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Durbin

* AG’s investigating Anheuser-Busch, Miller Brewing marketing practices

Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. was subpoenaed by attorneys general from several states for information about the sales and marketing of its caffeinated alcoholic drinks Tilt and Bud Extra, the company confirmed Wednesday.

* Smoking exemptions for veterans voted down; more here

Two pieces of legislation aimed at allowing veterans to be able to light up in private clubs such as VFW posts and American Legion halls went up in smoke Wednesday.

The House Environmental Health Committee struck down House bills 4333 and 4104 that would have created exemptions to Illinois’ new law banning indoor smoking.

* Durbin urges law giving FDA power over tobacco industry

* The straight dope on CTA pension and retiree health care reform

* 36 Illinois groups on ‘pet’ list for after-school grants

* Cook County Board chief takes aim at critics; more here

The first-term leader accused three Democrats critical of his administration of playing games with the vital public health-care services as the board met nine days before a deadline to pass this year’s budget.

* Bolingbrook to get new library and Romeoville to get renovated one with $48.6 million approved by voters

* Budget director getting shower installed in City Hall office

“I think allocating public resources to install a shower in a city office would be totally inappropriate, especially given the budget challenges that this City Council has had to struggle with,” said Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd), who was among those who voted against the spending plan. “However, if Mr. Johnson is willing to pay that tab out of his own pocket … I don’t have a problem with that.”

posted by Kevin Fanning
Thursday, Feb 21, 08 @ 9:04 am

Comments

Great Quote from the Stroger story. This is classic:

Commissioner Deborah Sims (D-Chicago), who said: “There’s not that many political hacks in Cook County. … This is not about saving Cook County. This is about taking down Todd Stroger.”

Not that many hacks? Is she new to Cook County?

Comment by Skeeter Thursday, Feb 21, 08 @ 9:10 am
Kevin and Rich,

I would like to know, from your viewpoint as reporters, what you think about the McCain piece in the NYT? Was it too thinly sourced? Would you have got that story by an editor? I just think the non-journalists (including me) among your readers might get some use out of your analysis of the story.

Comment by Bud Man Thursday, Feb 21, 08 @ 9:15 am
“There’s not that many political hacks in Cook County….” Perhaps she meant to say “There’s not that many THAT ARE NOT political hacks in Cook County.”

Oh, and 1.5 mil to Daley’s wife, and the board has to call to ask the beneficiaries to file the application? No wonder we’re 1.7 BIL behind!

TimB

Comment by TimB Thursday, Feb 21, 08 @ 9:19 am
Wow, a quote from Ald. Reilly here, shocking.

Comment by Bill Thursday, Feb 21, 08 @ 9:19 am
Kass went all Michael Moore on the new shower stall in City Hall

hilarious!

video:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/col
umnists/chi-kass_21feb21,1,4641721.column

Comment by BannedForLife Thursday, Feb 21, 08 @ 9:23 am
Yeah that video was hilarious!

Comment by Levois Thursday, Feb 21, 08 @ 9:23 am
Bud Man, that would be national.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Feb 21, 08 @ 9:59 am
Sims and Stroger need to get rid of the hacks in Crook Co. goverment then they will find that they dont need to raise taxes. NO NEW TAXES.

Comment by fed up Thursday, Feb 21, 08 @ 10:04 am
Skeeter, seems like she’s probably protecting her own hacks. After all, being a Stroger doormat for so many years, she must’ve gotten quite a few jobs.

Comment by Snidely Whiplash Thursday, Feb 21, 08 @ 10:04 am
Alright Rich. I just wanted a quick dose of your supreme wisdom.

That video was hillarious. What a joke the county and the city are. Tax them to death and install a personal elevator because the President talks too much and install a shower at the city because the budget director stinks. Priceless.

Does Da’Mayor have a shower in his office? Will he have shower envy? Way to go Dick!

Comment by Bud Man Thursday, Feb 21, 08 @ 10:13 am
The shower story is another of the myriad ways that the taxpayers are defrauded every day.

Now that the cat is out of the bag, the Budget Director will pay for it himself? Do the POs support that story? How many other amenities have been installed on City property at the expense of the Office holders?

It is a cesspool in Illinois local and state government. No new taxes. Starve the beast until it is dead.

Comment by plutocrat03 Thursday, Feb 21, 08 @ 10:27 am
Hey, I’m the real Bill. Get another nickname.

Comment by Bill Thursday, Feb 21, 08 @ 10:55 am
Good to see that even though Lisa has taken a ton of $ from Anheuser, it hasn’t stopped her from signing the letter.

Comment by Bill S. Preston, Esq. Thursday, Feb 21, 08 @ 11:27 am
So the Illinois and Arizona AG’s are questioning Budweiser distributors, which include Yusef Jackson in Illinois and Cindy McCain in Arizona. Since Y. Jackson has endorsed HRC, perhaps this is Lisa Madigan’s shout out to Obama. I know the Wirtzes etc. have a long intertwined history of command and control in IL politics, but I’ve always been puzzled by the lack of public blowback for this. Gaming and smoking “sin taxes” and corruption get more attention than booze.

Comment by Anon Thursday, Feb 21, 08 @ 11:51 am
Bill, I was worried about you, man. Hadn’t heard from you in a few. Great budget, eh?

Hey Anon., while you’re up there on the grassy knoll with a 40 of Old Style, don’t forget that the #2 guy at the State Police also has a spouse that works for that nefarious brewing Combine in St. Louis. What’s next? They shot the Clydesdales full of HGH?

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Feb 21, 08 @ 12:16 pm
I have a feeling that the “real” Bill is not all that enthusiastic about the entire budget.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Feb 21, 08 @ 12:20 pm
AA, It would be EQH — Equine Growth Hormone. And the AZ AG is a long-time dem with eyes on McCain’s seat or the Governorship, who has made that particular McCain family business a frequent political target.

Maybe the McCains will help Obie to start a line of Rum-n-Coke ice cream.

Comment by Anon Thursday, Feb 21, 08 @ 1:54 pm
Anon, if they do, I’ll sign up for 2 gallons home-delivered every Friday. Real Bill, you in?

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Feb 21, 08 @ 2:57 pm
AA,
Yes, I’m here and Mr. Miller is correct. I am not enamored with the entire budget. How can you give a budget address without using numbers? There are a few things I can live with and possibly even support assuming that some detail will eventually follow. I wish that they would have bonded the whole pension debt a few years ago when conditions were a little more conducive, like I suggested. They would be making quite a profit. But Nooooooooooo!
Anyway, I think that the governor is in for a busy few months and just might let the legislature try their hand at legislating for a change.
Sign me up for a couple gallons of that Obie rum soaked ice cream. It will be a fun show to watch, as usual.

Comment by Bill Thursday, Feb 21, 08 @ 3:24 pm
And by the way, I vote for more Brendan quotes. He is one of the few politicians who is making some sense lately.

Comment by Bill Thursday, Feb 21, 08 @ 3:26 pm
If I offered to have a shower installed at my own expense at my place of business my employer would tell me to get lost. What if the thing leaks or overflows? Who pays for the damages? If someone slips and gets hurt who pays? I don’t think “Bennett Johnson” would be the answer.

Comment by Independent Thursday, Feb 21, 08 @ 4:42 pm
Bill, the budget address also omitted the words “pension” or “bond.”

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Feb 21, 08 @ 5:52 pm