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On Vallas and recall

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Illinois

* The next gubernatorial election is more than three years from now, yet…

Exactly how bad are things in Springfield? Horrible.

What words do politicians, even members of his own party, use when speaking of Gov. Blagojevich?

Unprintable.

What name is back in play as a possible contender to run for governor in 2010?

Paul Vallas.

That’s how completely crazy it is in the state Capitol. We only just re-elected the current governor 10 short months ago. We’re in the grinding, seemingly endless throes of a presidential campaign that jumped off earlier than we’ve ever seen. And now somebody out there is actually ready to talk up the next governor’s race?

The governor’s bizarre antics, which have led to a never-ending legislative session and tanked poll numbers, are more than enough to make one pine for some grown-up leadership. Paul Vallas would have had his troubles, most definitely, but I highly doubt things would have been this bad.

Still, he lost. A long time ago. There’s no sense in looking back at what might have happened.

* That being said, the story about the state spending over a hundred grand to replace the interior of the governor’s airplane is politically horrifying and is enough to make one fervently wish for a change at the top…

A spokesman for the Illinois Department of Transportation, Mike Claffey, said, “That’s the kind of preventive maintenance that extends the life of the aircraft.”

But we’re not talking about changing the spark plugs or replacing worn tires, as one might on an old car. In this case, the “preventive maintenance” includes replacing carpeting and upholstery that’s “a little frayed around the edges.”

It’s the governor’s priorities - and the nerves of fellow Illinoisans - that are “a little frayed around the edges.”

How can the governor talk about cutting “special projects and other spending that we simply can’t afford” while going ahead with revamping his plane?

* Meanwhile, the SJ-R hosted a “debate” this morning on its op-ed page about the recall issue…

* * Brian Gaines: Voters have brains- let them use them for recalls

Illinois voters have all the defects of modern electorates, but Illinois’s politicians seem to have vices beyond the average, as evidenced not only by the inability of the current government to pass a budget but also by a long, sordid history of corruption and conviction. The Land of Lincoln can use more democracy, not less.

Bring on recall!

* Jim Nowlan: Idea of recall is tempting, but it is best resisted

Voters are good at making big decisions, for example, that the country is headed in the wrong direction and change is needed. Voters are less capable on complex matters, especially on statewide issues where huge sums of money are often spent to propagandize an emotional issue. For example, in 1978 voters enacted Proposition 13 in California, which capped property taxes; in doing so, they eviscerated a once fine public school system, which has never recovered.

Yes, the idea of recall is tempting. But for me, let’s keep temptation out of harm’s way.

I would disagree with Nowlan on this only to the point of saying that recall is one of those “big issues” that he says voters are capable of dealing with. I just don’t think that recall is a good idea. The voters elected them, they should be stuck with them.

Thoughts?

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 8:37 am

Comments

I would love to see Vallas run again. I thought he did a very good job of turning the Chicago Public Schools around. He wass the one that got it started. I think he has some good ideas.

But isn’t the next election the one Lisa Madigan is to run in? What would happen to Vallas if he ran against Lisa Madigan? I wouldn’t want to see him run again and lose again. That might turn him off politics for good and I think he has a lot to offer.

Comment by irishmom07 Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 8:44 am
I think voters should have the option of recall. But the bar or percentage should be very, very high. I would say 75% of total votes.
And since this would be a very expensive to implement I think you would need at least one million signatures on petitions in order for a recall election.
As far as Vallas is concerned I thinks he’s finished with Illinois.
Lisa is going to take Blago out.

Comment by Lula May Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 8:50 am
We get the chance to recall the governor every four years. That allows the process to run through. The voters should do their homework in advance and vote wisely. As much as I dislike Governor Blagojevich as leader of our state, a recall–while it looks good in the short term–is not a good long-term answer.

Comment by Fan of the Game Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 8:57 am
I would prefer to have seen Vallas bypass Orland Park for Chicago, where he could have geared up for a mayoral run in 2011. Chicago needs political competition.

