Trotter just moved the previous question, and there are just eight people seeking recognition.
*** 12:45 pm *** The timing on this announcement is somewhat odd, considering the recall vote today…
Senate President Emil Jones says Illinois lawmakers deserve the pay raises they’re scheduled to receive over the next two years.
Jones wouldn’t say Thursday whether he would let lawmakers vote on whether to reject the proposed raises. Unless legislators formally reject the money, the raises take effect automatically.
*** 1:06 pm *** Very quick gavel and the constitutional amendment garnered only 33 votes. It needed 36. It’s dead.
*** 1:08 pm *** The Republicans are now attempting to discharge the House version of the recall amendment from committee and move it to the floor. So far, the Democrats are not complying - which is no suprise.
*** 1:11 pm *** Sen. Halvorson just moved for adjournment. Wow, they’ve got some chutzpah. While the Republicans are screaming to get the other recall proposal out of committee, Halvorson moves to adjourn until next week. That’ll go over well.
*** 1:24 pm *** Sen. Halvorson just said that she wasn’t even on the floor when the motion to adjourn was made. [I misunderstood what Kevin was saying on the cell phone. My bad. She was on the floor when the motion was made to adjourn.] These motions are often plotted in advance, but she was done no favors by the leadership team today.
*** 1:27 pm *** The roll call is now online.
*** 1:29 pm *** Democrats voting No: Bond, Clayborne, Collins, Cullerton, DeLeo, Demuzio, Haine, Harmon, Jacobs, Lightford, Link, Martinez, Meeks, Noland, Raoul, Steans, Sullivan, Trotter, Emil Jones.
Democrats voting Present: Munoz, Wilhelmi
Democrats not voting: Forby (wife had surgery today), Hunter, Sandoval, Viverito
Republicans not voting: Lauzen
*** 1:49 pm *** From the AP…
During floor debate, Jones railed against the idea of recalling elected officials and ridiculed its main backers, including Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn and Rep. Jack Franks (D-Woodstock).
Jones said the legislature should be focused on enacting Blagojevich’s plans to expand health care and pumping more money into schools rather than taking punitive action against one man — presumably Blagojevich, though Jones did not cite the governor by name.
“No piece of legislation should ever be aimed at any individual. It’s wrong,” thundered Jones, the governor’s chief legislative ally.
*** 2:44 pm *** From the IL State GOP…
“This really is not a surprise considering the fact that Senate Democrats are intent on protecting Rod Blagojevich in any way they possibly can,” said ILGOP Spokesperson Lance Trover. “Moreover, Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson who has tried to gain advantage on both sides of this issue failed to lead her fellow Democrats to do the right thing.”
According to The Capitol Fax, following the failure of the recall amendment Republicans were asking for the house version of the recall amendment to be called for a vote. Senator Halvorson’s motion to adjourn the senate ended any chance of further action.
*** 3:00 pm *** From the Sun-Times…
“I think recall is a giant hoax,” said Sen. Mike Jacobs (D-Moline), who voted against the amendment after calling on the Senate floor for the governor — the implicit target of the recall amendment — to resign.
*** 4:37 pm *** Majority Leader Halvorson press release…
“I was very disappointed and surprised that the recall amendment fell short in the Senate today. I voted for the legislation in both committee and on the floor, because I strongly believe that, more than ever, we need complete transparency and accountability in our government. We need to hold elected officials – at all levels – to the highest ethical standards and demand they serve with integrity and honesty. The people of Illinois deserve nothing less.
“It is this same deeply-held commitment to open and honest government that is driving my efforts to crack down on pay-to-play politics. We’ve crafted a strong bill that I believe will pave the way to a better, more honest government.
“Finally, despite erroneous reports to the contrary, it was not my decision to adjourn the chamber following today’s vote.”
Nobody said it was your decision, Senator. But you are on record as making the motion.
106 Comments
|
[Updated and bumped up.]
*** UPDATE 1 *** The feds explain why they didn’t have Stu Levine secretly record any of his conversations with Bill Cellini…
“It was our understanding that Mr. Cellini was represented (by an attorney),” FBI Special Agent Daniel Cain testified. “It is the policy of the FBI not to record when a person is represented in the investigation.”
