Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Morning shorts

Posted in:

Illinois

* Even the state doesn’t know exactly what government does

* Vets losing guard jobs at state sites

* McQueary: Brick and mortar the stuff of dreams

* Superbugs at prisons a big fear

* Bethany Jaegar: Juvenile justice reform

* Editorial: On the inadequate IL juvenile justice system

* Tribune Editorial: The unreformed death penalty

Illinois has a moratorium on executions. The U.S. Supreme Court has effectively imposed a national moratorium until it decides whether the most common method of lethal injection used in the states violates the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

No system of capital punishment will be mistake-proof — ample reason to deny government its use. But the abolition of capital punishment will require a long and arduous campaign to move public opinion.

In the interim, in light of all that we know about the fallibility of capital punishment, the burden should be on death-penalty states to prove they can administer it far better than they have in the past. It’s a burden many of them still cannot meet.

* Ryan’s fate apparently sealed

* One last chance for Ryan

* Former IL governor ordered to prison

* Appeals court denies motion to keep Ryan out of prison

* Governor spreads the word on heating bill grants

* Schools ahead of the curve

* Student test performances by county

* Central IL schools hold their own on graduation rates

* High school juniors’ scores disappointing on state assessment tests

* Editorial: Test scores don’t best define success

* The need for student funding

* Districts put price on school aid cuts

* Editorial: People need to be involved in local races

* Luciano: A novel idea for LaHood’s donation

Earlier this fall, LaHood’s political fund donated $2,000 apiece to two of the three Republicans seeking the seat he is abdicating, Jim McConoughey and John Morris. By federal law, that’s the most he can give.

But by mid-October, he’d sent bupkis to Schock. Rumors started. Was LaHood sending a message? Picking favorites? Could it possibly be that someone in this world doesn’t love the young and fair Aaron?

Nope. LaHood said he’d be happy to send $2,000 Schock’s way - just as soon as Schock would formally announce his candidacy. That happened Saturday. LaHood sent his check.

* Jackson, Beavers clan prepare for another fight

In the weeks leading up to Sandi Jackson’s bid to unseat Beavers, her husband sought federal approval to channel funds from his congressional campaign into her ward battle against Beavers.

The congressman has asked the Federal Election Commission to address whether he can use his campaign funds on a local race “just to be safe,” his spokesman, Rick Bryant, said Wednesday.

The congressman’s Citizens for Jackson fund had $827,869 on hand as of Sept. 30.

* Daley takes the sweet out of his already sour budget

The mayor tightened the bureaucratic belt one more notch as aldermen introduced a flurry of property tax alternatives at Wednesday’s City Council meeting.

They include: raising the fine for red-light camera violations from $90-to-$100; increasing from 15 cents to 25 cents a development fee on every square foot of buildable floor area; raising the city tax on consumers who purchase their natural gas from third-party providers and increasing — from 50 to 75 percent — a liquor tax hike that neighorhood bar owners are already screaming about.

Yet another proposal would cut in half — from a dime to a nickel — a proposed tax on each container of bottled water.

* Daley floating revenue ideas

* Daley agrees to ease condo inspections

* Museum bosses face scrutiny for not spending wisely

posted by Paul Richardson
Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 8:57 am

Comments

This Governor and his people have shown a utter disregard for veterans in hiring at all state agencies.

Comment by DOWNSTATE Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 9:14 am
But he hired Tammy Duckworth. I would like to see the test scores for Cook separated into No, So, Suburban, etc.

Comment by Wumpus Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 9:48 am
He hired Tammy because she was a team player rank and file veterans have no chance. Several times veterans have been passed over for hacks.

Comment by DOWNSTATE Thursday, Nov 1, 07 @ 10:00 am
Tammy Duckwort is working the Blagojevich magic

Comment by Guaranteed Friday, Nov 2, 07 @ 7:17 am