Comment by Independent Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 9:07 am
The Gov’s people are spending $133K (according to the papers) to refurbish his King Aire in Arknsas, when one of the best FBO/refitting facilities in the COUNTRY is literaly right next door to where the plane is parked at Capitol Airport! Yikes!

Comment by BehindTheScenes Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 9:13 am
The other day, I was watching an old tape of episodes of Friends and the commercials were political ads from Blago and Vallas for governor, and I couldn’t help but think how different would things be now if Vallas had won instead of Blago?

Comment by Miranda Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 9:17 am
I support recall with a reasonably high threshold of signatures required to initiate a recall election. It would be an appropriate check on executive excesses like those committed by our current Governor, and on party operatives like Michael Madigan who rammed Todd Stroger down our throats. (I would want to recall Stroger not Madigan.) Had a recall option existed, I doubt that the Cook County Democratic Party would have slated Stroger to replace his father.

Recall would also give voters an option to remove elected officials who might be too shameless to resign,if indicted, based upon the “premise of innnocent until proven guilty.” I don’t think this last scenario is particularly far-fetched.

Would George Ryan have resigned, if he had been indicted, before his term expired? I doubt it!
Ditto for our current Governor.

I defintely think Illinois could use a strong dose of direct democracy to cure what ails our body politic - endemic systemic institutional corruption at all levels of Illinois government.
Illinois government is broken and now has become completely dysfunctional.

Although I was an enthusiatic Paul Vallas volunteer, I fear he might end up like John McCain - dead in the water - especially after an eight year absence from the local scene. This is particularly true since there would be other credible alternatives - Dan Hynes or Lisa Madigan - in the 2010 Democratic gubernatorial primary.

If Daley retired, I think Vallas might still have a shot at being elected as a reform-oriented mayor if he returned a few years before running and re-established a political base. I readily concede this scenario seems like a fairy tale.

Comment by Captain America Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 9:18 am
Vallas missed the gubernatorial boat in ‘02. It’s a shame he did not have a better downstate organization. There’s no way he moves past Lisa Madigan.

I think Vallas poses the greatest potential threat to Daley in 2011, if he’s interested. He ran very well in Chicago in ‘02 due to the enormous goodwill he generated as the head of CPS. He could build a coalition of blacks and reform-minded whites that be formidable against Daley.

Comment by Independent Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 9:26 am
We will never have recall. Just like we will never have term limits, campaign contribution limits or a strict, non-gerrymandering way of redrawing districts, we will never see recall in Illinois. Either the petitions will fall short or some high-powered lobbying/interest group will find a way to get it killed in court. Or, perhaps, our wonderful elected officials would find a way to sweep a movement under the rug.

But of all the things I listed above, recall is the worst of the bunch and, to me, should never come to fruition. Rich is right: a majority of voters re-elected this guy even with four years of mediocre governance and swirling rumors/reports of investigations and possible indictments. He still got 49.8% and now he thinks he can impress anything he wants upon the rest of the state. But that 49.8% still punched his name or tapped the screen and wanted him to serve another 4 years.

It worked in California, but California is a completely different animal than Illinois. In a state where Gary Coleman and Mary Carey ran for governor, anything is possible. Not so for Illinois.

Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 9:51 am
Independent, I agree with half of what you wrote, the part about Vallas not having a better downstate organization. In fact, the biggest impediment to his winning was the campaign team he assembled (with the exception of Brendan Reilly).

That said, I totally disagree with your assessment that Vallas will be a challenge to Daley. That’s so far away and Vallas is fading into distant memory. Look at it this way, in 2011, a kindergardner in the CPS when Vallas was at the helm there would be able to vote for him in 2011. As they say, out of sight, out of mind, and he would have to be out of his mind to run for mayor.

Comment by Joe in the Know Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 9:57 am
Vallas is the new superintendent of New Orleans Public Schools. I think that’s a much more important job right now than Illinois governor.

Comment by Kuz Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 10:20 am
Wasn’t Vallas from the southside’s 19th ward? He wouldn’t run against Daley. And Daley wouldn’t want him to be his successor.

Comment by Cubdom Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 10:24 am
1. Is a recall even legal here in Illinois?

