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* 9:51 am - From the governor’s office…
The leaders meeting originally scheduled for 10:00 has been cancelled. Speaker Madigan and Mayor Daley declined the invitation. We’ll try to reschedule a meeting with the leaders soon.
Madigan had a prior commitment and offered to send a surrogate. Daley apparently had enough of the crud yesterday.
* 10:00 am - I just noticed this tidbit in today’s Sun-Times…
State Comptroller Dan Hynes’ new Web site that allows people to search campaign contributions made by state contractors logged 171,768 hits in its first 21 days. The site — www.openbook.illinoiscomptroller.com — went live Oct. 2.
Wow.
Also…
A Web site set up by Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn to encourage Gov. Blagojevich to sign a bill aimed at curbing pay-to-play drew several hundred hits in the two weeks it was online.
Not so wow.
* 10:04 am - Yet another round of Hastert’s impending resignation stories has appeared…
Former Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) will announce on Thursday that he is retiring from Congress soon, although the exact date of his departure is still unclear, according to House insiders.
Hastert is expected to tell the House Republican Conference of his decision on Thursday afternoon, and then make his final floor speech sometime after that.
More…
Sources told Fox News the former House speaker’s resignation is expected to become effective in December or January, although no date had been set for a formal announcement. Hastert had said in August he planned to leave Congress but at that time didn’t disclose whether it would be before the end of his term.
* 10:54 am - Those Hastert rumors may be true. From an e-mail sent by Hastert’s chief of staff…
Hey everyone. Tomorrow, Thursday, November 15, Speaker Hastert will
deliver his farewell address on the House Floor. Many people have called me to express interest in seeing him do this from the House gallery. We have secured space for people who are interested.So…. If you want to do this, please let me know.
Speaker Pelosi’s office is telling us that it will happen at approximately 2:30pm; however, I suggest you be in the gallery by 2:10, which means you need to pick up your gallery ticket in H-164, The Capitol by 2:00pm at the latest (1:45pm would be preferable). As you know, timing is never perfect around this place.
Thanks everyone, and PLEASE, email the many others in this town I have
probably left off this email that you think would want to do this.Thank you.
Sam Lancaster
Chief of Staff
Former Speaker J. Dennis Hastert
* 12:01 pm - From the Union League Club…
Seven of the eight declared candidates for the office of Cook County State’s Attorney will appear in a Candidate’s Forum at the Union League Club of Chicago , 65 West Jackson Blvd., 5th floor parlor, tomorrow, Friday, November 16 at 10 a.m.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 9:51 am
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Sounds like Madigan wants to wait this out until January when he can pass the sales tax hike with 60 votes.
And like I said in the other post - Daley wants to stay as far away from this as possible.
Comment by GoBearsss Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 9:57 am
But with the economy sputtering, will Madigan have the sixty votes in January?
I know our legislators (the ones who got the huge raises on us taxpayers to cover any tax hikes that they might decide to pass) are always malleable,
but I expect they want to keep their cushy legislator jobs. There is always the possibility of real taxpayer outrage (dim, in sheeplike Illinois, but not inconceivable) to give them pause on a sales tax hike. Especially as it appears that sales tax revenues are slowing a bit.
Comment by Cassandra Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 10:03 am
Madigan still needs 71 votes to override the Governor’s promised veto.
Comment by Bluefish Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 10:05 am
I don’t think there’s any point even having further discussions at this point. Get the sales tax passed in January. Or, if that fails — which it might, if more legislators make a capital bill the price of their vote on the sales tax — let doomsday happen, and let the consequences roll. No usable transit. No federal highway grants. No federal transit grants. Illinois becoming the biggest exporter of federal tax dollars in the country.
By the way, I will be furious if the only way we can get a capital bill is through gambling. Obviously we need to send the governor and senate President to Oxford, Wisconsin, and get George Ryan a day-release work permit, on condition he doesn’t take any more bribes.
Comment by Angry Chicagoan Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 10:08 am
Were those “hits” or “page views” or “visitors”.
