ILLINOIZE: July 2006

Monday, July 31, 2006

Blagojevich Legal Fees Continue; Topinka Has None

Six months ago I reported on Governor Rod Blagojevich’s legal expenditures from his campaign fund.

I found the firm of Robbins Schwartz Nicholas Lifton & Tay was paid $6,040 in August, September and October. Monico Pavich & Spevack was paid $6,930.12 for copies in July.

Perhaps more significant was $34,068.38 paid former Governor Jim Thompson’s firm, Winston & Strawn on the last day of December.
I went through Blagojevich's expenditures twice, but missed what Rich Miller discovered. Winston & Strawn got another $151,816.66 on January 27th. (Thanks to Rich for correcting me.)

During the last six months small amounts were again paid to Robbins Schwartz Nicholas Lifton & Tay:

1-03 $1,316.25
2-10 $1,560
2-27 $1,023.25
3-24 $762.02
5-09 $916.25
6-12 $828.75

This does not read like a governor who thinks he is in big trouble.

Of course, Blagojevich could already have a separate legal defense fund, whose contributions and expenditures would not be subject to public scrutiny.

And, for those hoping to find lawyers' fees for Republican candidate Judy Topinka, you are going to be disappointed.

Nothing's on her campaign disclosure form.

Topinka tapped her campaign for a relatively modest $23,599.90 in September, 2003. Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw are her lawyers of choice. She first wrote a check to the firm for $10,600 during the third week of May, 2003.

If there is a U.S. Attorney's investigation about her use of state employees for political purposes four years ago, it certainly cannot be very active.

National Disgrace: Oprah Highlights Illinois Education Gap

Today's Oprah Show featured a ballyhooed interview with Bill and Melinda Gates and a segment which focused on the education gap here in Illinois. Oprah organized a student exchange which allowed kids from Chicago's Harper High to spend the day at a high school in Naperville and brought the Naperville kids to Chicago for a day.

Here's what they learned:

When the Harper students arrived at Neuqua Valley, they were stunned to see what the suburban school offered—an Olympic-size swimming pool, a gym and fitness center, an award-winning music department, a huge computer lab, and a rigorous course curriculum.

When they arrived at Harper, the students from Neuqua Valley were shocked immediately by the difference between Harper and their own school. For starters, students have to enter Harper through a metal detector. They have a pool at Neuqua Valley, but the Harper pool hasn't been filled with water in a decade. The Neuqua Valley students have an award-winning music department, while Harper doesn't have enough instruments for a music class and relies on improvised instruments—like banging on desks. At Neuqua Valley, students can enroll in more than two dozen advanced placement courses, compared to the two offered at Harper. "It's so mind-blowing to think that there's such a difference and we're both in the same state, an hour away from each other," one Neuqua Valley student says.

The difference between the two schools can also be seen in their scores on state exams. At Neuqua Valley, 78 percent of students meet Illinois' reading standards, 76 percent meet the science standards, and 77 percent meet the math standards. At Harper, 16 percent meet the reading standards, 1.5 percent meet the science standards and just .5 percent meet the math standards.

Meanwhile this little nugget from the Sun-Times' Ralph Martire is bound to catch the attention of Oprah and civil rights leaders across Illinois:

The Illinois data are as bad or worse. In K-12 education, Illinois ranks as the third most segregated state for blacks, with 82 percent of black children attending majority minority schools. Latinos don't fare much better, as 76 percent of Latino children attend predominantly minority schools. Ninety percent of white kids go to virtually all-white schools. Clearly, the Illinois school system is still separated by race, but is it now more equal by race? Not from a funding standpoint. Minority school districts in Illinois start out with $1,154 less per child to spend on education than do predominantly white school districts, the second worst funding gap nationally (emphasis added).

Too bad Senator Meeks didn't have that newsclip in his pocket when he marched on the Mayor's office last week. He might have marched to Governor Blagojevich's office instead to find out why the state is spending nearly $14,000 more on average on the public education of white children. I'd love to hear the Governor explain that one.

Melissa Bean Flips on Pork

Imagine my surprise to learn that 8th congressional district congresswoman Melissa Bean is now against pork.

I seem to remember her announcing this highway project and that highway project just last year.

Her press release is dated July 29, 2005.

What a difference a year makes.

Will she mimick Democratic Party Presidental candidate John Kerry and explain, "I voted for it before I voted against it?"

She votes for almost all of the appropriation bills and claimed that she was responsible for securing $24 million of district funding in the Tranportation bill that was signed into law last summer. If she has a plan to reduce spending, it has not made a big splash.

Now, however, she is the only Illinois congressman to vote for eliminating at least 14 (out of 19) pork projects. She voted for all 19 amendments. Note that her sponsor Rahm Emanuel voted against all of the the amendments.

Expect a TV ad with a little porker as a visual effect.

A list of those who voted in favor of at least 14 of the 19 amendments appears at Hog Heaven. Under the heading, “House Members Who Voted Against Pork.” They are listed alphabetically.

David Hogberg, the man who did the research, calls them “taxpayer heroes” in The American Spectator article.

The Club for Growth—a fund raising group that favors lower federal spending—has developed a chart where one can check how one’s local congressman voted on the amendments.

Here, in alphabetical order, are how Illinois congressmen voted on the 19 amendments offered by Congressman Jeff Flake.

Bean – 19
Biggert – 6
Costello – 0
Davis – 0
Emanuel – 0
Evans – 0 (not voting on any)
Gutierrez – 0
Hyde – 0 (not voting on 6)
Johnson – 7
Kirk – 3
LaHood – 0
Lipinski – 0
Manzullo – 0
Rush – 0
Schakowsky – 1
Shimkus – 2
Weller – 0

Speaker Dennis Hastert is not on the list.

= = = = =
Couldn't resist including this photo of me and Miss Piggy. I am testifying in 2002 at Waukegan's tollway hearing on higher higher tolls. I told them that I did not want little Miss Piggy to grow up to be a toll tax hog.

Best Wishes

State Representative Larry McKeon, my colleague for a decade and the Representative for the district adjoining mine, today announced that he will be retiring from the Legislature at the end of his current term.

As both a legislator and a person, Larry proved himself to be a tireless fighter, triumphing over legislative issues as well as personal health issues. Not surprisingly, Larry has indicated that he intends to continue working on many of the issues which he holds dear.

Please join me in wishing him the best in his future endeavors.

To read, or post, comments, visit Dome-icile

Umholtz Endorses Madigan?

Today's SJR has a piece on the ongoing battle between Rod Blagojevich and Lisa Madigan for control of records regarding hiring practices at IDOT. There's an extensive interview with Madigan's GOP "opponent" Stu Umholtz -- it turns out Umholtz's wife does contractual work for AG Madigan, and several phenomenal quotes that would make for great mail pieces (hat tip, CapitolFax) :

Meanwhile, Stewart Umholtz, the Republican nominee for attorney general, said Friday he believes that his Democratic opponent "is on very firm ground" in the legal dispute.

Madigan clearly has the law on her side because the attorney general has a statutory responsibility to represent IDOT or any other state agency, said Umholtz, the Tazewell County state's attorney. "She ought to be allowed to do that by having these files returned to her," he said.

and

"The fact that Valerie Umholtz continues to work for Madigan's office shows that Madigan isn't taking action based upon politics," he [Umholtz said. "That's the way it should be. We should just approach these things with professionalism."

and, my favorite,

Umholtz's wife, Valerie Moehle Umholtz, also is a lawyer, and she sometimes handles eminent-domain work for Madigan's office as a special assistant attorney general
....
"I enjoy the work," she [Valerie Umholtz] said. "If and when Stewart wins the election, I don't want to work for him."

Can we just fastforward to 2010 and elect Lisa Madigan our Governor?

Sunday, July 30, 2006

Next Life Safety Bond Scandal

The taxpayer suit in Jersey County, Illinois, is not too complicated, but it could be of widespread significance.

Citizen spark plug Jeff Ferguson and others in Jersey and Greene Counties (located northeast of St. Louis) are outraged that their local school board found a way to build two schools after 69% of the voters sounding rejected a $21 million high school proposal in 1999. (The state was going to kick in another $8 million.)

The school board found a way to build it and a grade school anyway.

Enter outside advisors trying to make a buck.

The school board is told that it can issue bonds without a referendum by issuing fire prevention and safety fund bonds, commonly called life safety bonds.

