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* Revenue hungry states target planes
When Steve Kahn got a $26,000 tax bill on his airplane, he thought Maine Revenue Services had made a mistake. Kahn lives, works and keeps his plane in Massachusetts.
It turns out the bill was no error. It was part of the agency’s efforts to collect taxes on aircraft owned by out-of-staters, even though they bought their planes elsewhere and brought them to Maine only to visit.
* Stateline: 2007 marked by activism
States are in rebellion over Washington’s actions — and inaction — on some of the nation’s most pressing problems.
Disgusted with federal gridlock, states are carving out their own global-warming and immigration laws and are warning they simply may ignore Uncle Sam’s costly plan for tough national standards for driver’s licenses.
* Utilities, state make plans for interim power purchase period
* Allen first up on TV in Cook Co. state’s attorney contest
The ad is running on broadcast TV stations, said Jack Quigley, Allen’s media consultant. The campaign bought daytime slots, which cost less, and some newscast slots, where the thinking is news viewers might be more likely to vote.
Quigley said they expect their media buy will exceed $500,000 of what will be a $1 million primary campaign. If that’s spread out over the five weeks left until the Feb. 5 primary, the ads could have a small audience. Blanket coverage on Chicago TV stations can run anywhere from $500,000 to $1 million a week.
*** UPDATE *** Here’s the ad…
* Man who stole suburban mayor’s identity still on the lam
* Waukegan’s throwback mayor looks forward
* SIUC awaits DCEO release of energy plant proposal
* Legislature’s new laws for 2008
The 2007 legislative session won’t be remembered for what lawmakers accomplished for Illinois. A year of overtime infighting and bickering has assured it will be infamous for all that didn’t get done.
Still, legislators can point to some achievements. From a statewide smoking ban and electric rate relief to a bevy of new license plates and protection for horses, more than 700 measures –both significant and obscure–became law.
Here’s a look at what happened under the Statehouse dome that might affect day-to-day life in Illinois.
* Illinoize: New year, new rules, new server–A couple of thoughts on the coming of the new year from ICPR
* Animal Farm: Illinois gridlock quotes of the year
* Resoluations: Some New Years prognostication
* Year in review, faces of 2007; more here
* Washington Post’s “The Fix”: The best state political reporters…
* Illinois: Capitol Fax Blog author Rich Miller
posted by Paul Richardson
Wednesday, Jan 2, 08 @ 10:08 am
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恭喜 你好 !!
may ignore Uncle Sam’s costly plan for tough national standards for driver
But of course it doesn’t HAVE to be costly. But amazing how this biz of ignoring laws you dont like seems to be spreading….
Comment by Pat collins Wednesday, Jan 2, 08 @ 10:40 am
I saw Allen’s commercial last week, and both he and the spot are not ready for prime time. In the ad he is effectively touting an aldermanic zoning action with prosecutorial law enforcement. I could be wrong, but even don’t think the voters are that stupid.
If the Democratic voters of Cook County nominate the Governor’s guy in ths situation; a person who’s only crimnal court room experience was defending the criminals through the Public Defender’s office, then they will end up getting just what they deserve.
Comment by Wannabe Wednesday, Jan 2, 08 @ 12:16 pm
I caught Allen’s ad last week, too. I thought he did a nice job drawing a parallel between aldermanic duties and the job of a prosecutor. It’s probably a little risky reminding voters you’re a Chicago alderman, though. But what’s the alternative — highlighting his career as a public defender? Smart to get on TV before anyone else. He’s the organization candidate and has the most labor backing. But so did the last North Side alderman who sought countywide office, Pat Lavar. Things didn’t turnout so well for him — he got crushed by Dorothy Brown.
Maybe things will change now that the holidays are over, but I am dumbfounded by the lack of attention the State’s Attorney’s race has received. I always thought this was considered one of the best gigs in politics, but it’s being contested in virtual secret by a field of unknown candidates. The primary is only a month away! Let’s take a look at the rest of the field:
Wise of Bob Milan to take advantage of his position as the current #2 guy in the S.A.’s office and stand up at every bond hearing the press covers. He’s runs the risk of being labeled a media whore — but with no natural base and no money, that’s a risk worth taking. Reporters covering the race have doubts about his temperament.
Larry Suffredin has the thickest political rolodex in the race, which means he’ll probably raise the most cash. But his lobbying career may ultimately create a drag on his campaign. If any of his opponents can get on air bashing him over his tobacco or casino lobbying efforts, he’ll have a tough time recovering.
Howard Brookins is the favorite based solely on racial mathematics. He is an unimpressive campaigner and is unliked by his fellow African-American alderman. Even Jesse Jr. seemed to take a swipe at him in an op/ed piece a few weeks ago. Bashing the police while running for an elected prosecutorial post defies all conventional wisdom, but in this post-Burge era, it’s the right strategy for him. Should benefit from Obama delivering an energized black turnout, but perennial candidate Tommy Brewer could siphon 2 or 3 percentage points from Brookins’ total. Might that cost him the nomination?
If this primary was a horse race and you like backing long shots, Anita Alvarez is the most intriguing bet. Along with Milan, she’s the only candidate actually qualified for the job — not that that has ever mattered. But she also gets a boost from being the race’s only Hispanic and only woman (the latter providing the greatest benefit.) She too, could benefit from the presidential race, assuming female candidates get help from Hillary. But while conventional wisdom holds Obama will help Brookins by driving up numbers in black city wards, isn’t Obama just as likely (and maybe more likely,) to turnout independent whites voters in the burbs and on the lakefront?
Look at the polling data in the early primary states. Obama does best with independent, well educated, affluent liberals. Hillary out-polls Obama among African Americans, and Edwards does well with union households.
In a State’s Attorney’s race filled with committeemen, aldermen, and lobbyists, Alvarez has a chance to position herself as a non-political career prosecutor, and the campaign’s only true independent candidate. That should be appealing to the Obama-inspired liberal independents who will populate the Feb. 5 primary. With little money and no organizational support, Alvarez will need to find a way to introduce herself to the voters. Free media is her only hope. If she gets some, watch out for her during the stretch run.
Comment by Roger Wednesday, Jan 2, 08 @ 2:02 pm
Congrats Rich for the nod as Best Political Reporter of IL! Well deserved.
Comment by Just a Citizen Wednesday, Jan 2, 08 @ 4:02 pm
We knew it all the time anyway, Rich. Congrats on doing a terrific job.
Comment by Disgusted Wednesday, Jan 2, 08 @ 9:31 pm
Roger (Ailes perhaps, LOL)
You make some interestng points, but also make some questionable assertions that call for some supporting details. My inclination is to pull the lever for either Alvarez or Milan, because the rest of the filed are just political hacks with no prosecutorial experience.
The concept of the States Attorney being a “political gig” is frightening in and of itself, and until just recently conjured up notions of Mike Nifong and the Duke Lacrosse fiasco. Now however we have to look no further than the election eve theatrics in Will County that cost them $15 million in the Kevin Fox prosecution. Ths points out the high stakes of placing the wrong person in this position.
So in an effort to help me make an informed choice; what is it about Alvarez that suggests that she is the “only true independent candidate”.
Also, can you point me to any published report where a reporter has questioned Milan’s temperaement, and the facts surrounding their compunction to raise these concerns. I have not read anything about either of these candidates that would support what you have suggested.
Comment by Wannabe Wednesday, Jan 2, 08 @ 10:58 pm