2. I echo the statements of Fan of the Game regarding a recall — we get to recall every four years. The voters messed up big time.

Comment by Just Observing Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 10:25 am
Carol Marin has been launching that same boat way too often. She needs to talk to some new people. So do we - why do both party’s keep looking back instead of forward. If you lost, you LOST. No more Roland, Oberweis, Vallas, Raushenberger, none of them. Not to support the organization but Move On.

Comment by babs Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 10:29 am
Rich, we will never agree on this subject. I do believe Illinois needs a recall provision in our constitution. People can argue all day long that “we” re-elected this clown of a governor; however, I disagree that it was on the up and up. Blago has had big bucks, quite a bit of it from out-of-state, to spend on both elections. He has a very slick and devious demeanor about him and hires those who heel/toe it to his wishes, both for his office and for his campaign. He totally blew JBT out of the water with his distortions on her record, her term as “Ryan’s Treasurer”, the crappy “What Was She Thinking” slogan that will forever be embedded in our minds, ad nauseum. I don’t agree he won the election fair and square for he does nothing fair. The pathetic thing about Blago is that he jumped out of the starting blocks so early with his second re-election campaign that a lot of dems bought into his drivel. So after a conniving politician such as Blago shows his true colors not long into a term, why shouldn’t we voters have a right to show this bum the door and prevent him from doing further damage to our state? Why can’t we let him know that if politicians don’t have ethics, the people who elected them do? Blago pulled this stunt the second year of his first term and the voters forgot about it because of his slick and very early campaigning and spending of “book end” TV ads. Now he’s thinking we are all stupid enough to forget his pranks pulled in the first year of his second term. Hey, he’s got 3 years now to straighten up and fly right and we’ll be stupid enough to fall for his slick campaigning yet again. He’ll dangle some public works program, some school aid program, come up with yet another health program the third year of his term, or perhaps he will jump on the anti-utility bandwagon (only if he has enough campaign money), be our “John Wayne To The Rescue” to try to save us all from our high utility bills that he should have already done, and all will be forgotten. I can already see it coming. But there’s a certain population that will never think for themselves and will believe what they see in campaign ads. That’s what he’s banking on. We will never be able to recall Blago and he knows that. That’s why he came out in favor of a recall provision. He’s not stupid but he is devious, conniving, underhanded, unfair, he doesn’t adhere to the usual course alright, it’s not business as usual for sure. But I don’t believe the Illinois voters thought for one minute this was what they were going to get when they voted Blago back into office a second time.

Comment by Little Egypt Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 10:37 am
Rich…whether or not you agree with what I wrote that you deleted off or think they’re “loony”, what I said is valid and will happen.

Comment by Crimefighter Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 10:38 am
We need recall with a reasonably high barrier–what are the voters to do when someone they elect does the exact opposite of what they promised during the campaign, or turns out to be stunningly inept, as the current governor? I don’t think the STate of Illinois can afford to wait to vote this guy out, unless you’re a fan of receivership and bankruptcy court.

Comment by ChampaignDweller Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 10:41 am
Crimefighter, it’s your tone more than what you said. Tone it down, please.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 10:42 am
Recall would allow the voters to get rid of elected officials who basically lie during the campaign. One example would be campaigning on the issue they will never raise taxes and then right after being sworn in propose the largest tax increase in the history of the state.

I do think the threat of being recalled will force all the elected officials to be more accountable to the voters than they currently have been. It may even bring back confidence in politicians.

Comment by He makes Ryan Look like a Saint Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 10:46 am
In re recall:
Yes, we get to “recall” every four years, but look at the choices we had last time. Was anybody really happy with Blago or JBT? As long as the TWO PARTY system monopolizes our choices (by refusing to create REAL equal ballot access for other groups), our four year recall could easily keep putting the same old partisan hacks in office. Let the Greens and Independents fully participate in the process.