Why is it always that politicians are always the ones who don’t know the difference?
This is just a pet-peeve of mine, not a political comment or anything, or a judgment on the comptroller. Maybe it was the media who misinterpreted the stat.
This might be a political comment: If the Lt. Gov only had a few hundred “hits”, that could possibly mean they had only 50 visitors.
Comment by GoBearsss Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 10:08 am
Wouldn’t Hastert be smart enough to say that he’s retiring at the end of his term, instead of retiring before the end of his term.
Comment by Levois Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 10:10 am
Well, if Madigan waits until January, he at least gets to put the ball in Blago and Jones’ court.
We know it won’t survive an override. But then it is Blago to Blame.
So, in the end, waiting until January takes everything else off the table, puts all the eggs in the sales tax basket, and it likely still fails.
No solution. A lot of blame to go around. Doesn’t sound promising.
Comment by GoBearsss Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 10:13 am
Why in the world would Rep. Hastert not just wait until his short, 2-year term expires? Why burden the taxpayers with a special election for the few months which would remain of his term? What is going on here!
Comment by Legal Eagle Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 10:40 am
The interesting thing about the Hastert resignatrion, if it does come in dec/jan, is it may cause more harm then good for the repubs.
I wonder if he is taking a pot shot at somone by doing this instead of waiting out his full term.
I have to say, I generally am opposed to a tax in crease. This idea that instead of making do with your income you go tax for more is a bad idea. That said, the governors gambling plan is a much more harmful idea. And the Gov seems determined to use inflated income figures to spend recklessly. At least with Madigans idea we will generate the dollars in hand that we are spending. I think the gov is spending vapor dollars that will never appear in the amount he is projecting. The gov is setting up the next governor for a more massive financial state meltdown and fiscal problems. I hope Madigan keeps acting to stop this.
Comment by Ghost Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 11:01 am
As you could probably tell from my previous posts, I’m a hard bitten Republican.
That being said, it speaks volumes of the current state of the Republican Party that they are getting no traction from all of the infighting within the Democratic Party. I mean sheezzz, a college intern working in the publicity field should be able to come up with an effective marketing plan for the Republican Party given all the games that Madigan/Jones/Blago are going through. Can we have just ONE Republican leader step up and take advantage of this mess? Could we even have the lady that vacuums the floors at the IL GOP offices say something about it?
“If an incompetent chieftain is removed, seldom do we appoint his highest-ranking subordinate to his place”
- Attila the Hun
I don’t know if the IL GOP has ever considered the wise works of Attila.
Comment by Trafficmatt Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 11:08 am
Rich,
Maybe a future “Question of the Day” could ask if anyone has any ideas on what the Republicans could possibly do given the current infighting within the Democratic ranks. I mean, I’m stumped.
Comment by Trafficmatt Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 11:11 am
Trafficmatt
Why don’t the Republicans side with Madigan. By doing so they would appear to be more concerned with solving the transportation problem which would endear them to the people who depend upon public transportation.
Furthermore they could claim they are interested in solving problems rather than playing politics. By taking this course of action they would be putting Blago and Jones in a box. Such action could lead to gains for them in the legislature races.
Comment by MOON Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 11:32 am
As far as the Quinn vs Hynes website match up. I would be interested in a Lexis-Nexis search on how many headlines and media coverage each got. It seemed like the Hynes site launced first got alot of headlines and Quinn’s site was a jonny come lately in the medias eyes and didn;t get as much coverage. Just a thought. I don;t have access to Lexis Nexis. Rich if you could pull those numbers I would be interestd in an update. Thanks.
Comment by Mark Johnson Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 11:33 am
Cassandra: What ‘huge raise’ for legislators are you talking about? The partial COLA recently enacted after 8 years of nothing? The partial COLA that brought state legislative salaries up to about one-half of what Cook County Commissioners, Chicago Aldermen, and Congressmen make? Most of the legislators I know work harder, are brighter, and more honest than are most of the Commissioners, Aldermen, and Congressmen that I know!
