Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Morning shorts

Posted in:

Illinois

* Illinois bends to feds on weeding out illegal workers

Homeland Security and the state have reached an agreement that will permit employers in Illinois to use the Internet-linked federal database to check to see if their workers are legally in the U.S. and allowed by law to work

* Some school districts face smaller state aid payments…

A handful of Illinois school districts soon will start receiving less money from their twice-a-month state funding payments, an Illinois State Board of Education spokesman said Thursday.

* Attorneys target clinic’s zoning - Aurora panel OKs releasing some files

* Todd Stroger still pushing Cook County sales-tax increase - Board to see plans for 10% budget cut

* Cook officials say court system near ‘meltdown’ - Report says more funding, reforms are needed bad

* Anticipated revenue slump prompts Indiana to cut costs - Daniels orders agencies to trim spending by 5 percent; state may take in $231M less than projected

* Juror scrutiny in Ryan trial fueled fears, Collins says…

The lead prosecutor of former Gov. George Ryan said Thursday that he believes the juror controversy during that trial had scarred the judicial system by spreading a sense of fear among future prospective jurors.

Speaking before the Chicago Crime Commission, Patrick Collins said the jurors’ heavy scrutiny during and after the Ryan trial had a far-reaching impact

* Ethanol plant files for bankruptcy

* Reenergizing an Ethanol Plant

* Illinois Department of Agriculture seizes $6 million worth of grain

* Cook County unveils unit to review cop shootings

* Illinois gov a fan of Hannah Montana

* A growing problem - Out-of-control transfers undermine the spirit of fairness, competition

* City creates ‘early warning’ system for foreclosure info - ‘Could be bigger than S&L scandal’: Daley

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Dec 14, 07 @ 9:29 am

Comments

So the gov has seen every episode of Hannah Montana, attended a Black Hawks (whatever sport they play) game during a transit vote, attended the Hannah MT concert, he is not that bright is he?

Comment by Wumpus Friday, Dec 14, 07 @ 9:33 am
From the Tribune
“It is hard to grasp the rationale for the state to go into the business of being the landlord for Wrigley Field,” said Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago). “The Cubs have been cursed long enough. I don’t know that this affiliation would help that matter.”

Comment by Quote of the Week Friday, Dec 14, 07 @ 9:34 am
“Meltdown”

“Doomsday”

“It’s our turn, dammit!”

etc, etc, etc.

Yessirree, those Chicago area public servants sure do know how to take care of their constituents (you know who you are).

Too bad they don’t know how to take care of their taxpayers (you know, the rest of us).

Comment by Fleeced Friday, Dec 14, 07 @ 9:44 am
Maybe we can get Hannah to help teach the Gov. how to play nicely with others.

Comment by Anon Friday, Dec 14, 07 @ 9:48 am
Maybe if Simon left, they’d put somebody in at Stroger Hospital who would actually collect from the patients who have public or private insurance. Keeping the insurance companies financially healthy by not charging them is not an approach to health care reform that most citizens would support. Wonder how much Cook County taxpayers have saved insurance companies over the decades by bailing out Stroger Hospital. Could we get a charity deduction?

If at least half of the Cook County criminal courts caseload is nonviolent drug offenders and the mentally ill on the way to jail, why do we have to pay to feed, clothe, medicate, and house them for decades. Wouldn’t it make more sense to keep them on the outside and let them pay for their own upkeep, at least partially.

But wait. What about the lush lifestyles of all the connected contractors who hold those lavish prison contracts. Corrections is a multibillion business. Taxpayers are supposed to provide the cash and shut up. And it looks like, in the end, in Cook County, they’re going to do it again.

Comment by Cassandra Friday, Dec 14, 07 @ 9:54 am
Well, it’s nice to see that those employers who actually wish to act responsibly in hiring can now do so. For this state to forbid this to me was simply ethinc voter pandering by the D majority.

But, we all know that unethical employers are a huge contributor to our illegal immigration problem. So, if they choose (gee, which choice will they make?) not to participate in accessing the database, they will still be allowed to hire illegal workers and say, ‘DUH, how should we have known?” when caught.

This is the year 2007. How many businesses don’t have internet access today??? A check of that database should be mandatory upon ALL employers when considering ALL potential candidates for employment.

And yes, that would include our hypocritical officials who publicly rail against illegal immigration, yet conventiently hire illegal nannies on the cheap. Come to think of it, it should ESPECIALLY include them!

Comment by Snidely Whiplash Friday, Dec 14, 07 @ 11:17 am