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* This is why it’s been so tough to defeat Republican Congresscritter Mark Kirk, even though his district trends more Democratic with each passing year…
Kirk says, without the [assault weapons ban], even police officers in full body armor are in danger.
“They can feel somewhat protected from a normal pistol, but against weapons like these body armor offers no significant protection for a police officer,” said Rep. Mark Kirk, (R) Illinois.
He may vote with his party a lot more than he lets on, but Kirk comes off locally as a moderate or even liberal Republican. That breed is just about gone in this country. The Reagan/Gingrich Repubs took care of many of them, and last year the Democrats swept out most of the rest, particularly in the Northeast.
Illinois is just about the last bastion of moderate/liberal Republicans, and many of them (Mulligan, Coulson, Kirk, etc.) are being heavily targeted for defeat this year.
* Meanwhile, the Tony Rezko slam against Democratic congressional candidate Debbie Halvorson was countered by a local business leader this week…
A top official with the Will County Center for Economic Development is not happy with attempts to link a third airport governance bill to convicted fundraiser Tony Rezko.
Jim Roolf, who chairs the CED’s Business Labor Coalition said “it’s flat out wrong” to connect the bill, sponsored by Democratic congressional challenger Debbie Halvorson, to Rezko.
That link was first made by fellow U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Chicago, but propagated this week by the campaign of Republican challenger Marty Ozinga III.
“I’m going to call Mr. Ozinga myself,” Roolf said, “I think it’s unfair that they’re saying what they have. The legislation was developed by the Business Labor Coalition, and we approached Sen. Halvorson to sponsor it.
So far, Ozinga’s campaign hasn’t budged.
*** UPDATE *** Democratic state Rep. David Miller, a close ally of Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr., has just sent out a blistering press release on this subject that goes off on Halvorson…
Halvorson apparently thinks she can fool voters by saying “I won’t let Chicago politicians tell us what to do.” Yet, she regularly meets with Mayor Daley on airport financing; asks Congressman Rahm Emanuel for strategic advice; seeks Gov. Blagojevich’s legislative support; and served as Emil Jones’ majority leader.
In short, Halvorson relies on the Chicago machine for just about everything, yet attempts to bad mouth the same people as “bigwigs from Chicago.”
Halvorson says it’s about “local control.” But ALNAC is locally controlled. ALNAC is chaired by the Mayor of University Park, a Will County home-rule community that borders the airport footprint.
Someone should tell Halvorson that there’s a difference between local control and Rezko control.
This is becoming an all-out intra-party war. I wonder when the DCCC is finally going to take notice?
* Related…
* Weller keeps wife’s finances unknown
* Biggert eyes rail traffic issues
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 10:34 am
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As the purge of the House Main Street Republicans nears completion, the Dems under Emanuel have wisely welcomed back the Blue Dog Democrats.
Better to have someone in your caucus with you 70% of the time than someone in opposition to you all the time. Politics is easy when you can do the math.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 10:47 am
Watching Halvorson and Jackson square off against each other over the next few years should be entertaining.
Ozinga is little more than a sacraficial lamb in the 11th. Baldermann knew it and that why he dropped out. The writing was on the wall in this race as soon as Obama took the lead in the presidential primaries.
Comment by Mountain Man Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 10:50 am
I think Ozinga will be able to put up a good fight if he can get his message out. Halvorson has been pert of the problem in Illinois and if Marty and his team can let voters know who she is and what she has done I think he can win. Remember this is still a Republican district and the reason that Weller’s votes were dropping was because he wasn’t popular, not the party.
Comment by fred Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 10:56 am
this Halverson article was posted already yesterday in the morning shorts - she gets a lot of attention on this site.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 10:58 am
Anon, the race gets attention because it’s hot. And I know the article was buried in MS yesterday, but thought it needed a fuller airing today.
Both sides have been looked at on this issue quite a few times, petulant whining nothwithstanding.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 11:00 am
What amazes me is that whether you’re talking about Halvorson, Jackson, Ozinga, Republicans or Democrats, they all seem to support this third-airport boondoggle. As far as I know, Jason Wallace is the only candidate in this race with a significantly different position on this important issue–an issue very important to the frustrated people of Will County (most of the district) that are already fed up with all of the congestion.
Comment by Squideshi Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 11:08 am
You should really check out that Trib article focusing on Weller’s wife. It gives some interesting tidbits on the other IL delegations spouses.
Also, I predict the 11th CD race won’t be as tight as people think. Halvorson has too much of a head start and come October, the RNCC will be moving those resources elsewhere.