That’s an interesting little loophole.
*** UPDATE 2 *** According to a reporter in the courtroom, Ali Ata just testified in Tony Rezko’s trial that Lon Monk, Chris Kelly and Rep. Jay Hoffman were in the room when he and Rezko handed over Ata’s $25,000 campaign check to then candidate Rod Blagojevich in August of 2002. Ata testified that Blagojevich then asked if he and Rezko had discussed a state job.
*** UPDATE 3 *** The Sun-Times has a story up on this…
Ata said he arrived at Rezko’s Elston Avenue office in 2002. In the back conference room sat Blagojevich’s kitchen cabinet, including, Blagojevich campaign manager Lon Monk, fund-raiser Chris Kelly, Rezko and Jay Hoffman.
“I learned that Mr. Hoffman was part of a select group of advisers that were referred to as the kitchen cabinet,” Ata said.
Soon, Blagojevich, Ata and Rezko were alone in the room as the other men stepped outside, he said.
With the check on the table, the conversation started. […]
“Mr. Rezko stated that I had expressed interest in serving in the administration. Blagojevich stated again that I had been a supporter and a friend and asked Mr. Rezko if I had identified job opportunities and Mr. Rezko said yes,” Ata said.
*** UPDATE 4 *** Ata testifies that Rezko boasted of how he allegedly controlled Kelly King, a former Rezko employee who he installed as executive director of the Illinois Housing Development Authority….
Ata said that Rezko told him that King had rebuffed hiring a Rezko relative at a real estate management company that was linked to Springfield power broker William Cellini and under the control of her state agency.
What did Rezko say about that?
“That he had delivered a message through the chairman of the board of her agency congratulating her on her new assignment,” Ata said.
And the new assignment was that she was about to be unemployed, Ata said, for “not acting as a team player.” It was a significant lesson, Ata said, that he carried with him when he led the Illinois Finance Authority.
—————————————-
* Some have wondered where Ali Ata got the cash to allegedly funnel over $100,000 to Tony Rezko and Gov. Blagojevich. Ray Hanania explains…
In one case, Ata was involved with other Southwest Side activists, purchasing a property from the State of Illinois that the State of Illinois later leased. That dramatically increased the value of the property and it was then sold to another investor for a $3.2 million profit in a short period of only a few weeks.
Making sure the state kept that lease going appears to be another prime motivation for Ata. He and his pals then allegedly conspired to make it appear that Ata didn’t owe the IRS short-term capital gains, which saved him a ton of money in the short term, but caused the G to come knocking on his door. The US Attorney dropped that tax charge in exchange for Ata’s guilty plea.
* And that’s not all that the feds may have chosen to forgive…
Prosecutors filed a court petition [yesterday] asking that Judge Amy St. Eve bar the defense from asking about the criminal past of a witness’ nephew. They also say that the witness, Ali Ata, should not be asked about another investigation into his business that ended without charges. […]
Separately, prosecutors also say Ata shouldn’t be asked about a separate structuring investigation into his business, Jenin Distributors. Structuring is the act of purposely handling sums of cash less than $10,000 to avert a government requirement to disclose such transactions. A bank had flagged Jenin to the government, saying it was under suspicion of structuring. The feds investigated but say that they concluded in 2006 that there was no wrongdoing — that’s well before Ata cooperated.
But the defense will likely try to argue that Ata is cooperating against Rezko (he pleaded guilty just last week) in part because they did him the favor of not prosecuting him in another case.
There’s been quite a bit of speculation, including from former assistant US Attorney Patrick Collins that the feds are a bit freaked out by the way the Rezko trial is going. Stu Levine was an utter disaster. Collins noted on WTTW’s Chicago Tonight last week that the judge’s decision to allow Rezko out on bond may have been a signal to the prosecution that its case is weak. Therefore, Ata’s rather generous guilty plea had to be done in order to keep the case on track.
* Ata is expected to take the stand today. Here’s a brief update from the Sun-Times…
On the stand is FBI Agent Charles Willenborg, who is testifying about spreadsheets he developed tracing Rezko’s phone calls.
