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* Perhaps encouraged by a fairly good review of his budget rhetoric by the Chicago Tribune editorial page yesterday, Andy McKenna took the pledge today. From a press release…
Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Andy McKenna announced today that he signed the Americans for Tax Reform Taxpayer Protection Pledge, vowing as Governor to “oppose and veto any and all efforts to increase taxes.”
“I am pleased to sign the Taxpayer Protection Pledge because it is wrong to ask the taxpayers of Illinois to do more when their government has done so little,” said McKenna. “I challenge my opponents to sign this pledge and make a commitment to the hardworking men and women of this state that they will not raise taxes.”
That editorial, by the way, praised an idea by another candidate to halve the income tax, while bemoaning the fact that Illinois is $4.9 billion behind in its bills. The edit board has officially lost its freaking mind.
* I’ll have much more for subscribers tomorrow, but Gov. Pat Quinn has been trying to appoint a Latino to the ICC for months, and he finally found somebody. Whether Ald. Manny Flores survives is another matter. From a press release…
Governor Pat Quinn today announced the appointment of Manuel Flores as Chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). Flores, a Chicago alderman, brings to his new position a deep understanding of public service, a record for advancing pro-environmental initiatives, and a commitment to expanding broadband Internet access throughout Illinois.
“Manny Flores is an experienced and highly-regarded public servant who will provide a fresh viewpoint at this very important Commission,” said Governor Quinn. “He excelled in the Chicago City Council and will do so at the helm of the ICC.”
CUB calls the appointment “good news” for consumers, but this is not a slam-dunk in the Senate as of yet. Still, it’s only tangentially related to the battles between South Side Latinos that I told subscribers about weeks ago. Carol Marin has some on that today.
* Democrat Terry O’Brien is the first Cook County Board President to air TV ads. This is a significant buy on Chicago network and cable. Details for subscribers tomorrow. Rate it…
* More campaign stories and other stuff that I didn’t post earlier…
* McQueary: Macellaio speaks on Burke, quiet on ghosts: So when Evergreen Park Library Board President Kelly Burke decided to run for the 36th District House, she wasn’t surprised when a pal of her opponent invited her for coffee. At a local donut shop, Burke was given opposition research done on her to try to scare her out of the race. The research indicated she cheated on her property taxes. For more than five years, she received a senior citizen exemption on her tax bills for which she did not qualify. The exemption knocked about $200 annually off her $11,000 tax bill.
* Web spin: Last week’s 5 most viewed Tribune stories on chicagotribune.com: 1. Rep. Mark Kirk’s sexual orientation questioned in GOP opponent’s ad (Dec. 29).
* Candidates flock to social media to connect, influence
* Tax policy clearly divides Republicans, Democrats
* Meet Cook County president candidates
* Hastert’s son running for dad’s old seat
* 10th congressional forum on Jan. 9
* Lack of TOPPER support familiar to Bassi
* Could they do any worse?
* 62nd House hopefuls say change is needed in employee pensions
* League welcomes local candidates to appear at public forums
* Candidates for DuPage County board chairman outline top campaign issue
* Olson endorsed by taxpayer group
* Kane Co. treasurer candidates differ on approach
* Voter registration deadline is Tuesday for Illinois residents
* Governor Quinn to Issue Billions in Bonds This Week
* Tools available to strengthen right to know
* With attorney general’s help, Legislature gets open government right
* Statehouse Insider: New faces will make things interesting
* Bernard Schoenburg: Plenty of problems — plenty of possibilities
* New year brings new health laws
* Lots of new laws in a state filled with old problems
* State offers expedited service for vehicle titles
* IFB Reminds Us of the Wild Ride That Was 2009
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 2:04 pm
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Great, Governor Quinn appoints another Chicago Alderman who has ties to Tony Rezko (look at the D2’s) What is this guy thinking.
Comment by Hector Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 2:22 pm
That Macellaio race is going to heat up. I am surprised that Madigan gave up Dan Farley in Chicago for Ann Williams but is out to throttle Kelly Burke in the 36th. I wonder why, especially when the House could use some more strong-willed, smart women, like both Ann and Kelly.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 2:23 pm
Hard to imagine where campaigns would be without social media.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 2:23 pm
The first Anonymous 2:23, can you get another handle, please? That one’s taken. Thanks.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 2:24 pm
Quinn’s done Daley another solid by picking one of a handful of aldermen who dare question the king. Does Flores have a personal driver that can succeed him?