But, first, according to state law (105 ILCS 5/17-2.11),

a school district may replace a school building or build additions to replace portions of a building when it is determined that the effectuation of the recommendations for the existing building will cost more than the replacement costs. Such determination shall be based on a comparison of estimated costs made by an architect or engineer licensed in the State of Illinois. The new building or addition shall be equivalent in area (square feet) and comparable in purpose and grades served and may be on the same site or another site. (emphasis added)

That’s typical legislative gobble-de-gook. What it means is that if one can get an architect to say that fixing the old building to meet life safety standards is more expensive than building a new one, the school board may borrow money and build a new school.

And, that’s what this school board did.

But, there was a hitch.

The first architect said it would only cost $742,590.42 to fix up the high school.

The board decided to go for a slightly lower amount for the high school, added in a grade school and got permission for life safety improvements locally and by the State Board of Education in 2001.

Almost immediately afterwards, the board hired a second architect who would give the “right” answer.

$12.7 to $13.9 million was the “better” answer from the second architect.

That’s only 17 times as high as the first architect’s estimate.

For the rest of this overly long story, plus a copy of the suit, go to McHenry County Blog, Sunday, July 30th.

Alan Suderman: Who is the next Harold Washington?

Suderman asks the question in The Defender.

I worked for the Army in Germany during Washington's years. I missed his whole era. I came home one Thanksgiving and spent a Saturday riding the 'L' (a favorite pastime) and visiting Bookstores. I was heading for Armitage to the Guild Bookstore (then on Halstead) and remember being shocked by the new construction from North Ave to Armitage.

But what really surprized me was seeing African American carpenters working on the sites. Guys with tool belts and hammers hanging on their sides. Not guys relegated to chipping the old bricks or doing the mud work. You just hadn't seen blacks in the trades before in Chicago. I realized what Washington had done to break segregation in the work place.

I think only people over a certain age can appreciate how different things were then and now. How deeply segregated work was and how Chicago lagged the rest of the country; and only caught up, when dragged kicking and screaming, during Washington's years.

He didn't seem the sort to do it. He just seemed a typical Chicago Pol before he won.

Suderman writes on him and speculates on whether another Washington is out there.

"[Washington] was just a remarkable person," said former alderman Leon Despres. For 20 years Despres was one of the city's most vocal opponents of the corruption and excesses of the fabled Chicago Democratic Machine, run by Mayor Richard J. Daley.

Despres and a handful of others championed African-American and progressive causes long before Washington, who once was a machine stalwart, made his mark on the political scene.

Now, nearly 20 years after Washington's death, Despres, the former Fifth Ward alderman, doesn't see any likely successor.

"I look for him all the time," said Despres, now 98, whose wife, Marion, encouraged Washington to enter student politics while he was enrolled at Roosevelt University.

"Washington was a singular politician," echoed Washington's former deputy press secretary, Laura Washington, a journalist and college professor. "He was one of the most brilliant and politically artful elected officials I have ever covered."

Ald. Howard Brookins (21st) said it was Washington who inspired him to go into politics. "I don't know if there will be another Harold Washington," he said. "There isn't anyone out there who is as charismatic as he was."

But Davis, who worked closely with Washington, said the legend of Washington has outgrown the man. "I knew Harold before he was mayor, and he wasn't all that charismatic before."

I have a feeling despite Despres's age, his eye sight is sharp, and there are no likely successors.

Saturday, July 29, 2006

Hide - The Root of Chicago Race Relations

Chicago has never recovered from the Meatpackers Strike of 1904. Though engulfed by flames in 1871, Chicago rose from its roots again like an oak forest on steroids. The Pullman Strike, put down by George Custer's replacements, Illinois Yellow-legs and Pinkerton's goons, was as nothing compared to what lay ahead on the tracks.

Chicago's steel tentacles pulled cattle, hogs, sheep and any other hoofed hide that could be tanned, eaten, rendered or husbanded to a vast yard owned by sharp men of business. The amalgamation of tanners, packers, renderers, and shippers had cheap, disorganized and willing pool of people to labor, bleed, and exploit - Czech, Irish, Lithuanian, Polish, Russian, Westphalian, Belgian, Prussian, Bavarian, Norwegian, and Swedish.

Some of those immigrants had skills as carpenters, millwrights, metal workers, coopers, cartwrights, and teamsters; most had no skills other than brute strength. Today they would be called Caucasian, though very few had passed through Caucasus to get to America.

On July 12, 1904, a strike was called by the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen (AMC) whose President Michael Donnelly announced the strike.

The causes of the strike ranged from low wages to the excessive pace required while on the job. The strike lasted for nearly two months and included rioting and murder with few periods of peace. The strikers used tactics such as demonstrations and parades while the packers responded by hiring strikebreakers. Although factory conditions were unchanged, the strike had many far reaching effects on the city of Chicago, the union, and the nation as a whole. . . . The Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen played a major role in the strike. It was a giant organization and employed both skilled and unskilled workers, a circumstance often resented by skilled workers.(Halpern 32) Though unity was not one of the union's strong points, the union did give workers some sense of it, which was vital when the strike finally began. The main protagonists of the strike were the common laborers, the skilled and unskilled butchers of the Chicago packing plants. The workers, now somewhat organized, demanded higher pay and an end to the relentless "speeding up" of the packing progress. The typical laborer at the time of the strike was foreign, unskilled, worked long, hard hours, and was paid less than twenty cents an hour. The strikers were also very violent which resulted in numerous murders and riots. ("Strikers Firm" 2) ( Italics indicate secondary source used)

meatpackers_strike.htm

The murders and riots were in reaction to the bringing of strikebreakers, most African Americans from the South and hired goons to agitate and incite violence. Chicago Tribune archived articles from the period of the strike - roughly July through September 1904 bear witness to the actions and motives behind those acts.

The violence brought home to the heart of readers the intense frustration felt by the strikers and their families and the malice and greed that Chicago's leading families were willing to orchestrate in the name of profit. 8,750 strikebreakers, mostly miserably poor blacks, were lured with promises of a better life in Chicago and train fare to this Killing floor of the human heart. Strikers and their families were in fact starving despite the effort of Strike relief committees and the sympathy for strikers crossed state lines. However, the need to feed the greed was greater than articulating an agreement with the AMC. The owners intended to break this strike and they succeeded.

After a unanimous vote to maintain the strike, AMC President Michael Donnelly announced the strike ended on Sept. 9 1905 - 59 days after the strike was called.

The resulting antipathy between multi-cultural,lingual, and religious Caucasians and the strikebreaking African Americans would play out for next one hundred and two years in Chicago. The nature of race relations would always be reduced to the simple 'color of a man's skin' equation by people with the luxury of not being close to the conflict.

The descendants of the strikers would recoil from relations with the people who came North in the hope of a better life. They were shoved into combat with people themselves the victims of exploitation and those who profited by that combat. Those same descendants, one hundred and two years later, continue to be at odds with one another. The strikers descendants moved away as the Black Belt expanded to Berwyn, Cicero, Maywood and the southwest sides - places that since the 1904 strike have been branded as single-mindedly racist, unlike neighborhoods far removed from killing floors on the south side. The Armours and the Swifts and their co-industrialists did well by the strike and became clean with wealth, while the strikers and the strikebreakers were set at odds with one another and continue to be.

The horrific race riots of 1919 were confined to battlefields of Back of the Yards and the Black Belt. The fight for fair housing from the 1940's through the new millennium mirror that combat zone. Dr. King marched in Marquette Park, where the descendants of the strikers lived and not in Highland Park where the people who prospered by that broken strike might have taken root. Southside white ethnic neighborhoods continue to be referred to as 'racial hotbeds,' as recently as last week, in the Chicago media. Blacks continue to be pitted against ethnic whites and both exploited for political and economic gain.

Maybe, some talk about the causes and consequences of the 1904 Meatpackers Strike should preclude any 'Let's talk Race' challenge.

Sources

Halpern, Rick. Down on the Killing Floor: Black and White Workers in Chicago's Packinghouses, 1904 - 54. Urbana, Illinois : University of Illinois Press, 1997.

Strike is Ended; Men Surrender." Chicago Daily Tribune. 9 Sept. 1904

Anti-smokers to City of Peoria: Shut the Hell up do what we tell you to do

I bet you didn't know that smoking in bars and prostitution are the same thing.

That's just one message I'm getting from today's Journal Star article about the start of a campaign to get local government to ban smoking in restaurants and bars

Historically, Peoria has held its own as a rough-and-tumble town. Prostitution, for instance, was a widely accepted, yet illegal business in the city up into the late '50s, said Bill Adams, a town historian.

"Peoria was known as a wide-open town," Adams said. "This was a place where all the action was: gambling, drinking, prostitution, and all those sorts of things."