Comment by Legal Eagle Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 11:34 am
Off topic but priceless. Take a look at today’s “Voice of the Reader” on the Southern Illinoisan website:
http://www.southernillinoisan.com/articles/2007/
11/15/opinions/voice_of_the_reader/22065063.txt
Letter from State Superintendent chastising the House for not passing the Education BIMP. Would that be the same BIMP that went to the Governor 10 days ago and is still on his desk?
Comment by Old Elephant Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 11:44 am
LOL. That must’ve been in the in-box for a while, or the Super is not duper.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 12:04 pm
The “Super” is a Blago appointment. I’am sure he was put up to this by his sponsor, Blago.
Comment by MOON Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 12:14 pm
GoBearAss
You hit the nail on the head. Passing the Hamos Bill in January puts Blago and Jones behind the eight ball, which is exactly where they deserve to be.
Jones will blink and pass the Hamos bill. Blago will sign or face the consequences - which is public outrage and political oblivion.
In the meantime,I see no need for the principals to stop negotiating on the capital/casino bill. Cross, Watson, and Jones all want a capital casino bill. Madigan will try to give them a bill packaged with the Hamos plan. And Blago will either sign it or become the local equvalent of Louis XIV.
The only wildcard I see on the horizon is the fate of the Cook County budget/sales tax proposal - presumably the Commissioners are going to shoot down a 2% sales tax increase. However, I could foresee a possiblity of the 1/4% sales tax becoming politically unpalatable if Stroger succeeds somehow in getting s significant sales tax increase enacted.
Comment by Captain America Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 12:44 pm
Who is the candidate for Cook County State’s Attorney who is NOT going to be at the ULC for the debate?
Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 12:47 pm
Apparently Rod’s idea of the “meetings” with Madigan and Daley is to act out the Alec Baldwin sales motivation scene from GlenGarry/GlennRoss.
I got news for you, Rod: Coffee is for closers.
You can’t close.
Comment by Mitch and Murray Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 12:49 pm
You also see why the Republicans want to force Madigan’s hand, because they really wanted a capital bill with projects that shows their not totally inpotent. Linking capital to transit, which now requires R votes, is the price and Emil and the Governor are willing to pay it. Madigan is not. In January, the Republican opportunity vanishes.
Comment by Budget Watcher Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 12:53 pm
States Atty Race. Same building and day. Just need to move to a different room.
NEXT CAPAG LUNCHEON:
Please join us for a special joint meeting of CAPAG and the Union League Club’s Public Affairs Committeers Committee
Cook County State’s Attorney Candidate Forum
The forum will be moderated by Mr. Craig Dellimore, Political Editor for WBBM-AM/Newsradio 780
November 16, 2007
The Union League Club
65 West Jackson Boulevard
Location: Room 710
11:30-networking
12:00-luncheon
$35 for members
$45-Non members/Guests
Click here to register for this event.
Please Note: Space is limited for this special co-sponsored program, so early reservations are highly recommended.
Members/Non Members pay by check or cash at the door the
Comment by anon Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 1:03 pm
Hastert has made it clear that he wants no cost or bother associated with a special election. By resigning in December, the spring primary and November elections already scheduled will elect his sucessor. The district will be unserved for 2008, unless the county administrators wants to have a special general election shortly after the primary.
Yes, this is probably intended to favor a successor who has his fund raising and organization already in place - someone other than Sen. Chris Lauzen, I suspect.
Comment by capitol view Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 2:43 pm
Moon, I can see why Bill gets torqued at you. The new State Supt. is not a Blagophile like his predecessor, Randy “Git’er” Dunn. He’s a career educator and his own man.
As far as the letter, I read the same one about 2 weeks ago in another paper. The Southern must have a full mailbox.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 4:10 pm
Anybody ask Blaggo why he refused to meet with Turner, Colvin, Lang and Molaro…the reps Madigan to stand in for him on Thursday?
Anybody ask the SpinSisters or their boy toys if anything was accomplished?
Comment by GettingJonesed Friday, Nov 16, 07 @ 5:34 am