Comment by Guy Fawkes Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 10:48 am
Second issue - refurbishing Air Blago. He’s gone to Arkansas to have his plane refurbished because if it were done in Springfield, people would see the waste being spent on a perfectly good plane. Workers would even perhaps sneak a picture to the dreaded press. Blago can only dream of having Air Force One at his disposal; however, a refurbished State of Illinois plane is the best it’s going to get. I’m hoping the plane comes back with “Illinois One” accompanied by a picture of “Mini Me” on the side.

Comment by Little Egypt Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 10:48 am
Vallas was the worst schools superintendent(CEO?) the Chicago public schools ever had. While manufacturing increased test scores by annually changing the test, Vallas began privatizing most non-taeching functions by laying off dedicated long time employees and awarding contracts to supporters of the mayor. The result was that the work was poorly done or not done at all and cost much more than the layed off former employees did. At the same time he quadrupled the number of highly paid(over $100k)administrators who were sent over from City Hall. Despite raising the property tax levy to the highest allowed by law every year he was in office, the district was constantly in fiscal crisis because of this blatant patronage and wasteful spending.
Vallas never taught a class in a public school, was never a principal or administrator of any kind. In fact, he was not qualified academically to teach or run a school, let alone the whole district. He was a bookkeeper sent by the mayor with orders to find jobs for his people and contracts for his friends while running a PR scheme with the cooperation of the two Chicago dailies to make it look like Daley performed some sort of miracle. After being dissed by the Mayor and repudiated by voters, Vallas abandoned his sinking Chicago ship and moved on to Phillie to make a little money, were he likewise decimated their public school system. He left town before he could be fired leaving the district with the largest deficit in its history.
Now he’s off to what’s left of the Big Easy. The only good thing about that is that there is not much left there for him to wreck.
Good riddance, Paul. Illinois and Chicago are a lot better off without you.

Comment by Bill Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 10:49 am
I believe the Governor is getting an unfair rap on the plane issue. My guess is that this time of “terrible economic stress” agencies are still replacing desks and chairs, maybe carpeting, maybe even having rooms painted. The horror of it all!

The plane is an easy thing for people to focus on and take cheap shots, but I’ve watched ( and,on occasion caused), maintenance to be deferred on a lot of things, and it’s a mistake.

If any citizen of the state had seen the office that Governor Walker (and at first, Governor Thompson) worked out of in Chicago, they would have been horrified.

The idea that a Governor of our state was working out of an office with torn and faded drapes, worn and faded and torn carpet, etc. was appalling to me. Of course, that’s an unusual situation, but it’s an example. It’s normally far less expensive to maintain things on a regular schedule (think asphalt parking lots) that to let them go for several years and then do major repairs.

Comment by steve schnorf Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 10:50 am
What obligations do the political parties have to voters when the people they nominate and elect are revealed to be crooks, liars, idiots and losers?

What good is a party’s nomination if it can go to someone like Ryan or Blagojevich? What is the function of these parties? Are they really looking to select the best within each of them to lead Illinois, or are they just looking for someone who can win elections? NO - don’t answer that!

Do you want to restore trust in government? Do you want voters to empower political parties to lead them? Then STOP letting us down by nominating people like our last two governors!

I want a political party with a GUARANTEE. That guarantee would state that if a candidate is unworthy for office, they will not be nominated. If they are nominated, they will lose the nomination if they prove to be unworthy. If they are elected, they will not be renominated.

Until political parties DO what they were supposed to do, and fulfill the obligations they claim to fulfill, then they should not be favored by voters.

Recall? Lazy! If a governor goes down, the party that nominated and elected them should lose their power as well. Maybe if we start demanding this level of trust and professionalism, political parties will take what they do seriously and give us serious candidates.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 10:52 am
I wish I could buy into the analogy with the poor office conditions that Thompson inherited but my thinking has always been a little wacked when it comes to rank and privileges. I maintain that even though file clerks and secretaries are the lowest paid in the business world, they could shut down companies and government in a week if they all walked off the job. So why do they then get the discarded desks, computers, and chairs that have been passed down through several generations of workers? Why does Thompson deserve new drapes and a clerk has to put up a newspaper at a sunny window because no one will opt for a $10 blind from Wal-Mart, or worse yet, they buy it themselves? I don’t buy into the “rank has its privileges”, although that is what society has tried to ram down our throats. I don’t like it that Blago is the highest ranking politician in our state and has accountability to no one for anything, yet a clerk must justify a sick day for a child. Our system is definity a sick system and not one that a health care plan will begin to fix. Blago is not part of the problem - he has become THE problem.