The charts show the frequency and length of calls between Rezko and some key players in the trial — William Cellini, Stuart Levine, Chris Kelly, among others.
* More from Hanania on Ata and his ilk…
These Arab community “leaders” would tell the community that if they bought tickets to their “candidate’s nights,” their organization fundraisers or donated through them to local politicians, these politicians would respond by giving the Arab American community empowerment.
They said the politicians would give the Arab Americans a voice in their governments.
In truth, these political leaders lied. They did get jobs, contracts and clout but the people who benefited were not members of the community but rather the relatives, children, friends and business associates of these leaders.
11 Comments
|
State Fair musical lineup announced
Thursday, May 1, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Here it is…
Aug. 8 [To be announced]
Aug. 9 Weird Al Yankovic
Aug. 10 Huey Lewis and the News
Aug. 11 Illinois Symphony
Aug. 15 Toyota Tundra presents ZZ Top/Brooks and Dunn
Aug. 16 Vanessa Hudgens
Aug. 17 Trace Adkins with Trent Tomlinson
…Adding… From the governor…
“Once again, the Illinois State Fair offers something for everyone,” Gov. Blagojevich said. “I encourage everyone to come out and experience all the great entertainers playing the grandstand this year.”
41 Comments
|
Question of the day
Thursday, May 1, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* House Bill 5278 passed the House yesterday with 63 votes. Here’s the synopsis…
Amends the Election Code. Prohibits county clerks and members of boards of election commissioners from making public endorsements of candidates and public questions on ballots solely of political subdivisions within their election jurisdiction.
* And here’s the sponsor’s reasoning behind it…
State Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, first proposed the idea shortly after his first election to the Illinois House in 2000.
A call for a recount in Brady’s first primary election left him in a strange position: McLean County Clerk Peggy Ann Milton had endorsed one of Brady’s opponents. In cases where a recount is called, the county clerk oversees collection of the ballots for the recount.
“It’s a little bit of a nerve-racking position to be in when you’re going through a recount having ballots secured as evidence by an individual who has endorsed your opponent,” Brady said. […]
Brady said his aim is to give county clerks and some other election officials a way to excuse themselves from situations where they might have a conflict of interest.
Milton said restricting endorsements by clerks would unnecessarily limit their rights
* Question: Do you agree or disagree with banning county clerks from making political endorsements in their counties? Explain.
15 Comments
|
A bipartisan gun control bill
Thursday, May 1, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* This is an interesting turn of events. The House passed a gun control bill yesterday with 74 votes. Even serious gun rights proponents like Rep. Ed Sullivan (R-Mundelein) voted for the bill, so it wasn’t the usual gun legislation, drafted in a vacuum with only supporters’ views in mind…
The Illinois House has approved legislation that would punish parents who fail to keep guns away from their mentally ill children. The measure would cover parents or guardians of anyone under 21 with a diagnosed mental disorder. They would be required to keep guns away from their children or face the loss of their Firearm Owner Identification Card. Losing the gun permit would happen only if the parents failed twice to keep the guns locked up.
* More…
The bill, which heads to the Senate, was drafted in response to a Rockford area case in which a 14-year-old boy shot his 15-year-old friend in the chest with his parents’ gun. State officials said the boy had gotten in trouble for four prior gun-related incidents, including being suspended after bringing ammunition to school and shooting a 10-year-old with a BB gun.
Many Republicans denounced the bill and compared it to taking the driver’s license of a parent whose teenager accidentally kills someone with the family car after twice using it without permission.”What you are doing is changing the standard,” said Rep. Roger Eddy (R-Hutsonville).
Usually, these gun control votes are pretty predictable, with not quite 60 House members voting “Yes” and everybody else hitting their red buttons. That wasn’t the situation yesterday, however.
Besides Rep. Sullivan, other somewhat surprising Republican “Yes” votes included: Hassert, Leitch, Pritchard, Reboletti, Saviano, Schmitz and Tryon. Two usually pro-gun rights Downstate Dems also voted “Yes” - Dugan and Granberg.
* Read the bill’s synopsis here, check individual votes here, read the whole thing here.
9 Comments
|
A new Wrigley scheme?
