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Backlash heats up over “Friday Massacre”

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Illinois

The Friday Massacre won’t be forgotten soon. Check out this quote from Sen. Gary Forby, whose amendment to attach ComEd to the rate freeze bill was killed when Senate President Emil Jones used an almost unheard-of parliamentary tactic…

“President Jones and the people from Chicago– they just back-stabbed me is what they’ve done. They’ve back-stabbed southern Illinois.”

* The Sun-Times also weighed in today with an editorial entitled, Trick makes rate-freeze vote look wired…

…there is no defending the cheap parliamentary gamesmanship Jones and his close ally, Sen. Rickey Hendon (D-Chicago), engaged in Friday in undermining a one-year freeze proposed by a fellow Democrat, Sen. Gary Forby of Benton. […]

Consumers are under enough duress without having an unheard-of technicality determine their rate-paying future. Jones’ friendship with ComEd President Frank Clark demands he act openly and straightforwardly on this issue. His stunt was neither of those things.

* The Belleville News-Democrat’s editorial is headlined “Majority rules? Not in Illinois”

In theory the Illinois Senate operates on majority rule. In practice Senate President Emil Jones runs it like a dictatorship when he wants to get his way.

* The Rockford Register-Star’s editorial board published this zinger today…

Jones may not know where Rockford is, but he sure knows who his friends are.

* SJ-R editorial: A cynical message from Sen. Jones

…this is Sen. Emil Jones, D-Chicago. The president of the Senate. The guy whose wife got a nearly $80,000 raise for her nearly $200,000-per-year job that she secured after state rules were changed to allow her to qualify for that job. The guy whose son received a nearly $60,000 state job that doesnâ€™t require a college degree and apparently didnâ€™t need to be advertised so others might compete for it. Oh, and the guy who has received more than $270,000 in campaign contributions from electric utilities.

Mr. Jones went to Springfield last week and played games with one of his own Democratic members of the Senate. But more importantly, he demonstrated to the people of Illinois that power is what matters. Might trumps right was Jonesâ€™ clear message.

* Decatur Herald & Review: Reform sorely needed in state government

The result of Friday’s sleight of hand is that a bill, supported by a majority of the Senate, is being held up by one man. ComEd executives have to feel pretty cozy with Jones protecting them in the Senate.

Friday’s activities point out the need for reform in state government. Legislative reform is needed to take some of the power away from legislative leaders and ensure that those elected to represent the people get a chance to do so. Campaign finance reform is needed so political contributors will have less influence on the legislative process.

It’s unlikely any of that will happen soon. More likely is that Illinois government will continue to be an embarrassment to the people of the state.

* And the Chicago Tribune’s editorial board? Nothing. Nada. Zip.

* Meanwhile, the Associated Press ran a story the other day that didn’t get the notice it deserved…

Not one of the 16 states â€“ plus the District of Columbia â€“ that have pushed forward with deregulation since the late 1990s can call it a success. In fact, consumers in those states fared worse than residents in states that stuck with a policy of regulating their power industries.

An Associated Press analysis of federal data shows consumers in the 17 deregulated areas paid an average of 30 percent more for power in 2006 than their counterparts in regulated states. That’s up from a 24 percent gap in 1990. […]

Utilities say markets are still adjusting to many years of artificially low rates that drove potential competitors away. They point to states like Illinois, where rate caps just recently were lifted and where there already is talk of reinstating them.

Consumer groups, however, say deregulation has had a chance to prove itself. In Texas, for example, competition did develop after rate caps ended â€“ but the energy prices remained higher.

* And a couple of more stories from today…

* Governor wants electric rates frozen at ‘06 level

* Electricity suppliers offer relief

* By the way, that story at the top which included Forby’s quote was mainly about a woman in Forby’s district who is calling Emil Jones’ constituents asking for help.

Maps, street names, and a phone book… Gay Vaughn says these are the tools to get the ball rolling against Emil Jones. Calling the people in his region and telling them how Southern Illinois is hurting from the high rates.