Comment by Little Egypt Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 11:03 am
Bill must be one of the architects of the failed Rod machine because that is exactly the kind of baloney spewed in the ‘02 race. While I do believe Vallas time has come and gone, he came within 2 percentage points while being outspent over two to one and not being able to get downstate as much as he could because of his flying phobia.

I agree that Brendan Reilly was good but I wouldn’t be so quick to diss the rest of the team. Again, they came very close while being buried in spending and having a complete rookie as a candidate. Some pretty savvy guys like the Sheahans and the Joyces were on that team.

Would he have saved the world. No. But he would have governed and that’s a lot more than we get with the incumbent.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 11:32 am
I am a Repub and I love all this screwed up mess the Dems have going.They get a shot after 25 years and blow it completely out of the water.The next Gov. will be a Republican.As far as this Gov.’s super duper fix all medical plan more and more Doctor’s are refusing to accept state patients. What next state run hospitals and doctors?

Comment by DOWNSTATE Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 11:55 am
Bill,
“Manufacturing test scores and laying off dedicated long time employees and awarding contracts to supporters…”. Hmmm, who does that remind of…can’t put my finger on it???

Comment by ChokingCub Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 12:07 pm
Poor Bill. Paul Vallas saw six continuous years of reading improvement in Chicago and five continuous years of reading improvement in Philadelphia. And math scores soared in both districts also.
And pick up a Philadelphia newspaper when you get a chance. The “largest deficit” has turned out to be a 25 million dollar deficit, approximately one percent of the total budget. And eight months ago he proposed a plan to fix it but the recently fired SRC chairman refused to endorese the painless plan.
How unfortunate that the facts get in the way of your editorializing.

Comment by Phil Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 12:09 pm
Poor Phil,
The test score scam has been exposed. When sufficient improvement failed to occur Vallas changed the test and then had his own bureaucrats come up with phony correlations that miraculously showed minimal improvement. It was impossible to tell what was really going on with test scores. The local tests that were constructed under Vallas and his henchman, Phil Hansen, (that’s not you is it?)were so flawed that they were discarded after the Board spent millions of dollars on city hall “experts” to construct them. As for the Phillie deficit, when Paul slinked out of town it was pegged at about $75 million not $25. I guess he must have just changed his mind after signing a new 3 year, big money deal. There really weren’t any problems about to explode. He just wanted a change of scenery.
What a fraud. “…math scores soared…” Just like Paul, you probably think that if you repeat the big lie long enough people and the press will believe it.

Comment by Bill Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 12:24 pm
Anon,
That “baloney” worked didn’t it? It worked because it was the truth. Vallas didn’t even win his own ward. That would seem to indicate that the Sheehans and Joyces were really not “on the team” as you put it. Yeah, the race was close but 2% in a three way race is not that close. Each candidate got about 1/3 of the vote with Rod polling heavy downstate. Oh yeah, Paul was afraid to fly and was broke. Didn’t he know how to drive either?
If it was a two way race with Paul and either Roland or Rod, Vallas would have still gotten only 1/3 of the vote.
Rewrite history all you want, Vallas is a loser and would have been a terrible governor.
At least Rod has poven he is not afraid to be in an airplane!
How long do you think it will be before they catch on to him in NO and he has to quit in the middle of his contract and run out of town again.

Comment by Bill Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 12:36 pm
Great story Bill, totally untruthful, but a great story. Again, those pesky facts get in the way of your fiction. And try to get some verification from the testing companies that veirfy “phony” correlations. There were never any phony correlations during the Vallas years.

