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* According to WBEZ, just 1200 Chicagoans have applied for handgun permits since the city’s gun ban was repealed.
* Want a government job? Run against Aaron Schock…
In 2008, Democrat Colleen Callahan ran against the Peoria Republican. She lost, but was then named to a job with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The pattern continued last week when Sheila Simon, the state’s next lieutenant governor, announced she was hiring Deirdre “DK” Hirner to be her chief of staff.
You guessed it: Hirner recently lost her race for Congress against Schock.
* The state’s chief tort reform cheerleader has been sued…
Ed Murnane, who has weighed in on his share of court cases as president of the Illinois Civil Justice League, has been sued by a woman who says he crashed into her car after running a red light. He denies any wrongdoing.
In a lawsuit filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Dorothy Hardy says the Feb. 18 crash injured her head, limbs and nervous system and has prevented her from “attending to her usual and customary affairs and duties.”
Mr. Murnane said he was disappointed to learn of the lawsuit, which also names his employer, because police determined he was not at fault after considering statements by him and his doctors.
“This is rather surprising,” he says, adding that “the Illinois Civil Justice League has nothing to do with the incident in my hometown, in my personal vehicle. I’ll seek guidance from legal counsel.”
* Gov. Pat Quinn’s veto batting average was pretty darned low…
Quinn totally vetoed four bills that were before lawmakers this fall. The Legislature sustained Quinn on only one of those — a bill Quinn vetoed because it duplicated another bill that he signed.
Quinn also used his amendatory veto powers over the summer to rewrite several pieces of legislation. Lawmakers rejected most of those changes, too. Of 14 bills before the Legislature on which Quinn used his amendatory veto powers, lawmakers agreed with Quinn on only one. That amendatory veto changed the effective date of the law.
* Oops…
(T)he best line during the sunshine bill debate came from Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon.
“We need a see-through government,” Righter said, urging his colleagues to save the bill by scrapping Quinn’s changes.
It’s a great line because, about 12 hours earlier, Righter voted with 47 other senators to shield the performance evaluations of public employees from the state’s open records laws.
Guess you want see-through government but with certain parts blacked out for family viewing.
* Jason Barickman, a Republican who will be sworn in to the House next month, had a funny little intro to the Statehouse…
The newly appointed state representative from Champaign – who will take office in early January – got stuck in an elevator on his way up to the House chambers on the third floor of the Capitol.
And then he got lobbied.
“I get in an elevator with 12 women. The elevator starts to go up and then it stops. We’re stranded,” he said. “One of the women looks around says, ‘This is not good. It’s too bad we don’t have a representative or a senator in here who we could lobby.’
“I just kinda put my head down. Then she goes, ‘who are you?’ I explained my situation and we all had a good laugh. They were suburban women for education. So they gave it to me. They said that ‘these are our issues and our positions.’”
* The Freeport Journal-Standard believes that Gov. Quinn’s hesitancy is a sign of doom…
Any thoughts that Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn had changed his stripes after a narrow victory at the ballot box on Nov. 2 were quickly put to rest last week.
Quinn is back to his familiar role as a crusader for public unions, regardless of the state’s financial predicament.
After both the Illinois House and Senate approved a two-tier pension system for police and firefighters hired after Jan. 1, 2011, the governor refused to answer direct questions on whether he would sign the legislation.
Think about that, just for a second.
Yeah, think about that for a second. The governor wasn’t involved in the negotiations, his staff hasn’t had time to analyze the bill, and the newspaper wants him to jump on board right away?
* Umm…
Still, there’s that nagging issue. It’s called the law.
The state residency law has cost other deserving candidates, including former Chicago Schools Chief Paul Vallas. He wanted to run for governor in 2006 and challenge soon-to-be-indicted incumbent Rod Blagojevich. Vallas was denied because he didn’t live in Illinois at the time but rather in Pennsylvania.
That’s a truly silly comparison. Sherman, turn on the Wayback Machine…
Thomas Ioppolo, an assistant attorney general representing the State Board of Elections, maintained that Vallas’ decision to sell his home in the Beverly neighborhood, obtain Pennsylvania license plates and vote in the 2004 presidential election in Pennsylvania effectively made him a Pennsylvania resident.