Next time I see a lady smoking a cigarette in a bar or restaurant, I think I go up and inform her of what anti-smoking activists think of her.

That's hardly the only insulting thing said in this article. Kathy Drea, director of public policy for the American Lung Association, has all sorts of wonderfully arrogant things to say. First, if Peorians generally don't support s smoking ban now, that's because they are too stupid and ignorant, and that this attitude will change once they plaster their bill boards everywhere (and get compliant progressive-minded newspapers to run articles promoting their point of view). Second, she scoffed at the idea that elected politicians here in Peoria won't eventually bow to their will. They always have before and Peoria will be no different, she says.

"The city council or county board will always make a statement that it will never happen (in their town)," Drea said, adding "every single place that we've ever gone now has a smoke-free law."

When I broke this story a month ago, I quoted documents that reveal how closely tied the Peoria City/County Health Department is to this well-organized and not-very grassroots campaign. What restauranteurs are worried about is that even if the Peoria City Council says "no" repeatedly to these people, the allies of "Smoke Free Peoria" in the health department will make sure that any restaurant or bar that allows smoking will fail their health inspections, by taking points off for every ash tray they find that isn't spotless, for example.

Anyone who has owned or managed a restaurant -- or any business for that matter -- knows how arbitrary a health or safety inspection can be.

Cross posted to Peoria Pundit.

Chicago Wards voting Against Big Box Ordinance

Soap Blog Chicago has a nice map of the Big Box vote by ward.

Leftists used to say of Hyde Park: it's a place where white and black alike, unite against the poor.

Overlay median household incomes on this graph and I think you'd see Chicago's wards, white and black alike, uniting against the poor.

RTA Tax Hikers Line Up...In Chicago, Of Course

100 politicians showed up to show their support of a consensus for raising taxes for mass transit, the Chicago Tribune reported Wednesday.

The press release can be found on McHenry County Blog, complete with subhead

Status quo for transit funding is not sustainable

To find the names of your local officials (I see 3 from McHenry County) , read the press release. If you want to have some fun, ask them which tax they favor hiking.

There was, of course, a regional consensus among similar

politicians, transit officials, labor representatives, businessmen and community activists

in 1973 when the Regional Transportation Authority Act was passed.

That “consensus” deteriorated to a 50-50 referendum passed by less than 13,000 votes at the primary election in March 1974.

Some consensus.

Rumor has it that Roger Stanley, the RTA Citizens Committee for Better Transportation’s pollster, found kNOw RTA forces were gaining one percentage point a day in the closing days of the campaign. (Stanley paid bribes to Metra Board member Don Udstuen and got a lighter sentence, after protesting loudly that he would not flip, for helping in the George Ryan corruption case.)

Of course, Chicagoland’s politicians have learned from that experience.

No future tax hike will have to be approved by referendum.

You can bet on that.

I do find almost quaint the title of the consensus report:

Moving Beyond Congestion

In whose lifetime?

Incidentally, blogger Dan Johnson-Weinberger is doing work for the project.

Friday, July 28, 2006

How Does the Living Wage Ordinance Affect Your Life?

A. Have to drive to Joliet to get those Toby Keith CDs
B. Miss out on Equate-brand lattes
C. No more of the smiley-face guy, goddamnit!
D. Now that I can never be a Wal-Mart greeter, I can look forward to playing shuffleboard in a nursing home.

There is actually some truth to that last one. Now the people that could have gotten jobs at Wal-Mart or another big box store will have to go back to doing what they were doing before. And if that means calling me during dinner to ask if I want to sponsor a starving child in Kenya for just pennies a day, I want no part of it.

The problem with the living wage ordinance is that at even those big box stores that might stay in Chicago, people will have a harder time getting jobs. Maybe Joe Schmoe can get a Wal-Mart job for 7$ an hour, but not $9.25.Where does that leave us? With a whole lot more people watching daytime TV, I can tell you that. Which means more people who will want to buy Toby Keith CDs--and Wal-Mart will get even more money. Geez...economics is hard. (The only reason I keep talking about Toby Keith CDs is that they're the only thing I'm sure Wal-Mart actually sells, other than those 99 cent hot dogs.) At any rate, the choice between a job at Wal-Mart and no job at all is not, as one Chicago labor leader put it "a choice between bad and worse." If Wal-Mart were that bad, no one would work there. People may not want to work there, but no one makes them. And hey, working at Wal-Mart sure beats being a telemarketer.

So we don't get more calls from telemarketers, or more old people with time on their hands(which, as Henry Winkler showed, can be a dangerous thing), we should give everyone a fair shot at getting a job. Chicago shouldn't subsidize those who have the skills and training to get jobs at 9.25$ an hour, at the expense of those who can't. If only because not having a job leads to more country music.

Heirs of Wobblies "Weenies?"

No, I didn't say that.

But a Sun-Times columnist did.

Comments on my original Illinoize story are about the Chicago City Council's big box ordinance are now up to 20. You can scroll down or you can read a reprint of them here.

One commenter took me to task, probably justifiably, because I don't know unionization law as well as he must, for saying that the signature of a hospital chain president would be enough to put the designated employees in the union. I guess I should have said that it would relieve the union of the onerous work to get enough signatures to force an election. Thanks for the correction.

And, yesterday, on page 2, the Chicago Sun-Times ran a column by David Roeder which seemed even stronger than my story.

Under the heading “Missed opportunities,” here’s the last part of his column:

Workers' desperation writes the script for a union organizer, those that are left. But most unions won't pick up the opportunities handed to them. The U.S. Labor Department says union membership of the total work force is down to 12.5 percent from about 20 percent in 1983. But if you strip out government jobs, you've got a union share in the single digits.

The public sector is among the few areas showing union growth. It figures. Access to the workers is greased with campaign contributions, and there's an easy mark, the taxpayers, on the other end of the bargaining table. So the union brass won't dirty their hands with organizing the private sector. They're more comfortable at political fund-raisers than they are with people who could use their help.

So Wal-Mart avoids a head-on fight. In Chicago, the heirs of the Wobblies are weenies.

If my original story angered union supporters, what will this do?

= = = = =
Abe Lincoln must not have a photo of the Blagojevich tollway signs for his post below, you can find it here.

If you would like to see a picture of 8th congressional district "Moderate Party" candidate Bill Scheurer's donkephant named, "McBeaney," you can see it at McHenry County Blog.

What a crew

If you believe this, I have some land to sell you in Arizona.

Nobody in an oversight position at the Illinois tollway or the governor's office knew about plans to spend nearly a half-million dollars on the big blue signs that advertise Gov. Rod Blagojevich's name to thousands of motorists a day on Chicago-area toll roads, the toll authority's chairman says.

And it looks as though Tollway Chairman John Mitola is tired of this being an issue (poor baby):

I am proud to have the governor's name on those signs," said Mitola, who was appointed by Blagojevich. He added he is "sick and tired" of hearing about the issue.

Here's what really cracked me up:

A spokeswoman for Blagojevich said open-road tolling has been a major initiative of the governor. The decision to put up the signs, said Abby Ottenhoff, was made by the tollway, "and we were fine with the decision."

Of course you were Abby.

It's all about the economy (and the economy is about investment)

Terry Dean in The Austin Weekly News,

Obama hosted the Q&A at Austin Town Hall, 5610 W. Lake St. Business owners were joined by representatives of the Austin Chamber of Commerce, the Austin African American Business Networking Association (AAABNA) and elected officials.
[***]
Obama advocated African-American businesses pooling some of their resources together to help existing or new businesses. As an example, he suggested the large number of black churches on the West Side could possibly pool some of their money to help fund loans for small business.

Obama said other ethnic communities with businesses-such as the Korean communities-have such a structure in place. Despite problems facing some small businesses in Austin, Cook County as a whole, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau in April, has more black-owned businesses than any other county in the nation, and has the fastest growing black-owned firms in the nation.

Instead of asking Churches to poney-up for the investment pool, it would have made more sense to ask big retailers to patronize these small businesses.

I know Chicago has a bad history here, but I'd trust Walmart to implement an effective minority business program more than the City.

It's all those growing business that will employee people, and you can bet they're just as worried as Walmart when the council starts meddling.

Makes more sense to me then passing the plate at Church.

An apple for the teacher? Rejected by union.

The Chicago Tribune ran an editorial today over-shadowed by discrimination enabling pay policies, on the FACT that the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) rejected $40 million from the federal government for education (specifically teacher's pay) simply because of "principles". I respect principles even though I don't always agree with them, as no one should. Even mine, for what that's worth.