Comment by K to the 3 Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 11:17 am
As train111, I will put in my $.02 on the rail traffic issues that Ms. Biggert addresses.
First off– Most congresscritters would have absolutely no idea what railroad runs what trains through their district unless vocal citizens complain as in the case of the proposed CN buyout of the EJ&E. It is plain old political pandering by Biggert, Foster, Bean, Durbin, Obama etal–all of whom probably know next to zero about railroads.
Now that being said, there are very clear reasons for CN to be buying the EJ&E. There is definitely a need for a quicker route for rail traffic through or around Chicago. Yes, there is the CREATE program that is supposed to address the railroad traffic tie ups in Chicago, but it depends on Federal and State money to be complete and we all know how soon any of that money is coming. That being said, the CN is not exactly forthcoming with the cash to remediate the traffic snarls that they will create by taking over the EJ&E. The headaches that will be caused are considerable. I live in West Chicago. I know how much traffic can be tied up by those trains and 20 more trains per day through town is only going to exaserbate an already bad situation unless and over/underpass of some type is built to alleviate the problem.
The whole transportation industry–rail/truck/air is facing a huge huge infrastructure crunch in the coming decades. Problem is nobody wants to spend the $$$ to fix it. The private companies and the government keep passing the buck back and forth between them–not to mention an environmental process so arcane,annoying and time consuming that many times the companies involved simply live with the problem. (Case in point–BNSF Railroad wanted to abandon a unused bridge over I-88 in Aurora so that the highway could be widened. There were 70+ pages of environmental filings alone-just to get permission to tear out an unused bridge!!!)
The funny thing is, that the Surface Transportation Board will probably approve the CN buyout of the EJ&E with several stiff environmental conditions attached. The money will come to build the over/underpasses needed and then the same politicians above–you know the ones who are clueless about rail transportation in their districts–will send out glossy fliers (paid for at taxpayer expense of course) to their constituents bragging about how they secured the money to fix the traffic issues at various railroad crossings.
And so it goes!
train111
Comment by train111 Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 11:23 am
If this election is decided on national issues, Halvorson will win. If this election is decided on state and local issues, Ozinga will win. We are still seeing which issues will be the deciding ones for voters.
There are reasons to believe that the 11th will switch to Democratic this year, but there are also reasons to believe that the 11th will remain Republican.
Reasons it will switch - Obama is going to draw Illinois Democrats out to vote in large numbers. The GOP is still hobbled nationally. Halvorson has gotten a lot of money from special interest groups within the Democratic Party as well as the Party itself. So if you glance at this campaign year overall, it looks like Halvorson will win.
Reasons it will remain GOP - The District was drawn to be Republican. The population growth it has seen has been mainly working families leaving Cook County suburbs and can afford to move to better schools and towns. These people vote Republican. Ozinga may be late off the block, but he comes with money enough to get an experienced staff. Everyone in the District knows the Ozinga brand, and it does not have a negative image.
Halvorson has problems. She is an easily stereotyped liberal Democrat with close ties to her buddies Jones and Blagojevich. Her friends are unpopular. Jackson doesn’t like her and has taken extraordinary steps to derail her campaign by linking her to Rezko and Pay-to-Play politics. Not only is this link being made by Jackson, but it is an easy link to make knowing Halvorson’s connections.
Halvorson will be tied to more mischief by her fellow Democrats in Springfield. There will be more news, and it doesn’t look like good news for her either. Her mishandling of the ethics bill, the recall, and her insider connections are strong negatives for her. Every vote and stand she takes will be derided and spun.
Ozinga is not a politician, and has no experience being a candidate. He will probably make mistakes in a year he can’t make mistakes and win.
Jackson has taken this race from a “leaning Democratic” race to a “toss-up”, in my opinion. With four more months to go, anything can happen.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 11:41 am
Kirk will win re-election - by at least 3%. He is perfectly positioned as a Republican incumbant and Seals is not proving himself. Kirk survived 2006, and will survive 2008, especially considering the same opposition.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 11:44 am
1. On the airport issue, the real man behind the curtain is Mayor Daley. Of course, Ozinga and Halvorson are going to campaign offering “Will County control” and all such blather. When all the veneer is stripped away, neither will have much substantial difference in their airport platform…in this Squid is correct. With the airline industry reeling from high fuel prices, and ORD trying to fund a $10 billion expansion and Hizzoner not needing anything to distract from that effort, Peotone seems a slow go at best. Are those “private” funds still there, anxiously waiting to finance a one runway, 6 gate terminal airstrip? My opinion: not an issue that is going to swing an election, especially given the candidates and the prevailing circumstances, although it will be of interest to a few property owners in Monee and Will townships.