Unlike Rahm Emanuel, Vallas registered to vote in Philadelphia. Also, the municipal code is different than the state law governing gubernatorial candidates. Candidates for governor must reside here for three years, not the one year that the municipal code requires. It’s apples to horses.
* And, finally, have a look at how Pete Giangreco threw Gov. Pat Quinn under the bus during an interview about Rahm Emanuel’s residency. Ouch…
The full interview is here.
* Related…
* 72 super PACs spent $83.7 million on election, financial disclosure reports show
* Twenty Eight Percent: With Illinois’s passage of the civil unions bill, more than a quarter of the population of the United States – to be precise, a bit over 28% - now lives in a jurisdiction that recognizes same-sex marriage or its functional equivalent.
* Taxpayers expect more than ‘no’ votes on pension reform bill: Bost’s explanation for his minority vote (the bill passed 95-18) doesn’t entirely hold water. As we reported Wednesday, Bost said the bill is not a real compromise but is “being promulgated by people who will just be back to change it in the next session.” He believes the bill will be amended by the Senate “and we’ll get a second bite at that apple.”
* Harold Washington’s ex-pastor endorses Chico
* When Corrections Don’t Count - In a time-honored but sorely outdated tradition, the Tribune buries a couple of real boners about Rahm and Ron Huberman.
* VIDEO: CapitolView, hosted by Amanda Vinicky and featuring panelists Charlie Wheeler, Mike Lawrence and Scott Reeder
* Why Should We? A closer look at the Cubs’ plea for public money
* Officials warn of conflicts in picking DuPage state’s attorney - Schillerstrom, Birkett at odds over selection process
* Brady sets Hendon straight
* Law pushed by area woman goes to Quinn
* Casino Rock Island will ‘wait and see‘ on smoking proposal
* Timing of Dahl’s announcement is unfortunate
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 3:38 pm
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I was just about to get all high and mighty and bash Sheila Simon for appointing a nobody who just happened to run for Congress as her COS. But I looked up her credentials and they are pretty solid:
http://www.pjstar.com/elections/bios/x427652558/U-S-Congresswoman-18th-Congressional-District-Deirdre-DK-Hirner
Comment by Just Observing Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 3:50 pm
oh, they are all lining up. the save the factory ad for Rahm, just like the one for Pete’s Pet, Alexi. and now this interview. what’s the matter, didn’t Pat Quinn bow to whatever you want for this next candidate? it appears that we are well on the way to “become a cheerleader for the Mayor” in Rahm world as exists in the world of the current mayor. be a cheerleader or you are shunned. I for one am sick of that.
Comment by amalia Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 4:06 pm
Just to correct Jeff Berkowitz here, Quinn went to Georgetown for undergrad, but went to Northwestern for law school.
Comment by Niles Township Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 4:09 pm
The Giangrecos are a classy crew.
I remember Pete making a living dissing Dukakis in any newspaper that would listen after his loss (he took the Dukakis money before then, though).
Of course, noted funny man Mark is such a brilliant and perceptive reporter that he didn’t notice that orange-eyed and emaciated Walter Payton was dying before his eyes when he made the on-air comments that Sweetness looked like “Gandhi” (that’s an insult, I guess) and that “he could take him.”
Payton, of course, was then forced to hold a news conference (gee, without Mark) and announce to the world the that he was dying, which he did a few months later. Mark shed the obligatory crocodile tears in one of those maudlin, soft-piano ESPN specials later. Perfect casting.
Maybe the brothers can petition the court to get shared custody of Ron Santo’s gamer. It would be an improvement.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 4:15 pm
==The governor wasn’t involved in the negotiations, his staff hasn’t had time to analyze the bill . . . ==
How about we think about that, just for a second.
Comment by Pat Robertson Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 4:23 pm
I know a couple of people who ran for office (as Democrats, and not against Schock), lost, and then were given government jobs. I was thrilled for them simply because both of them quit the jobs they had in order to run for office and in one case took out a second mortgage on the house to help fund her campaign. In other words, they put their personal finances on the line in order to try to become public servants and I appreciated that someone helped them get back on their feet. Many people do not realize how financially draining a run for public office can be. Not that anyone should get a job they aren’t qualified for — in both of these cases they were more than qualifed for the job they got.
Anyway, my point with this is that is not about running against Schock — it happens all the time, probably in both parties, and I think in some cases is completely justified.