Thursday, May 1, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Sun-Times had an interesting scoop today…
Former Gov. Jim Thompson’s secret plan to have the state acquire and renovate Wrigley Field with “no taxes of any kind” may rely on a stadium financing scheme pioneered by former Democratic fund-raiser Lou Weisbach: equity seat rights.
It’s been touted as a revolutionary, fan-friendly way for teams to raise up to $500 million in cash to build new stadiums or renovate old ones without incurring debt.
Weisbach, a local entrepreneur who has traveled the world explaining the deal to sports owners, has described equity seat rights as the “antithesis” of personal seat licenses (PSLs), which have drawn the wrath of fans. […]
But with equity seat rights, there is no upfront fee. Instead, fans sign a long-term contract to buy a specific seat for a fixed price that’s locked in for the duration of the contract. A financial backer, acknowledging the fan’s ongoing financial commitment, then fr
That’s all well and good, but I’d still like to know how much tax revenue the state, county and municipal governments would lose with any potential sale. It’s not just a tax hike that matters, it’s lost tax revenues.
* Meanwhile, Mayor Daley babbled away as usual yesterday when asked about the Wrigley Field sale…
“I haven’t looked at it yet. I mean, it requires no tax money, no assistance from us, from the state or federal or local governments? I have an open mind on it but I don’t know all the particulars,” Daley said. “You don’t need the authorization of the General Assembly, the City Council – you don’t need authorization of the mayor, the governor, the president, no one? Tribune is a company that is owned privately and a publicly held company as well, in the sense that it’s a publicly held company. So it’s up to them to figure that out.” […]
Asked whether he thinks a Wrigley deal can be done, Daley said he doesn’t know.
“I’m not an expert on that. I just, you know, I don’t know the private, for-profit – in regards to that, this is all about money and making a profit. So it doesn’t bother me but that’s up to them,” the mayor said. […]
Asked Wednesday if he hoped that a deal could be reached over Wrigley, Daley could not resist noting that the newspaper and the stadium belong to the same master: “I don’t own the company. I have nothing to say about the company. And if I do, they won’t print it anyway.”
I would not relish covering that man every day.
8 Comments
|
Quote of the week *** UPDATED x1 ***
Thursday, May 1, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* New Republican congressional candidate Martin Ozinga, who has contributed $23,000 to Gov. Rod Blagojevich, from his own pocket and from his company’s pocket, was asked yesterday about those donations.
OZINGA: “I’m not a supporter of Rod Blagojevich, I never have been.
REPORTER: “So you didn’t donate?”
OZINGA: “I did donate, but I’m not one, personally, that rallies for Blagojevich… [I’m] very disappointed with his performance in Springfield.”
Ozinga’s last contribution to Blagojevich - for $10,000 - was in December of 2005, while Blagojevich was gearing up hard for reelection.
Ozinga’s company also gave $25,000 to the Hispanic Democratic Organization, a top target of anti “Combine” types. The company contributed $10,000 to Danny Solis’ 25th Ward Democratic Organization, with the latest contri coming in 2007.
As I’ve pointed out before, those contributions will make it tough for Ozinga to slam Debbie Halvorson for being part of the problem.
* Related…
* Iamnotapolitician.com
* Ozinga paints himself as God-fearing conservative
* GOP taps Ozinga for U.S. House contest
* Martin Ozinga is GOP Choice in Illinois’ 11th District
* GOP taps 11th District hopeful
*** UPDATE *** From an Ozinga press release…
In a campaign e-mail yesterday, career politician/Blagojevich rubber-stamp Debbie Halvorson went negative on new 11th Congressional District GOP nominee Marty Ozinga, complaining about the “bags of money” he has been able to raise from supporters, declaring that his “name is irrelevant,” and warning that he is “trying to buy this election” – a charge that doesn’t quite pass the smell test, given that just two weeks ago Halvorson was bragging about her ability to bring in cash.
In fact, Halvorson forgot to even spare her own failed leadership in her panicked rush to go negative: “…the failed policies of our current administration…An administration completely out of touch with the people. An administration that has decimated our economic prosperity…more of the same.”