Comment by Phil Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 12:38 pm
Phil,
LOL! You are persistent if nothing else. I wish someone would publish some of the absurd test questions that Chicago passed off as “testing academic proficiency.” During the Vallas years the CPS concentrated on making millionaires out of lower level bureaucrats. They did pretty well in that area. It is too bad Paul never directed any of his “talent” in the students’ direction. Most of the Vallas millionaires are retired now with pensions much larger than any teacher will ever earn in salary. Sound familiar, Phil?

Comment by Bill Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 12:45 pm
Mr. Schnorf, I understand maintenance of the plane, but it is for travel, not his office. Maintain the mechanical system. Good idea, but calling the replacement of much of the interior maintenance is not correct. You don’t replace your car engine every 3,000 miles.

Comment by Hmmmm? Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 12:50 pm
Bill, say what you will now about Vallas, but Blago has proven nobody could have done worse than Sky King. What Blago did for me was turn me from a dyed in the wool lifetime dem to an independent. I no longer care what the person’s party is, only if they can do the job and WILL do the job right. The system is so messed up, I think that without reforms, the best we can hope for is to generate enough churn and gridlock and counter-balance that only the most important, most worthy legislation EVER gets out of the process alive. And that’s a shame because it means people suffer while the system grinds like a glacier. The entire system needs a major purge, starting with blago as the number one tumor on the body politic.

Comment by Gregor Samsa Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 12:58 pm
VM
re: political parties. Remember Pogo.

Comment by steve schnorf Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 12:59 pm
Steve,

Not to mention the office you worked out of at the SOB!!!

Comment by He makes Ryan Look like a Saint Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 1:06 pm
I think far too many people base their opinions on Paul Vallas off of what they read in the papers. Paul was very gifted at working the media, from what I hear largely by feeding them dirt on other people. Paul was always very good at spending money and increasing the payroll, which surprise, surprise, helped line up supporters for his race for governor. I have met many politicians and wannabes in my life and I found Paul to be one of the most consistently self-centered with little true sense of civic duty.

Comment by Objective Dem Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 1:07 pm
Paul Vallas’ ignoring downstate was unexcusable. How did he think he was going to take out his competitors? By hoping no one would listen to Blago? How would have been governor had he changed his primary strategy. Someone gave him good advice.

Alexi shied away from visiting downstate much last year, but with the tinge of the state’s politics and national shenanigans he didn’t really need to branch out.

Bill, Blago has made many friends, supporters and family of those friends and supporters happy with contracts and jobs. I don’t want to hear that Paul Vallas is the only public official to do so, especially in Illinois.

It really says something when the Sun-Times longs for Vallas.

Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 1:08 pm
Here is the link to the 2002 Chicago primary results for the Governor’s race.
http://www.chicagoelections.com/wdlevel3.asp?elec_code=116
The Hynes family backed Blago in the 19th and got cremated by the true 19th ward. 61% for Vallas and 18% for Blago. The Hynes’ were repaid for their non-support of their own when Obama beat Dan Hynes in the Senate race.

Comment by Mick Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 1:13 pm
HMRLLAS,
It didn’t leak that much.

Comment by steve schnorf Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 1:29 pm
Team, I agree with your comments for the most part but Vallas was a piker compared to Rod when it came to contracts. I also totally agree with Gregor. While I have not shed my Democratic allegiance, I am happy to tell anyone I supported Vallas with vigor. Clearly, Objective has never had a conversation with Paul. I have known him since he was a staffer in Springfield. While he doesn’t mind being in the media, he has a true sense of public service. He could be making millions in consulting instead of toiling in a terrible situation in New Orleans with VERY limited resources.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 1:32 pm
I’ll add my two cents’ worth on the plane side of this debate. First, although we do have a world-class aviation refurbishing/overhauling facility in SPI, they don’t do King Airs or any propeller driven aircraft. They specialize in Dussault Falcon jets on the engine/avionics overhaul side, and several types on the paint/interior side. Quite frankly, with the level of sophistication and workforce out there, the State would have probably paid substantially more to go to Landmark instead of Arkansas, if they (Landmark)did do that kind of work.