The Chicago Teachers Union's "principles" in this instance rejected the $40 million from President Bush and the Republicans simply because that money was targetted for a program that would give pay bonuses to teachers who were performing well above average and achieving good results. Do we, the ones paying for the schools, want above average and good results? The Chicago Teachers Union doesn't. This is absolute proof of that.

What does the Chicago Teachers Union want? Socialism. Yes, I know, that term is thrown around a lot. But this is the perfect example. The Chicago Teachers Union wants EVERY teacher to be paid EXACTLY THE SAME based soley on the amount of time they have worked there. That is PURE socialism no matter how you cut it. They don't care if a teacher goes above and beyond and teaches her/his students better than someone else that started at the same time just showing up and collecting a paycheck.

According to the Chicago Teachers Union, beyond any shadow of doubt, the ONLY variable the CTU wants used when calculating a Teacher's pay, is time served. (Do they teach math well enough to understand this sentence?) The CTU doesn't care a lick about performance or going above and beyond, or students' test scores, or actual performance, or anything remotely considered human nature. The CTU only cares about time served. If I were a teacher, I wouldn't give the CTU one more dime of my money, unless I was below average, which it appears most Chicago teachers are considering graduation rates. That probably expains it best.

And please don't use the tired, irrelevant excuse that Chicago teachers don't make enough money. Here is their chance to make MORE MONEY if they do a good job, but their union is throwing it away.

I believe this example is a much bigger problem with our education quality than anything else, especially the cries for more money. Here is MORE MONEY, right in front you to take. But you reject it in favor of a completely socialist principle of equal pay regardless of job performance and based solely on time served? That's just sick. How many people in the real world reject a PAY INCREASE because the guy hired the same day as them who barely performs isn't getting the same pay increase based solely on time served? That answer is probably zero.

So what is it that our state government, the teachers unions, our taxpayers, and our children not understand about socialism never working? Maybe it's the education system not doing their job.

Someone, someday is going to have to stand up to the teacher's union to bring them back to the reality of pay for good performance, market-centered retirement benefits, average healthcare benefits, and a reminder they don't work a full year for their $39,000/9 month average salary plus benefits. Will it be Blagojevich, Topinka, or Whitney to remind them and look after the best interests of all Illinois residents and taxpayers? Nope, I highly doubt that.

We don't need to "break" the teachers unions, we just need to avoid breaking our future generations chances at doing as well as their parents did. For the first time in US history those future generational prospects are worse than their parents generation. The first generation in US history to do worse than their parents!!! That fact should be shocking and sickening.

Don't we owe it to the kids to pay teachers based on performance instead of seniority at the very least? Don't we owe it to the kids to not pass along bills that will require them to pay more than half or 60% of what they earn in taxes? (Why didn't the Chicago City Council propose eliminating ALL federal income taxes, including FICA/Medicaid/Medicare, on the poor "big box" employees because it is assinine to tax poor people even one penny?) We are bankrupting our future with current taxes and policies and government union contracts and it's time to say enough is enough and join the reality most citizens face, just like the citizens working at Target or Wal-Mart.

A state income tax increase is entirely illogical and heartless until we address REAL issues that pertain to real results in the classroom. Pay for time served versus pay for performance and results has to be properly addressed, considered, and acted upon before any state income tax increase is even considered. Anyone telling you differently doesn't care about our children's future, plain and simple. They are simply bought and paid for by the BIGGEST political campaign donor (bigger than corporations you Greens that are reading) in Illinois.

Let's stop listening to people (including unions, corporations, and Wal-Mart) trying to buy our politics and instead start listening to our children and logical, fiscally sound reasoning that conforms to the ideals our great country was founded upon. Please?

Thursday, July 27, 2006

Oprah to be drafted for Governor's race?

Former NBA star Charles Barkley announced today that he is leaving the Republican Party to run as a Democrat for Governor of Alabama:

"I was a Republican until they lost their minds," he said earlier this month.

This immediately got me thinking. If 17% of Illinois voters already say they would vote for a third party candidate over Blagojevich and Topinka, wouldn't Oprah be a shoe-in as a write-in candidate for Governor?

-She's got name recognition
-Fundraising won't be an issue
-She's got the swing voters and Democrats in her camp
-A political career is an obvious extension of the advocacy she does through her show

She'd have to figure out how to be Governor and still tape her show every day, but I'm sure she'd figure that out.

Chicago alderman inside their boxes: Thinking of themselves

Crossposted on Marathon Pundit. And later today, don't forget to listen to my radio interview.

While yesterday's passing of Chicago's "big box" living wage ordinance was the major local news story--and it's gotten pretty heavy play nationally--one story got buried. Chicago's alderman voted themselves pay raise for themselves yesterday, (free registration may be required to access the link).

As for the "big box" bill, the unions no longer bother denying that they've threatened to run opponents against the soon-to-be-a-little wealthier aldercreatures if they voted "wrong" on "big box."

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

Aldermen had made commitments to organized labor months ago. They were not about to renege -- and test labor's threat to run candidates against sitting aldermen.

Today's John Kass column in the Chicago Tribune is a work of brilliance. Here is an excerpt, and yes, free registration may be required:

As public policy, the big-box ordinance is certainly unconstitutional. It is an insidious attempt by Chicago politicians to squeeze businesses that hoped to open new markets--particularly underserved minority neighborhoods--while providing tax revenue and thousands of desperately needed jobs to unskilled workers, many of them black and Latino.

"I've got these white liberals telling me what's good for my community. But this big-box thing will cost black people jobs," Ald. Ike Carothers (29th) told me during Wednesday's pontifications.

"If I put out a notice that there were 500 jobs waiting in my ward--what Wal-Mart was offering for each store--you'd see a line of people from my ward all the way to Mississippi. People want jobs. That's it."

Eventually, Wednesday's histrionics will cost taxpayers even more money, once lawyers start generating billable hours. Ultimately, the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, requiring equal protection under the law, should trump the council's economic populism.

Sure it'd be illegal, but it would be a fair ending to this tale if the 35 alderman who voted for the "big box" wage bill were forced to pay the legal bills resulting from "big box" out of their own salaries. After all, they just voted themselves a raise.

On the Air in Chicago

Cross-posted from ICPR's blog, The Race is On:

Gov. Blagojevich has spent $5.2 million on TV ads in the Chicago market during the first half of 2006, including $1.8 million before the primary and $3.4 million afterwards. His campaign reported having $18.3 million available for the Primary, including cash on hand and funds raised before March 20. Looking only at the pre-Primary numbers, Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron Gidwitz spent the most on Chicago market ads, at $2.4 million. Disclosure reports for all candidates for the first half of 2006 are due to be filed with the State Board of Elections by Monday, July 31.

All told, candidates have spent some $15.2 million for TV ads broadcast in the Chicago, including $14 million by candidates for state office and $1.1 million by candidates for federal office.

Governor Blagojevich’s re-election campaign is the only campaign that has been running ads since the March Primary. The first wave of these ads, from the day after the Primary through April 10, included 453 30-second spots in the Chicago market, at a cost of $732,000. The second wave, which switched to bookended 15-second spots but otherwise retained the same apparent placement strategy, ran from April 20 to May 10 at a cost of $1.2 million for 1,365 total spots. The third wave ran from June 2 through July 3, including 1,764 15-second spots at a cost of $1.5 million.

The governor’s campaign has not aired spots since the Independence Day holiday, but they have told Chicago TV stations that the ad flights will resume in August. ICPR has updated its analysis of these ad broadcasts here. ICPR has also teamed with reform groups in other states around the Midwest to monitor news broadcasts in the weeks leading up to the November general; read the press release here.

Can't We All Just Get Along?

So although I've been continuing my light summer blogging schedule, I've got a couple good topics in mind that I hope to post up here in the next week or so. In the interim, I just happened to catch a press release that didnt' pop up in any stories that I saw today.

Apparently, the Governor today appointed Judge Abner Mikva to head the Human Rights Commission to replace outgoing Chair J.B. Pritzker.

Now I have nothing but admiration for Judge Mikva, and think that he is a fine choice for appointment to most any position, but I can't help but think that this announcement will inevitably rekindle discussion about the whole controversy regarding Sister Claudette Marie Muhammad and the Governor’s Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes. Granted, one has nothing to do with the other, but it's a relatively short line from one to the other.

It is difficult to think that the administration would not anticipate this linkage. But on the other hand, maybe they figure that it's better than the press that they've been getting lately.

To read, or post, comments, visit Dome-icile

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Using Government to Do What Unions Can’t

Public employee unions have long accomplished through legislation what they could not achieve at the bargaining table.

