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Finally, some good news for Alexi

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Illinois

Giannoulias has a new spokesman, and his first major positive push appears to have worked. Apparently, the solution is to head south - away from those pesky Chicago reporters with all their questions about his father’s bank.

In his first policy proposal since winning the Democratic nomination for state treasurer, banker Alexi Giannoulias tackled an issue Monday that rests largely outside his home of Chicago and the world of finance.

Giannoulias joined the growing chorus of support for corn-made gasoline promising that, if elected the state’s financial leader, he would offer low-interest loans to gas stations wanting to upgrade to E-85 - fuel made of 85 percent ethanol. He made his announcement before a short tour of the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

The state treasurer’s office already provides subsidies that allow banks to offer cheaper loans for many community development projects; Giannoulias’ proposal would cover gas-pump improvement and construction.

Completely retrofitting a gas station for E-85 can cost tens of thousands of dollars. There are now only about 120 E-85 pumps in Illinois.

The Giannoulias campaign provided five stories about the proposal. Not one of those pieces even so much as mentioned the banking/mobster questions.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jun 22, 06 @ 1:15 pm

Comments

Glad to see Alexi is picking up the pieces, or at least sweeping them into the corner. Hey Erin!!!

Comment by giarcubs Thursday, Jun 22, 06 @ 1:38 pm
Dump him!

Comment by Niles Township Thursday, Jun 22, 06 @ 4:36 pm
I have to admit this is very clever. I think Giannoulias is a better candidate than Mangieri. He hurts the ticket by making the ENTRIRE Democratic statewide ticket to live within a 5 mile radius in the Northside of Chicago, but otherwise, his money and energy is strong.

I would like to hear more from the Radogno campaign.

Comment by Ashur Odishoo Thursday, Jun 22, 06 @ 4:48 pm
Dump Niles!!

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jun 22, 06 @ 7:40 pm
Rich, do you really think he would bring up the subject?

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jun 22, 06 @ 8:09 pm
Candidate Giannoulias had a good stop in the Quad Cities. Lots of media coverage, positive issue, salient topic for corn country — a smart stop in downstate.

Comment by statehouse quad cities Thursday, Jun 22, 06 @ 8:20 pm
A lot of us were born at night - - - but not LAST night.

Comment by Little Egypt Thursday, Jun 22, 06 @ 8:44 pm
he’s toast. might have been a good tour but ethanol? treasurer’s office? sure it’s relevant but isn’t it early to pull this sure-fire media pop out? the colt man says this is radogno’s to lose.

Comment by colt 45 Thursday, Jun 22, 06 @ 9:32 pm
alexi will win by a larger margin than blago wins over judy

Comment by rage against the machine Saturday, Jun 24, 06 @ 10:36 am