Comment by The Doc Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 2:28 pm
Quinn tapped Ald. Manny Flores to head the ICC. Flores was a rising star on the Chicago political scene and some would say a threat to Mayor Daley. Quinn’s move helps to eliminate any threat that Flores may have been to Mayor Daley. Quinn has the ability to make a lot of key appointments and it will be interesting to see how the appointments may indirectly work to the benefit of Mayor Daley, and ultimately help Daley to retain his control over the city of Chicago.
Comment by Vienna Beefness Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 2:34 pm
Anonymous 2:24 is not me. For the record….
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 2:35 pm
Being funny, 2:35?
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 2:42 pm
With respect to the O’Brien ad, I think it merits a “5″.
If I was advising the campaign, I would have suggested he not appear in the ad. He looks like a younger version of old man Daley.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 2:46 pm
So, McKenna just took the ATR pledge. Big deal. Dillard took the same pledge some years ago, and that hasn’t stopped him from voting for various tax and fee hikes, such as the RTA sales tax hike and the capital plan hikes in sales and excise taxes and driving fees.
I like O’Brien’s new ad. It introduces him nicely to voters, and highlights his pledge (unlike his opponents) to immediately repeal the rest of the notorious Stroger sales tax.
Comment by Reformer Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 2:47 pm
Adam Andrzejewski signed the ATR pledge in July… nice to see Andy playing follow the leader.
Comment by John Bambenek Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 2:49 pm
Someone uses a handle to contribute to a blog for years–and just because it’s a “default”, people feel they can walk away with it. Nice.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 2:50 pm
Anonymous 2:50 is not me. For the record….
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 2:52 pm
Anonymous,
Why would you pick that handle in the first place? I have been on this site for years as well, and assumed that “Anonymous” was the default handle given to people not taking a nickname. THerefore, I’ve never associtated posts with that handle as yours.
If I were you, I would have picked a new name a long time ago.
Comment by Frank Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 2:55 pm
Thank you, Frank. Well said.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 2:57 pm
McQueary’s article on the Burke/Maciello/Madigan business is great and I wish the Big Two newspapers would jump all over this stuff and stay on it.
I know most of the readers of these pages are battle-hardened campaign warriors with the “Wear a helmet” philosophy in regards to campaign tactics, but this kind of stuff always makes my skin crawl.
God forbid there is ever an even playing field in this state.
Comment by NC Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 2:59 pm
I don’t know, Frank, but your handle is pretty new; why did you choose “Frank”? I know the bloggers here because I’ve been posting for years as “Anonymous” and I even know alot of these bloggers from the Illinois Leader.
Never seemed to have any problems with multiple “Anonymous” postings–or even questions about it until just recently, Frank.
Why do you have such an issue with my continuing to post as “Anonymous”?
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 2:59 pm
===God forbid there is ever an even playing field in this state.===
I can empathize greatly with challengers, but who ever said politics had to be played on a level field? Too many challengers are just too lazy to do what’s necessary and then use the “level playing field” argument to whine. I’ve seen it countless times. Just do the work, for crying out loud. Get out there and knock on doors. Raise the money. Cash doesn’t always win. If it did, Blair Hull might be president today. lol
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 3:04 pm
===assumed that “Anonymous” was the default handle given to people not taking a nickname.===
That’s true.
Anonymous, the rant is old. Pick a real handle.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 3:06 pm
Who says Madigan has abandoned the Farley kid???
Comment by ivoted4judy Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 3:07 pm
=== “Too many challengers are just too lazy to do what’s necessary and then use the “level playing field” argument to whine”…
I agree that some good ole pavement pounding wins races. But if a challenger has to do added work of finding a third or fourth challenger to dilute their opponent’s ballot name, then that’s where you and I depart on this. It’s cheap more than anything else, to do this. Lipinski makes it point to find a similar sounding name for any of his challengers. Someday, a Lepinski may find his way on the ballot! LOL.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 3:08 pm
=== But if a challenger has to do added work of finding a third or fourth challenger to dilute their opponent’s ballot name, then that’s where you and I depart on this. ===
Anyone running for the Illinois General Assembly, Chicago City Council, Cook County Board, or even dog catcher who is counting on their “ballot name” as their election plan does not deserve to win.
If Kelly Burke wants to serve in the Illinois House, she needs to give the voters more of a reason than “I’m an Irish woman.”
Here’s a hint: try campaigning.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 3:37 pm
As for the Tribune editorial board:
They should ask Moody’s what they think of calls to cut tax rates in Illinois.
Moody’s did not accuse Illinois of spending like drunken sailors. They said we have a “structural budget deficit.” That’s as transparent a call for a tax increase as you’ll ever hear from a bond house.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 3:41 pm
What do you mean by this comment?
