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* From a gubernatorial veto message…
Today I return House Bill 4113 with specific recommendations for change.
First, House Bill 4113 exempts printing contracts for the student newspaper at Southern Illinois University’s Carbondale campus from the Illinois Procurement Code for one year, during which time the bill requires those contracts be publicly awarded through an alternative process. Student newspapers are a vital part of vibrant and engaged student populations at all universities.
The changes made by this bill – which provide more flexibility to the student newspapers while ensuring a public procurement process – should apply to all public universities and colleges during the one-year trial period.
The governor has made a big to-do of late about “special deals” for Chicago, and is now apparently applying that same logic to SIU.
I can see what he’s saying, but SIU is the only school to ask for this exemption. So, passing it for everyone at this point doesn’t really make a whole lot of sense. Plus, a pilot project can lead to more and perhaps broader action down the road if it’s a success.
* Local react…
Southern governmental affairs liaison John Charles said the university had hoped the legislation would help save money.
“It is a cost-savings measure for the newspaper. It also would allow for us to print the paper in Carbondale, or at least in Illinois,” Charles said.
The paper currently is printed in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Your thoughts?
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 11:31 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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Just another day rooting out corruption and special deals on the 2nd floor.
Comment by Abe the Babe Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 11:49 am
TeamBungle at work
Files a AV the violates legis rules, bungles the student vote issue AND fails to designate a student trustee with voting power — 8 months after takin’ the oath. Very clever
Comment by Anonin' Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 12:01 pm
If the action doesn’t make sense from a public policy perspective, you can bet on Governor Rauner to take that path!
Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 12:02 pm
So this means that newspaper will be printed in Illinois and not in Missouri?
Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 12:02 pm
Shot at Brown.
Comment by Dirty Red Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 12:08 pm
Government Procurement is always difficult. It’s a balancing act between trying to get a good deal with tax dollars and not allowing folks involved in the process to steer contracts. The end result is usually easily questionable because it’s usually not what many folks might think is the “best deal”.
IL Procurement is very complex - but as noted by others it’s become that way for a reason - there have been lots of past abuses and with each of them the legislature reacts by adding more checks & balances or by “closing loopholes”. Any attempts to simplify procurement code will come with increased risks of bad behavior by government, lobbyists, or vendors. And as we can see here, any attempt to try streamlined pilot projects can be vilified as a “special deal” or painting political opponents as soft on ethics.
Bottom line: The Gov/Legislature standoff and finger-pointing continues. But the weapon of choice today just happens to be procurement and ethics. (sigh)
Comment by Bluegrass Boy Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 12:17 pm
==Shot at Brown.==
Huh?
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 12:17 pm
Nice little gift from the governor to Missouri businesses.
DR, you think it’s a Steve Brown shot? I know he’s an active alum.
Can’t be true. That would be a Blagoish and petulant abuse of power by the governor that costs SIU money and hurts local Carbondale businesses.
Must be the principle of the thing.
Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 12:21 pm
==DR, you think it’s a Steve Brown shot? I know he’s an active alum.==
So are member of Rauners team. That angle makes zero sense.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 12:22 pm
Word, I’m going to assume we’re past Blagojevichian petulance. I’m just going to assume GTCR owns the Missouri printing press.
Comment by Juice Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 12:29 pm
Lance Trover went to SIUC. I would imagine this is not a shot at them.
Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 12:41 pm
Has anyone asked the Daily Egyptian, Daily Illini, Northern Star or Daily Vidette what they think of this?
Comment by David Starrett Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 12:43 pm
This bill didn’t include state funding for the DE did it?
http://thesouthern.com/news/local/siu/daily-egyptian-s-future-looking-brighter/article_254aa2c7-569f-53a4-9b2e-514c25ba3b1d.html
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 1:08 pm
Never mind. Think I answered my own question when I read the article more closely. Still Brown and several others have a strong tie to SIU. Trover has been named to the Paul Simon Institute Board.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 1:10 pm
Now we know that Rauner has solutions to problems that don’t exist. If only he would devote some attention to the pending problems we actually have, he could make a difference. But nah!
Comment by Jordan Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 1:32 pm
As a DE alum I am saddened at what has become of a once great paper. 15 years ago you wouldn’t have had to wonder what they thought the editorial board would have already.
Comment by Newdealer Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 2:31 pm
Newdealer.
I too am a DE alum from 78-80. Good to see a few of us survive…LOL
Comment by LINK Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 3:08 pm
If we cut out the “special interest” bills, we’d lose over half of them.
Comment by walker Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 3:51 pm
What is it about ‘pilot project’ that is beyond the Governot’s comprehension? The guy that says he wants ’savings’. Pilot project = test. To SEE if it does ’save’. Maybe he was not as smart a businessman as simply shrewd?
Comment by sal-says Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 4:18 pm
Utterly brainless governing. Perhaps one of his superstars does a Find search of the bill text for words related to spending and then simply auto-flags it as BAD.
Comment by Politix Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 5:12 pm
Hold on a sec fellas. The procurement issue was no biggie in the grand scheme of things. If you recall, the DE had to shut down their press last year due to cost and the paper needed a small infusion of SIU cash to stay afloat. Giving them a little room to find the best/cheapest way to outsource printing isn’t wrong and is probably an issue unique to SIU.
The other piece of the bill is what probably really earned the veto. It would create a voting Trustee position for students at SIUC and SIUE, instead of rotating the seat. This doesn’t exist on the UI Board or on the other governing boards.
Anonin, aren’t student trustees elected by students? If they aren’t at SIU, that would be a good bill, if you know any legislators.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 6:59 pm