Think teacher pension increases.

And union organizing used to involve actually talking to workers.

But, Democrats like Governor Rod Blagojevich allowed unionization of, what, 49,000 day care workers by executive order. No messy contested vote once the state employees’ union, AFSCME, pulled out of the election against Service Employees International Union—not coincidentally, Blagojevich’s biggest campaign contributor.

Now unions like the SIEU want hospital employers like Advocate Health Care to just sign over their employees.

That’s right.

No messy democratic election supervised by federal authorities.

Just the signature of the CEO on a piece of paper and all of the designated health care employees would be dues paying members…and getting more dues is what union’s are all about, right? Who wouldn’t want to avoid the difficult job of organizing, if one could?

Tom Balanoff, the SIEU’s Illinois president was even appointed to Blagojevich’s original Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board. He didn’t stay long, but wasn’t that part of the SEIU’s stategy to put pressure on Advocate from every direction possible?

Evoking the Governor’s name as a way to induce hospitals to organize is certainly not beyond the SIEU’s pale.

Just picket the homes of the hospital presidents.

And sic Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn on organizing targets Advocate and Resurrection Health Care Corporation for charging poor patients to much.

Its called a corporate campaign and it consists of a systematic assault on the reputation of a corporation designed to undermine its relationships with such key stakeholders as its customers, shareholders, regulators, bankers and the general public. For details, click here.

I was reminded of how unions and the SEIU specifically use their allies in government to do their dirty organizing work for them by the Chicago City Council’s vote today to impose salary and benefit minimums on so-called “big box” stores like Wal-Mart, Home Depot and Target.

I saw the SEIU tee shirts in the audience.

Why wait for the super stores to enter the market place with new employees to try to organize and, again, not a coincidence, provide competition for the unionized Jewel and Dominick’s stores whose employees already pay dues?

Just get your minions on the city council to make it tough on the folks you want to organize.

36 of the alderpersons do not hold outside jobs in private enterprise or anywhere else.. They are full-timers (like I used to be as a state representative). Being government employees—even elected ones--does not yield a particularly representative group of citizens, even in Chicago.

Besides the relative few jobs per store, don’t what one former Democratic state representative called “alderthings” think their constituents might like to be able to walk to a place where they can buy groceries, soft and hard goods cheaper than elsewhere in Chicago?

Guess not.

And, if you don't know what a "Donkephant" is, go to McHenry County Blog.

Anti-jobs "big box"ordinance passes Chicago City Council

Crossposted on Marathon Pundit.

Longtime Chicago Tribune sports columnist Bob Verdi often calls Chicago, in a play on words of Carl Sandburg's description of the town, the "City of broad shoulders and narrow trophy cases."

Now that the "living wage" ordinance focusing only on "big box" retailers such as Target and Wal-Mart has passed the Chicago City Council, the city's new moniker may end up being the "City of broad shoulders and empty storefronts."

A test case for my theory is the boondoggle known as the Gateway Shopping Center in Joe Moore's 49th Ward. Moore, the anti-foie gras zealot, was the main sponsor of the bill.

The bill passed the council by a surprisingly large margin, a veto-proof 35-14. However, Mayor Richard Daley could still veto the bill, forcing big labor to worry about a few defections as the Council attempts to override Daley's first veto in his 17 years as mayor.

It's easy to view Wal-Mart, Target, and Home Depot as the losers today. The real losers are the people who won't have jobs in the stores that won't be opening in Chicago. The "big boxes" have plans to put stores in the underserved areas of the city, with no viable retail presence there for the "big boxes" to displace.

Chicago will continue to tax revenue to the suburbs and the web. It's an old article, but in 2004 Crain's Chicago Business reported:

MetroEdge calculates that city dwellers spent $32 billion on retail goods in 2003, but only $25.5 billion of that amount was spent in the city. The remainder was spent elsewhere — anywhere from the suburbs to the Internet. The size of the gap is debatable; MetroEdge's sales estimates don't exactly match what the state reports. But what's beyond question is that the city of Chicago is understored.

Liberal activists, columnists, and bloggers are claiming Wal-Mart and Target are bluffing when the retail behemoths state they'll cut back or cancel their expansion moves into the Second City. My hunch is they're not. Look for Wal-Mart to create a "big box" necklace along the borders of America's third most-populous city if the "big box" ordinance stands.

The sales tax in Chicago for most goods is 9 percent, with 2.25 percent of each sale going into city coffers. If it's not sold in the city, the city collects nothing.

Chicago's first Wal-Mart will open next month on the impoverished West Side, employing about 450 people. Wal-Mart has told Chicago leaders that the retailer has plans--or had plans, I should say, to open 10 or 20 stores in the city. You do the math.

On the positive side, Wal-Mart Watch, the Service Employees International Union funded group, is looking to hire a press secretary. So a Wal-Mart opponent has one job to offer.

Also on Marathon Pundit: A review of Senator Ted Kennedy's children's book, and information on my ,Thursday radio appearance.

No jobs, no investment; but pay raises for the ruling class

I think this is the Democrat's plan for all of Illinois. From Crain's,

"This vote sadly put politics ahead of Chicago's working men and women,” Michael Lewis, Wal-Mart’s Senior Vice President of Store Operations, said in a statement. “It sends a message that Chicago is closed for business, closed for development, and closed for job creation.”

and drive out the tax revenue need for this: from CBS,

Members of the Chicago City Council voted 26-to-16 on Wednesday to give themselves raises linked to the cost of living in each of the next four years.

The measure will probably result in smaller-than-normal raises for the aldermen. They approved a $20,000-a-year increase in 1995 and an additional $10,000 in 1998.

The city's 50 aldermen currently make more than $98,000 a year, so even a small raise will boost them past the $100,000 mark.

The annual increases will be based upon the Consumer Price Index -- published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The ordinance passed with no floor debate.

Post Script 1: Big problem with today's liberalism is its complete inability to distinguish the lessor of two evils. A real handicap considering there is a downside to just about every decision we face.

Frédéric Bastiat saw this as the difference between a good economist and a bad economist. Chicago's problem yesterday was we had no economist, just medicore Pols without forsight. Here's how Bastiat described it,

In the economic sphere an act, a habit, an institution, a law produces not only one effect, but a series of effects. Of these effects, the first alone is immediate; it appears simultaneously with its cause; it is seen. The other effects emerge only subsequently; they are not seen; we are fortunate if we foresee them.

There is only one difference between a bad economist and a good one: the bad economist confines himself to the visible effect; the good economist takes into account both the effect that can be seen and those effects that must be foreseen.

Yet this difference is tremendous; for it almost always happens that when the immediate consequence is favorable, the later consequences are disastrous, and vice versa. Whence it follows that the bad economist pursues a small present good that will be followed by a great evil to come, while the good economist pursues a great good to come, at the risk of a small present evil.

But then we've always been a city that's never looked much further ahead then where's mine. Post Script 2: The Sun Times sums up the Council's bet,

Supporters point to Wal-Mart's huge profits and executive salaries as evidence that it can afford to pay its workers more. They think Chicago's dense, urban market still will be attractive to the big boxes, which have saturated the rest of the area. If they're right, the City Council will have raised some workers out of poverty. But if they're wrong, they'll have relegated more workers to it.

Demographics and the obstacles of selling in the City are working against supporters.

Big Box Watershed?

Immediately after the City of Chicago passed it's smoking ban, there was a rapid move by the Cook County Board to make the ban countywide. That countywide ban was quietly supported by the same Chicago businesses who opposed the city ban. They figured the best way to keep customers from being driven to restaurants ringing the city was to extend it to the county as well.

Here's my question: if the Big Box Ordinance passes in Chicago today, as is widely expected, will Mayor Daley and the handful of others who opposed the city ordinance becuase they say it will drive jobs abd development out of the city work behind the scenes to enact a parallel ordinance for the county? Could it pass?

UPDATE:
Text messages I'm receiving from within the hearing indicate that atleast two undecided Aldermen have joined the "Yes" column. If they secure a veto-proof majority, making the ordinance countywide might make the most sense for Daley.

Blagojevich 45%; JBT 34%

from survey USA,

Analysis: In an election for Governor of Illinois today, 7/25/06, incumbent Democratic Rod Blagojevich defeats Republican challenger Judy Baar Topinka, according to a SurveyUSA poll conducted exclusively for KSDK-TV St. Louis. Blagojevich gets 45% today.
[***]
The two are effectively tied in Suburban Cook County and in the Chicago Collar Counties. Topinka is up by 4 points Downstate. The election is on 11/7/06.

Where are the other 50 points worth or Republicans going?