2. train111 is dead on today regarding the CN-EJ&E sale.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 11:59 am
Dems under Emanuel have wisely welcomed back the Blue Dog Democrats.
After making sure he did an operation on them. Sheriff Brad down in Eville has a record very similar to someone from San Francisco.
Now, it seems like Rep. Kirk is doing a similar thing - talking one way, voting another. I guess if Heath Shuler and Sheriff Brad can do it, why not our local Top Gun?
Comment by Pat Collins Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 12:09 pm
Fully agree about the trains - the US (and Illinois) NEEDS that sale to go through.
Comment by Pat Collins Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 12:10 pm
Only in Illinois could we have so much bitter party infighting and still expect that party (the Dems) to gain seats! If the Dems don’t stop fighting, the Republicans get their act together and start plucking races.
Jackson need to get over his “issues” and start supporting the ticket. To her credit, I have not seen much negative stuff directed back at Jackson from Halvorson. (maybe I’m not looking in the right place)
Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 12:20 pm
Novmber 2008 is going to be a national election, not a local election - not much question about it in my mind. Republican turnout in Illinois will be realtively anemic. Halvorson winns without much trouble.
I agree that Kirk could squeak by since North Shore voters are ticket-splitters, not straight ticket voters. However, Kirk should be sweating bullets.
Comment by Captain America Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 12:28 pm
I have to wonder why Illinois seems to be a state that elects liberal Republicans instead of the more conservative variety.
Comment by Levois Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 12:42 pm
Most of the time that Rep. Kirk has been in Congress, he’s been more liberal than many Democrats. He voted against the partial-birth abortion ban, and his latest rating from NARAL is 100%. He usually votes against gun rights, and his latest rating from Gun Owners of America is 0%. In 2004, he voted against a bill that would have required hospital employees to notify immigration authorities when they know they their hospital treated an illegal alien. In 2007, the Illinois Minutemen announced that they “denounced him.” He says that he wants to end all earmarks, but he ensured that the federal government spent money, in his district, on schools, Metra, public housing projects, and local police depts.
Comment by LakeCountyConservative Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 12:42 pm
Levois, the question is wrong. They elect liberal minded Repubs because they’re liberal minded. The question should be why they don’t just go ahead and elect Democrats. The answer is easy. Look around.
lol
Just sayin
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 12:59 pm
‘“They can feel somewhat protected from a normal pistol, but against weapons like these body armor offers no significant protection for a police officer,” said Rep. Mark Kirk, (R) Illinois.’
Give me a break. The weapons he’s talking about are generally much less powerful than the average hunting rifle. And almost all vests will be defeated by hunting rounds.
Comment by Ken in Aurora Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 1:16 pm
Kirk continues to do well in his district while his state and national party suffer in the 65 districts they should otherwise hold because he focuses on his constituents and their concerns rather than appeasing ideological interest groups in Northern Virginia. This is not called selling out his party. He also works extremely hard at fundraising, staying active in the district, and constituent service. His opponent has run a national campaign for 3.5 years now with every advantage he could dream of and has gone backwards by 15 points according to the latest polls for those reasons.
Illinois GOP’ers who complain they don’t know how to get out of the wilderness should look to him as a model for winning rather than castigating him. They don’t necessarily have to embrace his policies, but listening to their audience rather than dictating to them would be a good place to start.
Comment by North Shore Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 1:49 pm
Is fighting with Jesse Jr. bad for Halvorsen in that district? I’m not so sure.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 1:55 pm
I agree Ken. He needs to talk to a ballistician and learn more about his subject. As it is, he’s just showing his ignorance.
The firearms he’s talking about are the most widely used in target shooting and the most sought after firearms today because of their accuracy, simplicity, and versatility. In fact, there’s one laying on the desk across the room from me right now. It hasn’t offered to get up and go on a killin’ spree yet!!
Control criminals, not the cars they drive or the “hoodie sweatshirts” they wear or the guns they use. Break the law, get locked up. Simple.
TimB
Comment by TimB Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 2:09 pm
The 11th Congressional District abuts Jackson’s and the 11th has been growing by families moving from Jackson’s. Jackson has been around over a decade and is liked by those in his district and those who get their news from Chicago - which is the 11th Congressional district.
