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* Keep a careful eye on city’s surveillance

* Burke asks if deputy chief was forced out

“If, indeed, somebody [who] testifies before a City Council committee is demoted or disciplined because of what he or she said, that goes to the very heart of the legislative process,” Burke said.

* County picks corruption watchdog

* Daley defends quicker ‘boot’

* Chicago Officials Prepare for Lollapalooza

* State Fair to Illinois: ‘Eat it’

“Fair Factor” was teased to reporters as “the grossest contest you’ve ever seen” and is likely to feature pigs feet, night crawlers and “disgusting” milkshakes.

“It really will be disgusting,” said Rachael Atchison, a downstate Fox TV representative sponsoring the attraction.

*Historic sites cut hours, seasonal workers

* Cuts at Springfield historic sites may just be the beginning

Agency spokesman David Blanchette said no decisions have been made on what will happen at sites like Black Hawk Historic Site in Rock Island, the David Davis Mansion in Bloomington or the Lincoln Log Cabin in Lerna.

* Joe Birkett on CLTV

* Leaders let vulnerable Dems take the lead on popular bills

Foster, who was elected from the district of former Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), was given the bill that resolved the issue. Foster’s bill inserted language into the housing bill barring anyone convicted of a sex offense, mortgage fraud, or drug-dealing in the last five years, from repurchasing government-bought foreclosed homes.

* Obama aids local woman in Mideast custody battle

* Friday Beer Blogging: Murphy’s Edition

posted by Kevin Fanning
Friday, Aug 1, 08 @ 8:50 am

Comments

There is no need to fear (cook county), Patrick Blanchard is here!

Now to see if a county inspector general helps root out corruption or just adds another hand to be paid.

Comment by Ghost Friday, Aug 1, 08 @ 8:59 am
ummm…”sex offense?!”

unless you’re going to incarcerate sex offenders for life, they are going to have to live somewhere. Better that they have a permanent address than forcing them to become vagrants, which has become the case in Miami, which has a colonies of sex offenders living under bridges.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-04-06-miami-sex-offenders_N.htm

I think that’s a lot more dangerous than having someone living at a known address, who has notified the neighbors.

Comment by jerry 101 Friday, Aug 1, 08 @ 9:18 am
There of course being absolutley no correlation or connection between barring sex offenders from purchasing government foreclosed properties and being vagrants.

Comment by Ghost Friday, Aug 1, 08 @ 9:30 am
Therew as a interesting story on Sen Meeks encouringing students to skip the first day of classes and attempt to enroll in New Trier High School. he wants students to be able to attend any (high) school in the state.

Comment by Wumpus Friday, Aug 1, 08 @ 9:41 am
yep. I had it in Morning Shorts yesterday.

Comment by Kevin Fanning Friday, Aug 1, 08 @ 9:46 am
Bush is trying to redefine the Pill and IUD’s as causeing abortions and would make it a penalty to refuse to hire folks who won’t sell these items.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=5397146

Comment by Ghost Friday, Aug 1, 08 @ 9:53 am
==Foster’s bill inserted language into the housing bill barring anyone convicted of a sex offense, mortgage fraud, or drug-dealing in the last five years, from repurchasing government-bought foreclosed homes.==

What a bunch of wimps! Last five years? Should have made it the last 15 years. A total cop-out. Typical wishy washy “tough on criminals, but not too tough” approach not to offend anyone. God forbid the Democrats take a tough stand against drug dealers, frauds or sexual offenders.

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Aug 1, 08 @ 9:56 am
VM,

Five years might not be meaningful anyway. Five years from conviction might be right around release from prison. It would be doubtful that a house purchase would follow immediately. Mortgage fraud and some drug sentences might be short, but sex offenders and major dealers are generally in for longer.

Comment by South Side Mike Friday, Aug 1, 08 @ 10:07 am
Rep. Foster’s latest bill is unconstitutional, because of the 10th Amendment. The Constitution doesn’t mention sex crimes, mortgages, or drug crimes.

Comment by PhilCollins Friday, Aug 1, 08 @ 10:24 am
Umm PhilCollins the Federal Government is not barred by the 10th amendment from bassing laws that affect federal programs and dollars. Not to mention the Feds power via commerce clause.

Comment by Ghost Friday, Aug 1, 08 @ 10:30 am
So much for the rehabilitation philosophy that most liberals spout… More control, screw live and let live. We have to punish criminals after they have already served their time, yeah. So what if that drives them back to a life of crime, we should be able to buy those foreclosed homes, not some drug dealer. Bill Foster, a typical B.S. politician.

Comment by Heartless Libertarian Friday, Aug 1, 08 @ 10:41 am
The 10thAmendment states that all powers that aren’t reserved for the federal government, in the Constitution, are reserved for the states and the people. I read every word of the Constitution, and I didn’t see any mention of sex crimes, mortgages, or drug crimes.

Comment by PhilCollins Friday, Aug 1, 08 @ 11:38 am
PhilCollins,

The Constitution also doesn’t mention food safety, automobiles, airplanes, nuclear energy, pollution, investments, the internet etc., etc. Yet the federal government regulates/restricts all these things, to some degree. I’m assuming you disagree with these powers?

Even if you do, you are still wrong about the Constitutionality of the bill. If federal dollars get used, federal restrictions can be placed on them. What the federal government can’t do is forbid states from using their own funds to buy foreclosures for sex offenders and druggies. That’s the limit of the 10th Amendment for this situation.

Comment by South Side Mike Friday, Aug 1, 08 @ 12:57 pm
Thanks Kevin, I didn’t check on Monday as I thought this site was down until Wednesday or Thursday

Comment by Wumpus Friday, Aug 1, 08 @ 1:38 pm