“They don’t think southern Illinois will do anything. If they start hearing from their own constituents and get them to write him, maybe they might change their mind,” says Vaughn.

Vaughn hopes one day he’ll be voted out of office, but for now she’s staying on task until things change… losing sleep, and devoting days at a time to this project.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 24, 07 @ 8:54 am

Comments

Good for Gay Vaughn, the woman who is calling Jones’s constituents. That’s grassroots in action!

Comment by the Other Anonymous Tuesday, Apr 24, 07 @ 9:11 am
So Blagojevich is once again claiming he wants rates frozen.

What we have been waiting for him to do is unfreeze his fat behind for the past five months and do something to prove he means what he says.

Jones needs to be shown the door. Blagojevich’s best friend however, isn’t about to be shown anything like justice for a long time. With the corrupted Illinois Democratic party at the helm, no one has the guts to take on Mr. Jones or Mr. Blagojevich.

We needed reform ten years ago. This state is making New Jersey and Louisiana blush.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Apr 24, 07 @ 9:20 am
Considering what Blago has done for the Jones’ family (wife gets paid $180K for a position previously held by an M.D.; son gets an almost $60K job that was not posted), you would think IF Blago is REALLY serious about a rate freeze, Jones would be doing backflips to please Blago and get this thing going. Translation: Blago is blowing smoke as usual while Jones is busy counting the campaign cash from the electric companies. So who’s the real governor of this state: Door #1, Blago; Door #2, Jones; or Door #3, MMadigan? (It isn’t Door #1)

Comment by Little Egypt Tuesday, Apr 24, 07 @ 9:29 am
Emil Jones and family seem to think that the sole reason for Illinois citizens is to provide the Senator and his cult with jobs.

But he has magnified what exists at all levels of one party government. His homies of course chortle over how clever Emil is.

Now they want to raise billions more in taxes to satiate the various lobbies that get them elected.

They get the money from the lobbyists and take the money from the taxpayers. It’s a great life.

Come on, Bill, give us a silver lining around this cloud.

Comment by Truthful James Tuesday, Apr 24, 07 @ 10:20 am
Wow looking at that last quote Southern Illinois is really thinking. I would never have thought of that. I hope they’re sucessful.

Comment by Levois Tuesday, Apr 24, 07 @ 10:43 am
The citizens seem not to care if the elected officials are corrupt because constituants continue to vote for the incumbents no matter how sleazy and self-serving.

Comment by i d Tuesday, Apr 24, 07 @ 11:51 am
Iâ€™m not surprised the Chicago Tribune’s editorial board is sitting on the sidelines right now. Over the years, the Tribune has been a strong supporter of ComEd in its battles with consumer advocates. The newspaper’s editorials have consistently sided with ComEd each time the utility requested a rate hike to cover the cost overruns, schedule delays and mismanagement that plagued its nuclear construction program.

Comment by fedup downstate dem Tuesday, Apr 24, 07 @ 12:49 pm
Truthful James
“Emil Jones and family seem to think that the sole reason for Illinois citizens is to provide the Senator and his cult with jobs.”

Couldn’t have said it any better! And good for Gay Vaughn!!

Comment by Just a Citizen Tuesday, Apr 24, 07 @ 12:59 pm
Little Egypt - You state that Jones Wife was given a job that used to be held by an M.D.. It is my understanding that she does have an MD, but not 100%, anyone know? Anyway, my reason for leaving a message is not to clarify that; its to state that this type of “Bottling” happens every day. Thats why I don’t understand why Jones went about it this way. It happens in the sense that there are hundreds of pieces of legislation that Jones will not let out for a vote because he controls the procedure. I mean reform stuff that is as simple as requiring the GA to file a budget bill and let the pubic see it for 7 days (sunshine stuff). No cost to the state, but no one wants (leaders)to give the pubic a look before they see it, or allow legislators to go home and hear it from constiuents about what is wrong with it so they change their mind. This is just an example of what goes on in the GA everyday behind closed doors, this time Jones just left it open. Republicans can blame themselves for taking away the ability of any member from filing a floor amendment on a bill in the Senate (Under Pates reign), and when the Dems took the septor after the remap, they just made it worse. Its embarassing for everyone in the state.