So Halvorson is in a pickle. Jackson is better known than she is in the 11th due to his decade long service in Congress. While Halvorson is known only in Eastern Will, Jackson is known throughout Will.
If Joliet Democrats had to choose between Halvorson and Jackson, there would be no contest. Halvorson’s political baggage with Jones and Blagojevich far surpasses Jackson’s baggage with his father. Additionally, Jackson has proven himself over the past decade to be above-board, while Halvorson hasn’t.
Only in the far southern reaches of the 11th would there be an anti-Jackson meme, but these same constituents wouldn’t like Halvorson either.
Halvorson needs Jackson’s support, and he has made it quite clear that she doesn’t have it.
Representative Miller is another name folks know around here. His comments will register when Ozinga starts sending it out.
I am very surprised that the DCCC hasn’t already contacted Jackson and told him to lay off. This isn’t good.
And no, Jackson doesn’t have to just shut up and support another Democrat. Take a look around and ask voters if they give a fig about party loyalty considering the kind of Democrats that have been making news. Jackson’s interview made it clear that he wants nothing to do with some Illinois Democrats right now. So Halvorson seems to be on his list of Democrats he won’t support? WOW.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 3:11 pm
VM, you should really go to work for Gov. Blagojevich. Everything, literally everything, that happens to your side is a good thing. lol
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 3:17 pm
The intra-party fighting will only help Ozinga if his people know how to exploit it. So far, they have been successful, goading Halvorson into an ill-conceived response (which as we just saw, kept the fires burning).
It’s obvious that the goons at the DCCC aren’t doing her any favors. She needs to be relying more heavily on her local people in the district who actually have their fingers on the pulse. Don’t get me wrong-these people at the DCCC have their skill sets, but I would bargain to say most of them have no idea how messy politics can get in our state. We’ll see how she handles this going forward, but it will take a lot more slip-ups for Ozinga to make any headway.
Comment by K to the 3 Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 3:18 pm
I think the majority of objection to the Peotone airport stems from misinformation. This airport is privately funded (wouldn’t require tax dollars) and Jackson’s proposed plan has been endorsed by The SouthtownStar, The Defender, The Sun-Times, The Trib and a whole bunch of other papers. O’Hare and Midway are already bursting at the seams. I think ALNAC’s time has come. It would create 15,000 new jobs and doesn’t require any new laws written by Halvorson in the shadows.
Comment by Charlie Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 3:20 pm
Maybe somebody should ask Mr Kirk when he can recall a chicago area police officer being shot by an assault rifle. Then ask him about the police being shot with a handgun. Generally, assault rifles are owned by collectors, while handguns are owned by people who want protection. Criminals like a weapon that they can conceal. When was the last time we saw a robbery committed with an AK-47? Plus, handguns are illegal in the city of Chicago, yet crimes are still committed with them everyday. So how is an assault rifle ban going to hamstring the criminals? It only serves to hamstring law-abiding people.
Comment by Heartless Libertarian Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 3:29 pm
==VM, you should really go to work for Gov. Blagojevich. Everything, literally everything, that happens to your side is a good thing. lol ==
I agree. Isn’t it about time someone decides to be a governor and govern? It might as well be me.
I couldn’t possibly do worse than Mr. Blagojevich.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 3:40 pm
I dunno, dude. There’s a strangely similar mindset here. Every day is an “up” day, regardless of what happened.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 3:45 pm
Rich Miller wrote, “Levois, the question is wrong. They elect liberal minded Repubs because they’re liberal minded. The question should be why they don’t just go ahead and elect Democrats. The answer is easy. Look around.”
I would argue that the question should be why they don’t just go ahead and elect Greens. Seems like a perfect solution to the conservative vs. machine dilemma faced by Illinois voters.
Charlie wrote, “I think the majority of objection to the Peotone airport stems from misinformation.”
The facts are that the airport will destroy local communities; and there is no need for it, because the airlines have already expressed that they will not use it, and we have superior alternatives, like better use of regional airports and the creation of a high-speed rail system.
Comment by Squideshi Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 3:48 pm
Seriously, the notion that the 11th CD is swelling with 2nd CD expats and Jesse Jackson Jr lovers is falls somewhere between baseless speculation and absurd fantasy.
Baghdad Bob, meet Vollmer Road Vanilla Man.