* I’ll have much more for subscribers tomorrow, but Gov. Pat Quinn has been trying to appoint a Latino to the ICC for months, and he finally found somebody. Whether Ald. Manny Flores survives is another matter. From a press release…
Whether he survives, Is that Senate Confirmation, or is that if Quinn wins the primary/General?
Comment by I'm Just Saying Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 3:41 pm
===Whether he survives, Is that Senate Confirmation===
yes.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 3:55 pm
To Terry O’Brien:
I wouldn’t premise my entire campaign on voters’ perception of whether or not Lake Michigan is clean.
YDD
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 3:56 pm
On Flores: His voting record isn’t exactly anti-Daley; also see parking meter mess; see Flores’ Campaign manager turned 1st Ward committeeman. And he wasn’t a threat to the king, unless you mean in 8 years. However, he is a good choice - his ambition will serve the citizens of the state well.
Comment by GetOverIt Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 3:59 pm
its nice to see people with no plan to cover the States liabilties pledge to do nothing about them.
I am also partial to the government has done so little discussion. The governemnt releases those pesky inmates who are eating tax dollars and everyone clamours to lock em up; but ask for money to pay for prisons and prison staff and the same group is out signing pledges to cut State revenue.
if only Alex Huxley could take us all to this brave New Gop World where there are no taxes, no governemnt but lots of prisons (without any dangerous al queda memebrs of course).
I guess we could move to one of the State that now has low or no income taxes, since according to the GOP every single business has already moved there, trading the laws of supply and demand for low tax rates.
Comment by Ghost Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 4:05 pm
===Here’s a hint: try campaigning.==
YDD:
I agree with you to a point. However, wouldn’t the same argument be made of Macellaio? By getting two fence-sitters with female Irish names to syphon off votes is an insult.
Also, I think you misread my comment to mean something different. I meant to dilute their name, gender, ethinicity to gain an avantage is not “old-school”, it’s “I can’t win on my own school.”
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 4:08 pm
Yeah, it depends on what kind of mood Ricky is in that day
Comment by I'm Just Saying Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 4:12 pm
===Whether he survives, Is that Senate Confirmation===
I think Rich is alluding to the fact that Senator Delgado hates Flores for running someone against him and with therefore do anything he can to stymie the appointment, against the wishes of his mentor and “creator”, former Senator Miguel del Valle.
Comment by chitownhv Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 4:17 pm
Flores will be easily confirmed. Republicans in the Senate will not reject a capable Latino, and Mayor Daley’s allies in the Senate will galdly support a move to let Daley name yet another lackey to the City Council.
Comment by fedup dem Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 4:20 pm
fd, he’s gotta get out of committee first.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 4:23 pm
I’m not at a computer with audio, but…
If O’Brien is linking his performance at MWRD to the cleanliness of Lake Michigan, there’s an obvious follow-up question.
Which direction does the Chicago River flow these days?
MWRD could be dumping untreated effluent (oh, wait, they do) into the Chicago River and it still wouldn’t affect Lake Michigan because water flows downstream, which means it flows into the Mississippi River, not Lake Michigan.
Comment by Carl Nyberg Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 4:33 pm
===what kind of mood Ricky is in that day===
Nope. The chairman is Sen. Tony Munoz.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 4:33 pm
“That editorial, by the way, praised an idea by another candidate to halve the income tax, while bemoaning the fact that Illinois is $4.9 billion behind in its bills. The edit board has officially lost its freaking mind.”
Capt Fax: we assume it o.k. for all the victims of “The Revolution” endorsement process to quote this assessment of the edit page mental status at the point in the bankruptcy/DOJ investigation process/electoral process?
With proper attribution of course!
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 4:53 pm
BTW the O’Brien ad is no Avatar or Hair Scare, but it will get the job done and that he needs to get done.
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 5:25 pm
“The Revolution.” lol CFS!
Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 5:31 pm
Any word on successors to Flores?
Comment by i'm just saying Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 6:04 pm
Anonymous - Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 2:59 pm:
I don’t know, Frank, but your handle is pretty new; why did you choose “Frank”? I know the bloggers here because I’ve been posting for years as “Anonymous”
The Leader. There’s your sign, Captain.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Jan 4, 10 @ 8:36 pm
Thanks, AA. That’s very kind of you.
As I told Rich yesterday in an email, I’ve decided to retire not only my handle, but from posting on blogs and “Illinois politics” overall. Things have just become a bit too crass in my opinion, and I just don’t have the tolerance for it.
It’s been an honor and a pleasure working with you and the others I’ve known here and on the other blogs I’ve enjoyed over the years. Illinois is definitely better off thanks to all of you.
All my best,
LostGeneration (Illinois Leader)
Anonymous (CapFax)
? (Illinois Review)
Anonymous? (Team America)
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 5, 10 @ 11:12 am