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* This was too good to pass up. From an NFIB press release…

Comptroller Dan Hynes will address a gathering of small business owners from the Springfield area tomorrow, February 28. The Springfield meeting is being hosted by Illinois’ leading small business association, the National Federation of Independent Business.

Hynes will discuss his recent report to the Legislature, which delivered a sobering reality check on the state’s fiscal health. Employers will also receive an update from NFIB State Director Kim Maisch on what to expect in the 2008 spring legislative session.

The location? Evans Disaster Restoration

Fitting.

* The Illinois Business Roundtable wants voters to reject a Constitutional Convention when it comes up for a vote this November. I have yet to find any state that was worse off after a ConCon, so I think this is an overreaction. [Hat tip: DJW]

* My former intern, Paul Richardson, is planning a Statehouse visit today. We’ll probably be gathering someplace tonight. Not sure where, yet.

* I was formally accepted as a member of the Union League Club today. I can’t believe I didn’t get blackballed.

*4:50 P.M. - Paul has just arrived, and we will be at the steakhouse formerly know as Remy’s at 7 p.m. tonight. All are welcome.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 11:03 am

Comments

the union league club isn’t what it used to be.

Comment by been there Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 11:21 am
Not after today, it isn’t. lol Standards appear to be slipping a bit.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 11:22 am
You may be on double-secret probation.

Comment by Highland Online Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 11:24 am
Yeah. This may not end well. And since the Sangamo has a reciprocal agreement, they have to let me in now. lol

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 11:25 am
The Union League Club looks sweet, Rich. Very, very sweet. Congratulations on having the connections, personality, and funds to join. It says something very positive about your accomplishments.

Comment by Fan of the Game Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 11:28 am
Rejecting a Constitutional Convention is more of a mistrust of this legislature & governor. You don’t think these guy could make it worse just because no other state has done that yet? Think IL is working on quite a few 1sts as we speak…. Wonder what the going rate for each seat will be? And we’ll all wind up with “free” mandatory health insurance and a new income tax structure.

Comment by North of I-80 Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 11:35 am
The downhill slide started afew years …who not give us your membership # so we can really celebrate this induction?

And will ULC be the site of the long awaited Golded Hoeseshoes? Better hurry some winners might not be making many public events after 3-5-08 if you get my drift

Comment by Reddbyrd Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 11:36 am
The Union League Club is cool — a former boss was a member and I spent quite a bit of time with him there. It’s just how you picture a private club should be. Too bad you can’t enjoy a cigar there anymore.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 11:44 am
Con-Con worries no group more than it does retired State employees (about what could happen to already under-funded pensions), who probably don’t have the needed votes to prevent it.

Congrats on the ULC membership. Remember what W. C. Fields said about not wanting to belong to a club that would have him as a member…

Comment by BehindTheScenes Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 12:21 pm
never found a state worse after a con con

Well, there have not been that many recently. NY rejected their 1967 con con results, PA had a fair amount of technical stuff in theirs. HAwaii did soemthing useful in ‘78 with term limits, though

in the club

Sure no one isn’t looking for easier treatment or maybe hoping for a good video to be used at the proper time?

Comment by Pat collins Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 12:28 pm
BehindtheScenes,

I believe it was Groucho Marx who said he’d never join a club that would have him as a member.

Comment by Fan of the Game Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 12:38 pm
Rich, as a fellow member, welcome to the Union League Club of Chicago!

Can we have another party for Tim Neukirk and his posse?

Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 12:48 pm
Congrats, Rich, but beware of the wiles of the devil…..Sincerely, Fidel.

Comment by Watch Out for what you.... Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 12:50 pm
North of I-80,

You raise a strange notion that I think needs to be questioned - and that is this idea that “these guys” (current leadership) some how will be able to control every aspect of a convention and who ends up there.

Certainly there is such a risk, but it is much smaller than most people think.

The delegate races offer the opportunity for a dramatic change in dynamic, as people from all walks of life can enter the races, point to the Democrat or Republican Hack in the race and ask “you want to elect one of the Bozos who ruined this state.”

Voting NO is a GUARANTEE that the existing power structure controls everything. Voting “Yes” at least offers the opportunity for improvements.

Rich,

I can tell you of at least one state that is worse off than before that is Illinois. The 1970 Constitution was a pile of crap waiting to happen.

Certainly, it took some years to manifest itself, but when a culture steeped in 1970 thinking turns the state into a playground for Cook County’s legal class, it isn’t going to turn out very well.

Everyone should vote “Yes.” If they come up with something worse than what we have - and I’d argue that this is hardly possible - we have a 50% ratification vote to stop it.

A convention has a VERY small chance to make things worse. A “no” vote is a guarantee that things get worse. There is no other scenario for improvement in Illinois. Other than a convention, there is no combination of persons, parties, or events that allow the state to turn around.

Comment by Bruno Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 12:58 pm
RICH!

You’re now status quo!

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 1:08 pm
Rich, congratulations on your membership in the Union League Club. I’ve only been a guest, and as such, spent one night passed out on the cold ceramic bathroom floor. The last thing I remember was how clean it looked under the clawfoot bathtub. It is a fine institution. They will love you.

Comment by Shadoobie Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 1:47 pm
YOU SHOULD HAVE JOINED THE SANGAMO IN SPRINGFIELD AS A NON RESIDENT (MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE) AND YOU WOULD HAVE RECIPROCAL WITH MANY, MANY CLUBS, INCLUDING THE UNION LEAGUE.

Comment by ANON Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 1:50 pm
Ah, but it is much more prestigious using a ULC membership to use the Sangamo than vice versa. Rich, welcome to the club! See you at Easter brunch!

Comment by GA Watcher Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 2:05 pm
Let’s keep the lawyers out of the next con-con. How much worse can it be?

Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 2:31 pm
Did you know that for most of its history, the Union League Club had no women members but had only a large statue of a woman, representing the Union?

Comment by been there Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 2:51 pm
Rich, why would you want to join any club that would have you as a member?

Are you sure there D-Day wasn’t in back saying, “We need the dues…”

Comment by Greg Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 3:06 pm
Golden Horseshoe awards dinner at Sangamo! Oh wait, they don’t serve a good one …

Comment by Prairie Sage Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 3:20 pm
Hey where’s the membership # ?
When’s the bash
Stop Ignoring the vital QOTD

P.S. Rich would have had to pay full boat at the ‘mo….. now he gets non rez @ ULC and reciprocal at ‘mo. Cool thinking. Did you beat the ULC on initiation charge too?

Comment by DumberThanYouThink Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 3:24 pm
This site has been dullsville…Capt Fax and the former 1st Mate must be getting sloshed already.

Comment by Reddbyrd Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 4:27 pm
Another formerly Republican club infilitrated by an anarchist! lol.

Comment by Honest Abe Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 5:00 pm
Is smoking permitted in the Union League Club?

Comment by phocion Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 5:01 pm
Actually it is the Steakhouse formerly known as Bauers…Now Charles & Limeys

Comment by Reddbyrd Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 5:30 pm
Rich? The ULC? I’m withdrawing my application…
:)
Sorry it isn’t snarkier, someone already beat me to the Groucho Marx quote.

Comment by 312 Wednesday, Feb 27, 08 @ 5:51 pm