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

S.F. Democrats Straight-Forward on Health Care for Illegals...Unlike Illinois Colleagues

San Francisco Democrats are so different from their colleagues in Illinois.

Illinois Democrats passed the “All Kids” health care program primarily to provide health care to children who are in the United States illegally, but didn’t have the courage to say so.

Not so San Francisco Democrats.

Or, maybe, it’s that reporters in San Francisco are more astute than those in Illinois. Certainly, there was an opportunity to quote Republicans about the "illegals" angle to Governor Rod Blagojevich's bill.

I, for one, would have appreciated a little truth in advertising prior to the bill's passage. You know, tell your consituents what you are trying to do before you do it.

I'd even settle for the truth now, although I readily admit that Elgin's Daily Courier-News laddled it up boiling hot on December 4th.

Here’s the lead in the Associated Press story of San Francisco’s pioneering effort:

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to make the city the nation's first to provide all residents with health care, approving a plan that would give adults access to medical services regardless of their immigration or employment status. (Emphasis added.)

The only two news sources in Illinois to reveal the illegal alien angle early on besides Dick Kay on a Chicago Tonight panel was Crystal Lake’s Northwest Herald and the Quincy Herald-Whig.

When Chicago Newspapers blogger Jim Bowman asked Kay a follow-up question, this was his answer:

He has it exactly right! They will not apply under Kids Care because that is a federally funded program. All Kids is state-only and will cover illegal immigrants so long as they can pay the monthly premium and the co-pay. For that matter it would cover children of billionaires so long as they could pay the much higher premiums that would require. Our sister station, Telemundo, has done a couple of stories on the program.

The first hint that illegal aliens might be involved in All Kids didn’t show up until late January in an Illinois AP story and in a Daily Herald story. Of course, neither used the term "illegal alien," but one could read between the lines, if one wanted to.

If anyone can find evidence to contradict my assertion that Illinois reporters failed to discern the primary purpose of All Kids before it was signed, please let provide me with a link. I'd love to publish it (them) on McHenry County Blog.

(I would remind folks that Jim Edgar put forth the Kids Care program, which provides welfare medical benefits to poor kids who are legally in the United States. Now, Blagojevich is switching children from Kids Care to All Kids to pump up the latter's numbers.)

Burt Natarus: "I'm a friend of workers. No, really!!"

Alderman Burt Natarus finds himself in quite a pickle. Tomorrow, Natarus will vote against the Big Box Ordinance and against giving roughly 10,000 working families in Chicago a raise. He'll also vote to give himself a pay raise, the second in four years. The last was 15%, to $98K a year. This one will be 12%, to $111K.

Desperate for any kind of political cover, Natarus is trying to drum up grassroots support to provide himself political cover. An e-mail sent out by Natarus' office today said:

Dear Neighbor:

Tomorrow, July 26th, the City Council will vote on a “Big Box” Ordinance that would establish a super-minimum wage just for large retail stores located in the City of Chicago. I will vote no on the ordinance and I need your support for my vote........Throughout my long career, I have been a strong supporter of unions and the right of workers to organize. I believe that I have been instrumental in creating more union jobs in this ward than have been created in any other ward in Chicago. I am proud of my support for worker’s rights, but this is an exceptional situation. On this singular issue, I cannot support the union position.

Just to recap: in the last year, Natarus has opposed a smoking ban that was backed by the city's restaurant workers, made discriminatory comments about female traffic control officers, and lambasted the employees of the United States Postal Service.

With a friend like Burt Natarus, working Chicagoans don't need enemies.

Lobbyists Everywhere (Cook Co. Edition)

Cross-posted from ICPR's blog, The Race is On:

Who’s the biggest lobbyist in Illinois? Many of us could guess, but there’s no way of knowing exactly. Illinois does not require lobbyists to disclose their billings, nor what actions they take on behalf of their clients. But some parts of Illinois do, and those can be interesting.

Cook County, for instance, requires disclosure of billings by lobbyists. The top lobbyists in Cook County are probably familiar to statehouse denizens: Michael Kasper and Courtney Nottage report the highest lobbyist billing in Cook County. But those figures reflect only billing for lobbing in Cook, not statehouse work, or other levels of government.

Today’s Trib reports on these numbers, courtesy of Cook County Clerk David Orr. It’s past time for Illinois to consider this kind of reporting for state lobbyists. And a measure like HB 5765 would be a good place to start.

Censure Durbin dot Org

I like politics. I like most politicians. I like almost all of them regardless of politics. Their's a tough job and Americans not an easy people to govern.

I shared a flight with Durbin to DC and I told him I thought he had tough job... and then he later uttered in the Senate the nonsense you can hear below...

...so I signed this today.

He just turns my stomach now in a way almost no other pol can do.

PS Durbin's current silence on Torture covered here and here.

Update: Maybe the anti-war crowd will be joining the censure too,

Six anti-war demonstrators were arrested Monday after refusing to leave U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin's Loop office, police said.

The activists, from the Christian Peacemaker Teams, delivered a letter Monday afternoon to Durbin's office in the Kluczynski Federal Building, 230 S. Dearborn St., and asked him to make a public statement condemning U.S. military aid to Israel, team member Nils Dyvig said. When the activists did not get an answer, they declined to leave, Dyvig said.

HT yinn at SoapBlog Chicago

African-Americans oppose "big box," plus interesting editing

Crossposted on Marathon Pundit. And don't forget about my radio appearance on Thursday!

Fran Spielman writes about Chicago's "big box" ordinance, and notes something that even supporters of "living wages" agree on. African Americans oppose this bill:

Dr. Leon Finney of the Metropolitan Apostolic Community Church said recent polls commissioned by black ministers show voters in African-American wards oppose the big-box ordinance by 70-to-80 percent margins.

Finney scoffed at the threat by union leaders to finance candidates against incumbent aldermen who oppose the ordinance.

"Since when do we know that the labor unions have been able to elect anybody to office? . . . If an alderman decides to vote the interests of their people, they should be punished?'' Finney said.

Spielman's article was picked up by the affiliated Daily Southtown. Here's that first excerpted paragraph from the Southtown:

Leon Finney of the Metropolitan Apostolic Community Church said recent polls commissioned by black ministers show that voters in majority black wards overwhelmingly oppose the big-box ordinance.

Maybe I'm being a bit picky, but since the Sun-Times version of that paragraph is--at least to me--more effective in communicating the strong opposition of blacks to the "big box" ordinance, was the person who edited Spielman's Daily Southtown version of her article trying to diminish the punchiness of Fran's point?

More details on opposition to "big box" in the African American community in this May Marathon Pundit post, Chicago's "big box" anti-jobs ordinance.

Kos on Illinois

For those of you who do not read the Daily Kos blog, you should. While it's an understatement to say it leans to the political left (don't be afraid conservatives), it is a very thought provoking site.

Anyway, I bring this up because Kos has this to say on the race for Governor in Illinois:

Illinois (D-Rod Blagojevich)-- Blago's administration is corrupt, he's got a terrible relationship with the Democratic legislature, and people don't like him. There is one semi-popular Republican in the state, Judy Baar Topinka, yet she'll have a hard time overcoming her state's heavy Blue leanings. Voters seem willing to keep her as state treasurer. As governor? Skepticism abounds.

Kos also has Blago listed as an "endangered incumbent":

In just about any other state, Blago is toast. But Illinois has no quality Republicans left, and its heavy Blue tilt gives him a boost that quite frankly, given his administration's corruption, is undeserved.

Redlining

That's exactly what it is. From today's ST,

"This is going to hurt the minority community. . . . You talk about redlining. This is basically redlining. . . . This deals with economic development in the African-American community," Daley told a City Hall news conference.

"No one would ever bring that up in the suburban area. We're not talking about the Near North Side. . . . We're not talking about Wrigleyville. We're not talking about any of those [white] communities. We're talking about the West Side and the South Side. . . . For us to say, 'No, we don't want these stores,' that puts Chicago more on the map [as anti-business] than foie gras. That says, 'We don't want development.' ''

PS After looking at the pics of today's SDS (coming to Chicago for their convention) I realize today's progressives have never heard of redlining or have a clue what it is.

Monday, July 24, 2006

Ex-Lake County GOP Chairman Arrested for Kiddie Porn

Tom Adams, village president of Green Oaks and former Lake County Republican Party Central Committee Chairman, was accused of distributing child pornography.

In their arrest stories, both the Daily Herald and the Chicago Tribune call Adams a “mayor,” but he isn’t. He’s just the village president of a tiny town of 3,500.

