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* PI has posted an excerpt from David Axelrod’s interview on Fox Chicago Sunday…
Axelrod was asked whether Obama would be making endorsements in Illinois and Chicago politics….
“I haven’t had this discussion with him, so I don’t want to go too far, but I think his inclination’s gonna be to stick to the task he was sent to perform and not to try and be a kingmaker or boss here in Illinois.”
I suppose that rules out an endorsement of Bill for the US Senate. Still, I can’t help but wonder if this also applies to Alexi.
* Besides recruiting and running a potential “seat warmer” for Rahm Emanuel, there is another idea floating around…
In addition, political powers are discussing another option that would allow Mr. Emanuel to have his cake and eat it too without forcing anyone to play seat warmer.
Under that scenario, a new district for Mr. Emanuel to run in would be carved out in district reapportionment after the 2010 elections. Democrats are likely to run remap in Illinois, and with Chicago suburbs increasingly turning Democratic blue, it could be fairly easy to throw GOP incubmbents Peter Roskam and Judy Biggert into one district while peeling off Democratic sections to use as the basis for a new district that would extend into Chicago. That would allow Mr. Emanuel to return to the House and get back in line to become speaker some day, without having to force whoever wins the 5th District job to step down.
* Confusion at DNR after park closure announcements…
IDNR employees are in a state of befuddlement. That and similar remarks came from multiple employees at state sites on Monday. Are they staying or going? Will there be layoffs? If so, how many? […]
The question is whether those closures will mean layoffs of IDNR employees.
“You would think somebody would make decision,'’ said a state employee facing a forced move to another site.
“We are still determining how many employees will now be affected given these changes,'’ IDNR spokesman Chris McCloud said.
What a great way to kick off the holiday season, eh?
The above story also references this study which purports to show that the site closings were based on partisan politics.
* IMRF troubles ahead…
It’s not farfetched to think that virtually every extra cent of revenue coming to local governments in the next couple years will be used to pay increased pension obligations.
* The Peoria Journal-Star editorializes about the need for constitutional amendments on property taxes, the number of local governments, TIF districts, ethics reforms, the unfunded pension liability, etc., etc., etc. and then has this to say…
We fully expect good government groups to lead the charge in drafting and generating support for these amendments, to prove as some promised just how easy it is to amend Illinois’ Constitution without having to resort to something so radical as another Con-Con.
While they’re busy writing up amendments and getting the signatures necessary to put such citizen initiatives on the ballot - please, let’s not rely on the Legislature to do that for us - here’s one issue they should put at the top of their list.
Um, PJ Star? Those dreamy amendments of yours cannot make it onto the ballot without first clearing the General Assembly. Here’s a handy link for future reference.
The same paper recently endorsed Sen. James Clayborne for Senate President apparently without realizing that Clayborne was privately backed by Gov Blagojevich. Oops.
* Steve Thomma of McClatchy Newspapers filed this pool report earlier today…
It’s noteworthy that the press seats at the news conference have been divided into a White Sox section - to the South - and a Cubs section - to the North of the ballroom.
But in a crime against nature, your pooler - a genuine White Sox fan, a man who attended his first twi-night double header at the Old Comiskey in 1963, who sat behind third base for the 50th anniversary All Star Game there in ‘83, who knew Bill Veeck and the wonders of Disco Demolition night, who saw the great Ozzie play before he managed - has been assigned a seat in the Cubs section.
They should just ban all Cub fans from the proceedings.
And, yes, I’m just kidding. Sorta.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 1:40 pm
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I don’t know that the Peoria J-S has ever been known for its editorial acuity.
Comment by Captain Flume Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 1:49 pm
As someone who is familiar with the IMRF formulas, the increases are going to be steep. It will be a real challenge to avoid tax increase which will be called on just to pay for all the losses in the fund.
Comment by Plutocrat03 Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 1:57 pm
White Sox fans are so elitist.
Comment by Ryno Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 2:02 pm
I saw the Fox Chicago Sunday show. First time I’ve really watched the entire thing. They had quite the lineup with Axelrod, Durbin, Cullerton & Radogno. I’ll be watching again.
Comment by Niles Township Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 2:08 pm
[…] Rich Miller of The Capitol Fax Blog doesn’t think highly of of the political and government acumen of whoever it is who wrote this editorial in the Peoria Journal Star: * The Peoria Journal-Star editorializes about the need for constitutional amendments on property taxes, the number of local governments, TIF districts, ethics reforms, the unfunded pension liability, etc., etc., etc. and then has this to say… […]
Pingback by Media: Journal Star forgets how the legislature and state politics work | Peoria Pundit Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 2:10 pm
“Democrats are likely to run remap in Illinois …”
That depends entirely upon whether their name is drawn from the glass bowl after another certain-to-fail, “bipartisan” stab at cooperative re-mapping. In other words, a 50 pct chance of rain or sunshine, depending upon how you look at it.
Comment by Linus Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 2:15 pm
==“I haven’t had this discussion with him, so I don’t want to go too far, but I think his inclination’s gonna be to stick to the task he was sent to perform and not to try and be a kingmaker or boss here in Illinois.”==
That is a very odd statement coming from a man whose boss has made every effort to ignor the tasks he was previously elected to perform. Who played kingmaker with Alexi Giannoulais and spent $700,000,000 to win this month’s election.
David, do you mean that Barack is interested in his new job? I hope his infatuation with it lasts longer than his infatuation with his earlier ones.
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 2:28 pm
===That depends entirely upon whether their name is drawn from the glass bowl after another certain-to-fail, “bipartisan” stab at cooperative re-mapping.===
Not if there’s a cooperative Democratic governor and both Democratic chambers work together in 2011, barring a legislative GOP comeback, of course.
In other words, if the Dems control everything and work together, the Repubs are outta luck.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 2:53 pm
===I hope his infatuation with it lasts longer than his infatuation with his earlier ones===
The man has been running for something since he ran for Congress, so I get your point. However, I doubt he can move up the ladder any further, so perhaps he’ll stop for now.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 2:55 pm
last week people did not think that Obama’s Sox love would have any effect on others….hmmmmm….he’s trying to influence. at least there’s one thing I like about Obama…..
Comment by Amy Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 2:58 pm
I just read in The New Yorker piece that Hank Paulson is a Cubs fan….Rich, this can’t be good news for the economy!
Comment by Vote Quimby! Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 3:12 pm
===Hank Paulson is a Cubs fan===
Explains a lot.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 3:14 pm
The GA ought to be able to get behind veto-proof passage of an amendment that limits the governor’s amendatory veto to only deleting individual line items.
Comment by Excessively rabid Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 4:46 pm
It would then have to be approved by voters.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 4:48 pm
After reading Billy’s post over at Peoria Pundit, it sounds to me like the PJS was being sarcastic. What they were really trying to say was: “Okay, all you goo-goos who didn’t think a con-con was necessary, now is your chance to show us all how ‘easy’ it really is to amend the Illinois Constitution and solve all those problems you said a con-con would distract us from.”
Comment by Bookworm Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 5:52 pm