Comment by The truth shall set you free Tuesday, Apr 24, 07 @ 1:48 pm
You’re right about Pate but wrong about Mrs. Jones. She has a phD, not an MD.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 24, 07 @ 1:53 pm
1. Everyone should know the Tribune is a wholly owned subsidary of ComEd. They usually have a ComEd exec as a “outside” director

2. Everything should be fine after the House amends the Senate bill and the Senate has a chance to reverse their earlier vote to ratify the ComEd rate hikes. No one wants that vote once the AC kicks in.

Comment by GettingJonesed Tuesday, Apr 24, 07 @ 2:11 pm
So Blago wants those electric rates froze, what’s he been doing to make it happen, massive pr blitz on tv for a rate freeze like his allkids pr program, nope……. all I hear are the crickets chirping and the Comed cash being counted as it goes to emil’s campaign fund.

Comment by Concerned Voter Tuesday, Apr 24, 07 @ 3:54 pm
Any chance this was orchestrated by Jones and Forby. The members that want to can say they voted for the amendment, but it never makes it to the house. Make it look like a public spat. Only a couple of people takes the heat for it not going to the House. Everybody wins in Senate, freeze doesn’t pass, members can say they voted for the freeze and Jones killed it, and Jones still gets reelected anyway (just takes a few public hits on it).

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Apr 24, 07 @ 4:23 pm
Wow, the Tribune is solely owned by ComEd! No wonder the Trib is silent on this issue. I would be too rather than bite the hand that feeds me. But I’d also find another job.

Comment by Little Egypt Tuesday, Apr 24, 07 @ 5:07 pm
Anon, I’d give that about a negative 70 percent chance.

Forby was blindsided. His remarks on the floor and after pretty much prove that.

Comment by So Ill Tuesday, Apr 24, 07 @ 5:16 pm
I think Anon @ 4:24 may be on to something–this could have been orchestrated to stall any decisions on rates/what to do until the end of session. DeLeo, Hendon, and Jones must feel their seats are secure and they will have the opportunity to save face before adjournment–while ComEd and Ameren rake in additional cash–

Comment by Loop Lady Tuesday, Apr 24, 07 @ 8:53 pm
I love that comment from 2:11 pm. WE GOT JONESED AGAIN. I don’t know who is worse Blago or Jones? It’s pathetic regarding no effort at all on behalf of our Governor regarding not only the utility rates but what about the Predatory Lending Bill he gutted. There are foreclosures all over the place on the sw side and no one’s writing about it.

Comment by anon Tuesday, Apr 24, 07 @ 9:43 pm
The fringe benefits Mr. Jones feels entitled to extend past that raise for his wife and jobs for kids - he has poured $100 million in capital projects into Chicago State University for ineptly designed projects, built by incompetent contractors, with money simply thrown at the problems. Needless to say, there is at least one building named after Mr. Jones. This is for a school that has few students.

At the same time, 32 million square feet of state-owned facilities have had almost no maintenance since the third year of the Ryan administration. Deferred maintenance is a serious issue. Maybe the state will just hire Rezmar to build and lease to it whatever facilities are needed.

Comment by In the Sticks Tuesday, Apr 24, 07 @ 10:22 pm
Jones was masterful from a rules perspective, too bad it has nothing to do with good policy, but hey, the peeps in IL have lost by these rules before. Hey everybody, get used to it, he’s got the playbook and this is not the last you’ll see of it. Enjoy!

Comment by City Voter Tuesday, Apr 24, 07 @ 10:26 pm