Comment by Lakefront Liberal Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 4:23 pm
Giangreco didn’t say anything about how wonderful a campaign he ran for senator alexi. He also had a very painful segment where he tried to avoid discussion over rahm’s new trier roots. To me as a proud non chicago resident republican watching from afar, I can’t help but wonder why his new trier upbringing, banking background and status as a career insider aren’t being used against him. Things are not well right now in the city or country and this guy has been in the decision making arena for 20 years. It’s curious why he isn’t being held accountable by his opponents.
It was also interesting seeing giangreco say “if he can run the white house he can run anything”.
dick cheney and donald rumsfeld were also white house chief’s of staff.
Comment by shore Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 4:24 pm
PR, the governor is often not involved in negotiations on big bills. And not just this governor, either.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 4:27 pm
Jason Barickman, that was probably the worst Penthouse forum letter I have ever read!
Comment by Wumpus Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 4:28 pm
If the Dems are looking for a candidate against Schock, I suggest the actress Anne Hathaway. My daughter forced me to watch “The Devil Wears Prada” with her over the weekend, and that Hathaway knocks him for a loop in a big purple belt and puffy shirt.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 4:33 pm
Hope you can get a clip of Quinn’s awful speech for President Preckwinkle’s inauguration this morning. Walking in late and “winging it” is no way to go through life.
Comment by Pioneer P. Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 4:56 pm
Wordslinger … You just got my commenter of the year award. ZZZZ-ZING!
Comment by Pioneer P. Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 4:59 pm
not really sure what the lt gov “does” other that wait. therefore not really surewhat her chief of staff will do. which makes me wonder what the staff she is “chief of” will do.
Comment by enevlop Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 5:02 pm
Rich,
Maybe this Governor and the last Governor, but I can tell you for a fact, George Ryan would have had someone in the meetings, or there would have been a very loud phone call to both leaders for cutting him out. That is leadership. Ryan may be the only one serving time, for now, but he was a better Governor than these last two Bozos in his sleep.
Comment by Jaded Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 5:13 pm
Opps
Almost thought your link to the out of town story on Super Pacs and ‘Boards Cross favorite funders — the Griffins — meant you were coming out your coma on the issue of learning where this cash really came from.
But, alas, it was a Capt Fax fake out.
Meanwhile the secret funders poured the proceeds from our purchases from their tills to the pols trough.
Maybe next time.
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 5:31 pm
Give Dale Righter today’s goofball award.
Comment by just sayin' Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 5:33 pm
Here’s an oddity…or not.
How are we supposed to get in touch with our newly-minted senator to voice our opinion & advise him on how we constituents want him to vote on the very important issues that are up for vote in the Senate?
When you try to call the number listed under the US government site (202-224-2854), it goes right to voicemail. And the voicemail’s been full for days with no way to leave a message. Can’t find anything on his campaign site either.
Any suggestions? I’d think the new Senator would care deeply about hearing from us. That’s what he said when he was campaigning.
Or was that just chickencrap?
Comment by Jack S. Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 6:43 pm
Northwestern law school then claims both Quinn and Blagojevich as alums. Good thing they also get to claim Justice John Paul Stevens.
Comment by Monstrum Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 7:28 pm
-Quinn not the best candidate-
He won Pete, without your help.
Giangreco likes good candidates, like the guy he brought us in 2002, Rod Blagojevich.
Comment by Belden Ave Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 8:02 pm
sorry to do it monstrum but rrb went to pepperdine for law school
Comment by who on first then? Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 8:14 pm
Jack S., keep trying. I got through right away today. They are obviously in the middle of a transition and a lame duck session. They haven’t staffed up completely yet, so give them a break.
I remember when Obama got sworn in and was working out of a basement office in DC. I got better service today from Kirk’s new staff than I got from Obama’s after months in office.
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 8:42 pm
Looks like Mayor Daley has won. He’s reduced the number of handguns in Chicago to 1200. Wow.
Comment by Park Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 9:13 pm
I can’t wait to read the police report from Murnane’s crash, and further explanation of how HIS doctors cleared him of any wrong-doing.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Dec 7, 10 @ 9:20 am
1. I always advise Democrats to never appear on Berkowitz’s show for a good reason. No upside.
2. Berkowitz raises a good point: forget the Driver’s license, the questionable voting, all the other window-dressing: how can you reside in Illinois without a residence?
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Dec 7, 10 @ 9:36 am