Comment by JonShibleyFan Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 3:59 pm
Vinilla Man. You need to look at a map. The 11th district doesn’t have people from Jackson’s district moving into it. They are only moving into the southern part of his district. Unversity Park, Steger, Matteson, Richton Park, etc. They all sound familiar while talking about Halvorson because they are in her state senate district. But none of those are in the 11th CD. Besides Joliet and Kankakee there are not many blacks in the 11th. And most of those are not necessarily aligned with JJJ. Don’t forget the choice is between a very conservative white guy and a fairly liberal women who happens to be in the same party as Obama. Not many normally hard D’s are going to cross over. If any. Halvorson does not need JJJ’s support and if anything it is more of a negative.
Comment by Been There Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 4:05 pm
why they don’t just go ahead and elect Greens
maybe because the Greens can’t get two or three people to get 10 signatures to get themselves elected precinct committeemen? It’s SO easy to do!
Comment by Pat collins Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 4:09 pm
CN takeover of the EJ&E is a very good thing for Illinois and the Chicago area. It should be approved. People who buy a home next to a railroad cannot then fairly complain about the trains.
Comment by Legal Eagle Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 4:23 pm
Pat collins wrote, “maybe because the Greens can’t get two or three people to get 10 signatures to get themselves elected precinct committeemen? It’s SO easy to do!”
Actually we can appoint precinct committeepersons, and have done so in various locations in Will County. I don’t believe for a second that the average voter compares candidates on the basis of how many precinct committeepersons that candidate’s party has in the district.
Been There wrote, “Don’t forget the choice is between a very conservative white guy and a fairly liberal women who happens to be in the same party as Obama.”
That statement is factually incorrect. The choice also includes the Green Party candidate, Jason Wallace (Jason was already showing about 7% in the most recent poll.)
Comment by Squideshi Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 4:27 pm
Charlie-
If private interests truly wanted to build a Peotone airport, they wouldn’t need the state’s help, federal funding, an Environmental Impact Statement, or a whole bunch of other items that need to be worked out. Look at Bult Field, which has a runway that can already accommodate corporate jets. Sits right next to the proposed Peotone runway, and not a dime of state or federal money in it. The “private” airport proposed at Peotone is really a taxpayer-funded venture with the state buying all the land and making all the improvements to access I-57, and a private developer coming in and skimming the cream off the top. And again, with today’s fuel prices, I wouldn’t count on O’Hare and Midway “bursting at the seams” with air traffic for too long. We might actually start seeing empty slots at both in the near future.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 4:32 pm
Correct me if i am wrong, but didnt’ at least one Green Congressional candidate get booted off since they had not been placed on the ballet by elected precinct committeemen?
That is what I meant. 10 signatures is so easy to get, its one evening after dinner in good weather.
Comment by Pat Collins Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 4:38 pm
Gary-Chicago Aiport has a new terminal, a longer runway than Midway, ample parking, is right off the Interstate and has plenty of room to grow in an economically distressed post-industrial environment. It’s good enough for the Boeing corporate fleet.
It already has a steady revenue stream for improvements due to it’s share of Chicago’s PFCs from the bi-state compact. Remember when Edgar/Pate/Daniels were going to take over O’Hare and Midway and Daley outfoxed them with the federally approved compact?
Peotone is about clout and contracts, nothing more. Fortunately, it will never be built.
Private money, indeed. It reminds me when Carl Officer was mayor of East St. Louis and tried to borrow money with a line of credit from the Bank of Fiji as collateral.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 4:41 pm
It already has a steady revenue stream for improvements due to it’s share of Chicago’s PFCs from the bi-state compac
In other words, to keep control, Daley and Co gave our money to Indiana. And you are dumping on Peotone (which I dont’ support, BTW).
Comment by Pat Collins Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 4:46 pm
Pat Collins, I think Gary-Chicago should be part of the discussion, and would be, if some powerful types, including Daley friends, didn’t stand to make a lot of money at Peotone if it’s built.
It’s already there in a blighted area that could be redeveloped. Why bring the environmental degradation of an airport to Will County? If there is a future need for more air capacity, and I’m not so sure there will be with the O’Hare expansion, start with Gary.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 4:55 pm
There’s also an international airport in Milwaukee.
It’s past time to start replacing short haul flights with high speed passenger rail anyway.
Oh and Jackson needs to shut the heck up.
Comment by jerry 101 Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 5:20 pm
Six Degrees of Separation, “Look at Bult Field, which has a runway that can already accommodate corporate jets.”
Not to mention Lewis University Airport, which is owned and operated by the Joliet Port District.
Pat Collins wrote, “Correct me if i am wrong, but didnt’ at least one Green Congressional candidate get booted off since they had not been placed on the ballet by elected precinct committeemen?”