I agree with Steve that deferred maintenance costs more in the long run, especially in buildings. (One of my favorite Thompson stories is when he climbed into some ancient Dodge not too long after taking office and told the trooper to turn on the a/c. The cop rolled down the back windows. JRT says “I told you to turn on the air conditioning, not roll down the windows.” Trooper replies, “That is the air conditioning, sir.” Shortly thereafter is when he got those two awful Checker cabs that he rode around in for about two years.)

I’m not sure that this work falls into the category of deferred maintenance, though. May have been a good time to order a set of seat covers and floor mats and let the paint go for another year.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 1:48 pm
“At least Rod has poven he is not afraid to be in an airplane!” Now that’s a real statement. Bill, you’ve given me a huge laugh for the day. Good to have you back.

Comment by Little Egypt Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 2:02 pm
Anon,

I have had many a conversation with Paul and at a level that I saw the real Paul. I have spoken to many people who talk about Paul’s integrity when he worked in Springfield. It is possible he changed. I don’t doubt that he saw the fools running things in Spfld. and became cynical.

I never thought Paul was in it for the money, just the power and ego.

Comment by Objective Dem Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 2:22 pm
Rich, are you saying that because less than a majority of the voters voted for Blago (who is in office because he got a plurality of the votes), we should all be stuck with him for four years no matter what he does, short of committing a felony or treason, deserving of impeachment? I greatly respect your opinions, but that seems very cynical to me - no disrespect intended. Many states have the recall as part of their constitutions. Anarchy has not resulted. I believe that the power lies in the People and should always remain there. Politicians might behave a little more responsibly if they did not want to risk even the distant possibility of a recall.

Comment by All for the Recall Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 3:10 pm
I fear that having a recall option would cause public officials to be more inclined to check their spines at the door out of fear of making necessary, but unpopular, decisions. Thinking of what could have been…ah, if Penny Severns was still with us. She’d be governor.

Comment by Non-profiteer Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 3:15 pm
Statewide elected officials’ terms should be TWO years. They wouldn’t have time to do too much damage and the voters wouldn’t have enough time to become forgetful. The quality of decisions should improve as would the sense of accountability to the citizens.

Comment by A Citizen Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 3:23 pm
There are 2 sides to every story and I don’t think anybody without healthcare or gets paid minimum wage wants a recall. The Governor is trying to make it better for the haves and have-nots, and you never know which of those you may be for every tomorrow you are Blessed to wake up to!

So while everyone is trying to bash the Governor and pump up Paul and Lisa, you may want to think twice. There’s more to this story that meets the eye and I’m sure we’ll all find out what it is in about 3 years.

Comment by reasonable 1 Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 3:24 pm
I am a moderate republican and if Cross doesn’t jump in and Vallas does you’ll see just like you did in the the Vallas/Blago primary moderate republicans jumping in to put Vallas ahead of whatever leader of the democratic party. If Lisa Madigan jumps in - hold the doors Katie because she will just sweep the party into office. She will not be beholding to anyone as her record is exemplary and she’ll have the women’s vote - age group of 18 to 50 at least.

Comment by game plan Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 3:57 pm
Unfortunately, there has been no substantive maintenance on any state-owned facilities (other than the Capitol) since the last year of Ryan’s term. Buildings are slowly deteriorating all across the state, especially those that are occupied 24 hours a day (VA, DOC, DHS).

Although that maintenance money for the plane wouldn’t go very far, it might at least repair/replace a couple leaking roofs and keep the water out of a VA facility. The deferred maintenance in this state is just astronomical, and keep climbing daily. Many mechanical systems are 10 years past their expected lifespan - and there is no hope for funding to do anything other than buy another bandaid.

Comment by Peaches Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 5:49 pm
Bill- apologies if this is a bit “below the belt” but sounds like you were one of the under-performing employees that Paul saw through and got rid of. No one else speaks on this blog with the venom that you do.

The facts speak for themselves…during the Vallas tenure there were an unbelievable set of accomplishments that to this day can not be touched by arguably any other superintendent in the nation. Say what you will about the budget but it was quickly put in order, union contracts were negotiated successfully, over-paid and underperforming existing contracts were re-negotiated, new leading academic programs were created, schools were rehabbed, test scores soared and he made it happen.