Adams was GOP chairman from 2002-2004 and now serves as chairman of the Mayor Richard Daley-dominated Metropolitan Mayors Caucus. It's financed largely by the John D. McArthur Foundation.

The caucus has been preparing the way for a state income tax and other tax hikes for several years.

In 2003, for instance, the caucus pushed for the state to pay 51% of the cost of local education. That would, of course, require a massive hike in state taxes.

The only tax that has been mentioned by supporters of that concept and which is capable of bringing in significant money has been the state income tax. The Mayors group calls it a “tax swap,” just as the Rev. and State Senator James Meeks, 1994 gubernatorial candidate Dawn Clark Netsch and former Governor Jim Edgar did when they proposed similar plans.

When the income tax was established and hiked, municipalities were cut in on the deal. Undoubtedly, they would expect a share of any future hike in the state income tax, again, proving that following the money is a good idea, if one really wants to know what is going on.

With this arrest, I wonder if Adams was blackmailed into supporting the tax hike, which would suck money out of his home area. Or maybe he just has bad judgment in public policy, as he admittedly does elsewhere.

Nicholas B. Blase, another guy who likes to call himself a mayor, but is really Village President of Niles, recently was arrested for “convincing” local businessmen to buy insurance from his favored broker, is the Mayors’ Caucus Legislative Committee Chairman. Blase is a Democrat.

Maybe investigators should be looking at all the guys and gals who have to assuage their egos by using the inflated title of “mayor” when they are really village presidents.

More political stories at McHenry County Blog.

Ald. Joe Moore, retail genius

Crossposted on Marathon Pundit. While there, you can read about my upcoming radio appearance.

On Wednesday a vote is scheduled to take place in Chicago's City Council on the Chicago "Big Box Living Wage" ordinance.

Ald. Joe Moore, a two-year opponent of Wal-Mart and other "big box" stores, is the sponsor of the ordinance.

Supporters of the bill include the usual suspects: unions and the far left. Opponents include business leaders, as well as African-American community and church leaders.

Before becoming an alderman, Moore was an attorney for the City. He has no experience in retail.

Yesterday morning, I drove down Howard street to take a look at the Gateway Shopping Center, a project that was built at the inspiration of Alderman Moore, who helped grease things along by using the power of eminent domain to get the place built.

Driving west on Howard from Sheridan Road, I notice quite a few empty store fronts on Howard east of Gateway. West of Gateway too.

Arriving at the shopping center, I noticed, it does look pretty nice. A non-big box discounter, probably not union, Marshall's is there. Grocer Dominick's has a store, and yes, they're union.

But among the smaller units there, set aside for specialty outlets, about one-third sit empty. Gateway opened in 2000.

Now that "expert" in retail, Joe Moore, wants to tell the rest of Chicago how retail businesses should operate in the City.

For those readers living outside of Chicago, a quick lesson in how things are done in the Second City is needed. There's a "gentleman's agreement" among the Chicago's fifty alderman that the council member representing the ward, using--or shall I say, abusing zoning laws, exerts enormous power on what is built---or not built--in their ward.

Oh, the picture was taken Sunday morning in front of one of the many vacant store lots at Gateway. Call the number listed if you need retail space in Chicago's Rogers Park community.

Sunday, July 23, 2006

Illinois Democratic candidates roll call: Where is Alexi, the boy-banker?

Crossposted Sat. July 22 on Marathon Pundit.

Wandering around the web is a pretty good exercise for bloggers to find stories.

Two nights ago I found my self on the official web site of the Illinois Democratic Party, www.ildems.com.

I checked on the candidate page. The Democrat's candidate for governor, Rod Blagojevich is there, as is his running mate, Pat Quinn. For attorney general, Lisa Madigan....Jesse White, for secretary of state, Dan Hynes, comptroller....

Gee, someone is missing! Where is the Democrats' candidate for state treasurer, Alexi Giannoulias?

Could it be Alexi was accidentally omitted by a careless Illinois Democratic Party webmaster?

Or did he drop out of the race? I was out of town last week, so I might have missed something....

No, he's still running. In fact, Friday Alexi Giannoulias was campaigning in downstate Quincy, Illinois, as the Quincy Herald-Whig (cool name, isn't it?) reports.

There's been an ethical cloud surrounding Giannoulias since for the last few months.

From Crain's Chicago Business, March 13:

But there are a few other things voters might want to know before putting a 29-year-old Democrat who never has held government office in charge of investing $7 billion of your money each year.

Like how Broadway Bank financed property used for a gun store so notorious that it was sued by Mayor Richard M. Daley and finally shut down by federal authorities. Or how the bank lent money to a crime figure convicted of running a national prostitution ring to buy land in Florida. Not to mention the Texas lawsuit that contends Mr. Giannoulias and the bank "extorted" a nearly $100,000 loan fee. And the $5,000 campaign donation Mr. Giannoulias returned after revelations that the donor bought a fleet of gambling boats from a group including indicted Washington, D.C., lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Abramoff? Isn't he that corrupt Republican guy?

Via Rich Miller's Capitol Fax, here is an excerpt from a Chicago Tribune editorial a month later:

Let’s get this straight. Voters are supposed to be impressed by Giannoulias’ experience at the bank. Yet his defense here is that he was clueless as to what his bank was doing?

And he wants to take control of the entire state treasury?

Giannoulias was asked if it was acceptable for a state treasurer to lend money to crime figures. His response to Tribune reporter David Jackson: The treasurer should work to get "the best rate of return for taxpayers to create jobs."

What, no questions asked?

Actually, it seems understandable that the Illinois Democratic Party "forgot" to list the boy-banker from its list of candidates for statewide office.

For those living outside Illinois, you're probably wondering how Alexi won the nomination to run as the Democratic candidate for state Treasurer? Paul Mangieri was the candidate endorsed by the state party.

However, St. Barack, also known as Illinois Senator Barack Obama, stepped in and endorsed Giannoulias. It was the only endorsement Obama made in an Illinois contested primary race.

From ABC 7 Chicago in February:

Obama is the narrator in a new TV spot that launches a million-dollar-plus statewide ad campaign, financed in large part by Giannoulias's wealthy family which owns the Broadway Bank in Chicago, where Alexi's a vice president and contributes a lot of money to a lot of candidates, including Obama.

"The treasurer's job is a financial job. He's the candidate who has financial experience," said Senator Barack Obama, (D)-Illinois.

"When he told me he would be endorsing my candidacy, I promised I would never waver in my inherent desire to help people at every level have better lives," said Alexi Giannoulias, (D)-candidate for state treasurer.

The commercial, in which Obama calls Giannoulias "One of the most outstanding young men I could ever hope to meet" is still viewable on Alexi's web site.

A lot of questions need to be answered. The ones Alexi need to answer are pretty clear. The Illinois Democratic Party has to answer if it's just an oversight that Giannoulias was "disappeared" from the listing of Democratic statewide candidates on the official party web site.

And Obama needs to answer why he chose to endorse the boy-banker to shepherd $7 billion dollars in state funds?

Was there a quid-pro-quo?

Oh, a personal note to Senator Obama: With your connections, can you please get Alexi up on that site?

Big-box ordinance would hurt blacks who need jobs

I've been trying to find a way to discuss the debate with regards to Wal-Mart other than using my own small knowledge of Economics and merely regurgitating what I've heard especially if it makes sense to me. Then I've heard tidbits here and there on cable access. The calls were either in agreement or not in agreement with Wal-Mart coming into the black community.

There are those who complained that Wal-Mart doesn't pay enough. There are those who claim Wal-Mart are nothing but some slave masters paying slave wages. Then there are those who say that disadvantaged communities will need these opportunities in such communities. No doubt opinions are all over the place.

Then I see Mary Mitchell's column this morning. She starts off by talking about the unions, who seem to hate Wal-Mart with a passion (that I've never understood)...

If City Council goes ahead and passes the "big-box" ordinance, it would show a couple of things. The first, of course, is that despite bad schools, the lack of black faces on construction sites and double-digit unemployment rates in black neighborhoods, unions still have a firm grip on this town

She talks about the proposed ordinance which requires by July 1, 2010 that superstores such as Wal-Mart and Target to pay their employees $10/hour and $3 in benefits. But Mitchell notes...

But underneath the feel-good rhetoric about all those poor black folks needing to make a living wage, the real battle with Wal-Mart is between the superstore and unions that are trying to organize its workers.

That's reason enough for union members to want to stick it to Wal-Mart. But what about the thousands of black people who are stuck in the unemployment line?

I put that question to the Rev. Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Catholic Church because, quite frankly, I was surprised he was supporting this ordinance.