Candidates need not be placed on the ballot by elected committeepersons–they can be appointed to fill vacancies in nomination by committeepersons whom were themselves appointed. The issue at debate in this particular circumstance is that state election law attempts to dictate who within an established political party has the power to appoint candidates, and in what manner. The law is written with an assumption that every county will have a County Central Committee Chair, or a County Central Committee for that matter, when this is not actually the case–especially with a growing, but still very new, established political party. If you’re wondering why the Green Party may have not had a Chairperson in any particular county, its most likely that we have no active members in that county (Unlike the Democratic and Republican parties, the Illinois Green Party actually keeps and maintains an official membership list.) It’s not that the members in that county were too lazy or inept to run for committeeperson.
So, state election law is pretty much silent on who has the power to appoint candidates when there is no County Central Chairperson; and because political parties are private voluntary membership associations, which have traditionally and historically enjoyed the right to manage their own affairs, they retain any such power not explicitly circumscribed by law. The Illinois Green Party acted reasonably in this case–it created internal rules to govern the selection process where state law was silent.
Besides, established political parties shouldn’t even be required to use committees if they don’t want. Their earned right to place candidates on the ballot is completely separate from the method that they use to best choose their candidates.
Comment by Squideshi Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 5:47 pm
word, I think you and AA must be about the same vintage. Had almost forgotten about that particular Carl Officer financial trick. Give Filan some time; he may try the same one.
Illinois needs a “privately funded Peotone Airport” about as much as it needs more community colleges or casinos. Let’s not forget DuPate International, Palwaukee, and even Lansing also have existing available runways.
Having said all that, there is a huge difference between “convenient to drive to” and “safe to land/take off at,” or “I want this in my ‘hood.”
GYY, ORD, and MDW all share the same arrival/departure routes for inbound/outbound IFR air traffic. GYY’s crosswind runway is too short. Most of MDW’s runways are too short when weather, crosswind, or pilot error is factored into the equation. Bult, Palwaukee and Lewis are all “jet capable”, but “jet” means Lears or Citations, not Boeings or Airbuses.
Even with those business jets, the takeoffs and landings are serious challenges on a nice day. The Palwaukee departure, wherein you basically take off and make a tight 180 degree turn while climbing and trying not to look at the O’Hare traffic taking off and heading straight at you, makes good old Meigs seem like the shuttle landing strip.
Someday, when the FAA gets its computer systems into the 20th century, they will be able to slice and dice the routes more precisely, but even technology can’t solve bad weather,controller shortages, or the 30-plus year FAA 100% record of never bringing an upgraded system or new system in on time, on budget, or that works right.
AA’s point-rationally build out O’Hare, where the carriers want to be and to where public funds are still flowing.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 7:38 pm
Abraham Lincoln National Airport Commission
“Building Chicagoland’s Third Airport”
Hon. Al McCowan, Chairman
Hon. John Ostenburg, Vice Chairman
If all the demands for “local control” of the new airport weren’t so stubbornly uninformed, they’d be comical.
State Sen. Debbie Halvorson and Congressman Jerry Weller sound like broken records when they repeat their only concern about the airport is “local control, local control, local control.”
Guess what? The Abraham Lincoln National Airport Commission is locally controlled.
I am the chairman of ALNAC. I am also the mayor of University Park, a Will County community. I live in Will County. And I pay Will County taxes.
ALNAC’s vice chairman is John Ostenburg. He is mayor of Park Forest, another Will County community.
We formed ALNAC four years ago under the same state laws used by virtually every other airport commission in Illinois. In short, we didn’t seek special treatment in Springfield.
More importantly, we designed a world-class airport (which IDOT adopted) and secured $300 million in private funds to pay for it, so Will County taxpayers won’t foot the bill.
Finally, we opened ALNAC to all Will County mayors of home-rule municipalities, in accordance to state law and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s guidance.
Park Forest and University Park border the airport. Our communities want an airport, but one that is friendly to the local environment. That’s why ALNAC is run by local elected officials, who are accountable to local voters, sensitive to local needs – and committed to creating 15,000 local jobs during the worst economy in a generation.
Frankly, I cannot think of an airport with more ”local control.”
But if anyone can prove that University Park is not in Will County, let me know. Then our residents can stop paying Will County taxes.
Al McCowan
Mayor of University Park and Chairman of ALNAC
Comment by Al McCowan Tuesday, Jun 24, 08 @ 5:03 pm