Perhaps she meant to refer to some other regime, but here in Illinois, Halvorson has worked hand-in-hand with Blagojevich as Majority Leader to send the state down a path of fiscal disaster, pay-to-play politics and unprecedented gridlock. Here’s Debbie Halvorson on her role in Springfield leadership: “I’m the go-to person who will guide the agenda.”
No matter how far Debbie tries to run from her own record, she will never be able to hide her vote to give herself and Blagojevich a pay raise as the state is broke and working families are struggling.
She will never be able to hide her opposition to real ethics reform that would end Blagojevich’s pay-to-play schemes. Halvorson said in a November 2007 interview that she “refuse[d] to be party to passing this [ethics bill] just because the public says it’s better than nothing.” In the same interview, she also stuck up for Blagojevich, contending that the House unanimously passed the bill as a way of “playing politics with the Governor.”
She will never be able to hide her support for Blagojevich’s Gross Receipts Tax, the largest tax hike in Illinois history, according to the Chicago Sun-Times and “a job-killer,” according to the Wall Street Journal.
With a record like that, it’s no surprise that Debbie Halvorson has already resorted to personal attacks against Marty Ozinga.
24 Comments
|
Recall roundup and what to watch
Thursday, May 1, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* As you already know, the Senate is expected to vote today on the proposed constitutional amendment providing for recall of state and local officials and judges. Here’s a roundup of news and a few things to watch…
On Wednesday night, Blagojevich’s press office released a letter from the AFL-CIO that urges lawmakers to oppose the proposed recall amendment.
I tried calling an AFL-CIO official last night, but didn’t get a response. Labor’s opposition could give a few Democrats some political cover, but it won’t help much if this thing passes and those Democrats have to face a potential recall attempt of their own.
Read the letter by clicking here.
* I’m kinda suprised that the governor’s 11th Hour release of millions of dollars in state funds for 4-H and other programs wasn’t connected to the recall issue by reporters, but there’s little doubt that it was…
Illinois’ soil and water conservation districts, along with University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service offices, apparently will get the millions of dollars they need to stay open through June 30. […]
“The Senate president (Emil Jones of Chicago) came on the floor today and told us we could go ahead and start making notification of our soil and water districts and extension offices,” Demuzio said.
* As if the pressure wasn’t intense enough, what with voter anger over Rod Blagojevich and Todd Stroger (two very likely and immediate targets of any potential recall efforts), the Compensation Review Board recommended yesterday that legislators and statewide officials get another big pay raise…
Fresh off a hefty pay increase last year, state legislators are in line for another raise — and they’ll have the final say this time on whether they and other top officials get the extra cash.
Under a recommendation from the state’s Compensation Review Board, lawmakers would see their base salary jump by more than $7,000 — to nearly $73,000 a year — by next summer. Pay for legislative leaders would top more than $100,000.
* Zorn thinks recall is unlikely to pass by Sunday, and has another prediction…
But even if that proposal makes it through both chambers before a Sunday deadline—unlikely, for reasons that would infuriate you if I had room to go into detail—and even if voters OK the idea, and even if they then vote to oust Blagojevich, the fastest anyone thinks that could happen would be about 15 months.
* Related…
* Impeachment dust kicked up by recall talk
* Madigan says House could work weekend on recall
* House Lawmakers Could Face Long Weekend on Recall Measure
* Pat Quinn puts principle over self-preservation in backing new recall bill
* Capital deal could be months from completion: “Most believe nothing is going to happen until the veto session,” said Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Rockford, on Wednesday.
* Lawmakers in line for another pay raise
* Illinois legislators may get another raise
* Public defender: Stroger gave me unqualified workers
* Palatine Mayor: Secession From County Is Possible
* Stroger: Secede if you want to, but it’s ‘not really practical’
* Palatine residents attend gathering despite Stroger’s decision not to go
* In Todd Stroger’s absence, Palatine talks of absenting itself from Cook County
8 Comments
|
|
Comments Off
|
|
Support CapitolFax.com
Visit our advertisers...
...............
...............
...............
|
   
|
Hosted by MCS |
SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax |
Advertise Here |
Mobile Version |
Contact Rich Miller
|