Does Vallas have the traditional educational/academia background? Thank God no! His proven experience demonstrates how to run a school system like a business in order to get the results that traditional bureaucratic red-tape academics aren’t equipped to handle. This is why he gets the job done and why Illinois would be lucky to have him back.

When Vallas successfully turns around New Orleans Schools (which rest assured he will) as he did here in Chicago and Philadelphia, he has my vote!

Comment by Bring Vallas Back! Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 7:29 pm
Bill, you need to chill. Bring Vallas Back has hit it on the head - you must be so upset because Paul saw through you. Vallas is extremely bright and dedicated, and his enthusiasm is contagious. He is a hard worker who motivates others to do their best and to do the right thing. If only …

Comment by Paul's My Guy Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 8:01 pm
“No one else speaks on this blog with the venom that you do.” You gotta be kiddin’ me. You must not read very much here.

Comment by Bill Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 8:35 pm
Can you handle the real truth?
From the Phil. Enquirer, April 12, 2007:
Tensions among Vallas and the School Reform Commission and Mayor Street have flared in recent months, after his disclosure in October that the district’s $2.04 billion budget had a $73.3 million deficit and faced large cuts for next year to balance the spending plan. As a result, the commission took some spending authority away from Vallas and put it in the hands of its own fiscal monitors…

…But a majority of students fail to meet proficiency levels in reading and math, students fail or drop out in alarming numbers, an ambitious capital building program has hit snags, and a rise in teacher assaults this year has exasperated educators.

Comment by Bill Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 8:47 pm
Phil Public School Notebook, May,2005:
Even with all the private company entrepreneurship revolving around Philadelphia School District initiatives lately, local observers expressed surprise at signs that District CEO Paul Vallas himself was appearing to be in on the action.

Comment by Bill Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 8:51 pm
From EdWize,May, 2007:

This week’s news brings to light yet another exposé of the failures in Philadelphia — this time an internal district study that Philadelphia school district head Paul Vallas had done his best to deep six, as it had concluded that the district should pull the plug on the contracts with every one of the six private EMOs. The intrepid Philadelphia Public School Notebook published the report on its website, and the Philadelphia Inquirer reported on its details. The AFT’s NCLBlog reports on it here.

Vallas is now triumphantly heading off to New Orleans, as if he was a conquering hero. He seems to have become the Sanjaya Malakar of American education — you watch his performance, and you’re damned if you can figure out what people see in him. Where is Simon Cowell now that we need him?

Comment by Bill Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 9:05 pm
This only scratches the surface of the Vallas myth. You can google the rest yourselves if you are interested.

Comment by Bill Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 9:10 pm
Bill…keep digging all you want and hopefully you will find shreds of what it is you are so desperately looking for to validate your simple little stance. But the facts stand for themselves and Vallas made it happen. No one else did in CPS or Philly…but Vallas.

Let’s keep it simple man: Evaluate the before Vallas and the after Vallas in both of these previously failing school systems and you can not deny the results. In order to accomplish results to the scale that he did you will inevitably rock the boat with people such as yourself but this is what it takes to get results and to not settle for mediocrity. So repeat very slowly…Vallas = Results.

Brace yourself because IF Vallas chooses to come back home and run for office…he will have a cult-like following! And Vallas is too smart and savvy to make the same campaign mistakes again; he and his people will do what it takes to win this time.

Comment by Bring Vallas Back! Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 9:12 pm
Bill, may we assume you don’t like Paul?

Comment by Little Egypt Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 9:51 pm
Bill-took your suggestion.

Googling “Vallas Problems Philadelphia” only returns a fraction of the 223,000 hits that “Blagojevich Federal Investigation” brought back.

Like him or hate him, Vallas is no crook and he would never have given the likes of Tony Rezko the keys to State Government.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 10:37 pm
Excellent point, Arthur. Governor Vallas would have done a lot of good for the state by now instead of tangling it up in investigations and gridlock. He has the intelligence, character, and personality to resolve unresolvable problems.

Comment by Paul's My Guy Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 11:14 pm