"We need to have jobs where people can work and still not be in poverty," he told me. "Wal-Mart has billions of dollars in profits. You should share your profits with your workers. I'm totally against this craziness that any job is better than no job."

But then she has a take about what having a job at Wal-Mart is really all about...

What other company is going to hire a black person who has dropped out of high school and is basically unskilled and lacks job training? In the old days, an unskilled worker could go to a manufacturing company or to the steel mills and work his or her way up from the assembly line.

But those jobs are long gone.

That's why parents are pushing and pulling their kids through high school, and then piling on debt to get them through college. We know firsthand that an entry-level job at Wal-Mart isn't going to pay much. And, after all, who really wants their kid to end up living a minimum-wage life.

Yet despite our warnings, kids do drop out of school. And people get divorced; spouses die; retirees sometimes are forced to go back to work. When life takes these twists and turns, we can at least thank God for Wal-Mart.

Second, passage of the big-box ordinance would make poor people the sacrificial lambs in this battle. Look around your neighborhood: Who's working in the small shops? It's certainly not black people.

So suppose the superstores fold up their blueprints. What then?

"If this ordinance is successful, the unions would have carried the day temporarily," said Eugene Morris, CEO and Chairman of E. Morris Communications. "But at what cost? The cost is not being paid by the aldermen, who can shop where they want. The cost is being paid by poor people who have to go miles to get to a decent store."

And here's something I didn't know, Wal-Mart is actually good to black owned contractors. We just met one of them in that last quote Eugene Morris, but who else...

Morris' company has done business with Wal-Mart for the past 14 years. A member of the Alliance of Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs, the African-American-owned advertising agency is one of many companies that has benefitted from Wal-Mart's investment in the black community.

Other black-owned companies doing business with Wal-Mart include Ariel Capital Management, which manages Wal-Mart's 401(k) plan, and Margaret Garner, the owner of Broadway Consolidated Construction, the first and only African-American female-owned firm to build a Wal-Mart store.

Alliance members do more business with Wal-Mart than any other company, Morris told me.

"We do about $300 million in business transactions," he said. "Here is a company that has demonstrated that they will hire people from the community, will do business with people within the community, and we are going to keep them out?" he asked.

If black aldermen are ignoring this dynamic, then they are serving their communities with blinders on.

In its June issue, DiversityInc magazine named Wal-Mart No. 6 among its "Top 10 Companies for African Americans" based on the company's "recruiting at [historically black colleges and universities] and professional organizations, investing in black-owned businesses, building community relationships through philanthropy and leadership roles in black organizations and marketing directly to African Americans."

Now while Mitchell supports a living wage she says that this proposal will only serve to hurt those communities that may not be able to survive the damgage that may be cause by this ordinance. I'm very inclined to agree. The struggling black communities in the city needs some type of economic engine. The argument won't fly if the concern is for mom and pop stores why because there aren't many such shops in the black community. Those callers on cable access who complain about Wal-Mart not paying enough or calling Wal-Mart slave masters probably wouldn't take a job if one was staring at them in the face.

I close this post with Mary's challenge to those blacks sitting on the city council...

The only reason I can think of for black aldermen to vote for this ordinance is that they've forgotten it wasn't the insiders, but the outsiders that sent them to City Council.

Crossposted @ It's My Mind

John Kass on Stem Cell Research

Jesus did his best teaching with word pictures.

It’s the technique of all the best teachers.

Today, John Kass has a column about stem cell research that is like no other commentary on the subject that you will ever read.

Your thoughts?

Also posted at McHenry County Blog.

Saturday, July 22, 2006

Amtrak ridership hits a new record in Illinois

Good news: another year of double-digit growth on Illinois-financed Amtrak service.

This press release by the Blagojevich Administration, picked up by the Trib, the Pantagraph, the Lincoln Courier, the Belleville News-Democrat and AP, outlines the good news:

Almost a million passengers on state-supported Amtrak trains from July 2005 through June 2006.

Every route had increases in ridership:

St. Louis-Chicago: up 9.2 percent to 133,036 [note: there are 3 round-trips a day, but 2 of them are not funded by Illinois, so these figures are only for the 1 round-trip]
Carbondale-Chicago: up 9.8 percent to 134,531 [does not include the New Orleans-Chicago train that passes through Carbondale]
Quincy-Chicago: up 4.6 percent to 118,502 [does not include the LA-Chicago train]
Milwaukee-Chicago: up 13.2 percent to 569,460 [does not include the Portland-Chicago train and Wisconsin covers 75% of the cost of this one]

And in October, the new service is scheduled to start, with 2 more round-trips on the St. Louis-Springfield-Bloomington-Chicago run, and 1 more round-trip each on the Quincy-Chicago and Carbondale-Chicago runs.

That's going to be great.

This will make living and working in Illinois more affordable, as people will have a more viable option that burning $3.50/gallon gas when they want to travel around the state. That's good for our economy, particularly our Downstate towns. It also makes our colleges more attractive, as it gives affordable access to Chicago to students and faculty at the campuses along Amtrak.

Illinois is now the second-biggest state partner to Amtrak in the country (California has a huge program).

If you want to book a ticket, check out www.Amtrak.com or call 800-USA-RAIL. And if you are a state employee, ask for the state rate (you get a discount).

I think it's going to be big news in October when the new trains start running, and I think the General Assembly and Governor Blagojevich deserve a lot of credit for making the big investment in Amtrak service for all of Illinois.

(Full disclosure: I worked on this as a lobbyist for the Midwest High Speed Rail Association).

Friday, July 21, 2006

RTA & Wal-Mart

Friday I was driving my son to and from swim practice and heard two ads on WBBM radio urging Chicagoans to

Tell your alderman to vote against the big box ordinance.

Don’t box us out.

Paid for by Wal-Mart

Then, I read John Kass’ Chicago Tribune column, which explains the politics of the fight which pits labor unions who do not want competition for their union-organized grocery stores Jewel and Dominick’s from Super Wal-Marts against those who wish to maximize city sales tax revenues and spur business development within Chicago’s boundaries.

A third counter pressure—part of the “Don’t box us out” campaign--appeared in the form of a rally of church leaders wanting city jobs.

But there is another aspect to the story that concerns the RTA.

Chicago interests have long coveted the sales tax dollars paid by Chicago residents in stores located in Chicago’s suburbs.

Anyone with a brain can figure out Chicago loses when a Wal-Mart is turned down by the City Council on the south side of Chicago and one is then built right next door in Evergreen Park serving the same market.

But, there is an impact on Regional Transportation Authority funding as well.

The union contract- driven Chicago Transit Authority gets all of the RTA sales tax collected inside Chicago. It does not get the sales tax collected in suburban Cook County, even it is Chicago residents doing the shopping.

So, imposing restrictions on a private enterprise like Wal-Mart that convinces it not to build new stores in Chicago hurts not only

· the residents who might get the jobs,
· the city that will not get the sales tax,
· the schools which will not get the property tax, but it also hurts
· the CTA

And, it increases the pressure on Chicago politicians to raid the revenue sources of the suburbs…still again…in order to feed the seeming insatiable financial appetite of the Chicago Transit Authority.

Meanwhile in Maryland, as Marathon Pundit informed me on Wednesday, a Federal District Judge has ruled a big box law requiring large Maryland companies to allocate as much as 8% of their payroll to health-care costs would cause a prohibited "legally cognizable injury" violating the "fundamental purpose" of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, also known as ERISA.

The proposed Chicago ordinance takes a different tack. The Tribune says,
If enacted, the measure would require stores with at least 90,000 square feet and $1 billion in annual sales company-wide to pay workers a minimum of $9.25 an hour plus $1.50 an hour in benefits.

Just a sample of what is available at McHenry County Blog.

Gay Games marathon gets last minute course change

Crossposted on Marathon Pundit.

Hmmm...I'm not sure what these people are thinking. July days in Chicago tend to be hot and humid, and the organizers of the Gay Games are only now figuring that out? Actually, the weather forecast for tomorrow is somewhat favorable for the marathoners.

This press release discusses the course change. The Gay Games Marathon will take place Saturday morning.

The Saturday 22 July 2006 Gay Games marathon route has changed to more adequately ensure the safety of the athletes. The Marathon will start and finish at the lakefront just north of 31st street beach, just south of McCormick Place. The course will take the runners south on lakefront trails to 49th street and then back north near the start locations. Marathon runners will run four loops of the lakefront course. Half-Marathon runners will run two loops. The course will no longer go north to Fullerton as planned.

Four loops? Bohr-ing!!!

More....

"Changing to a shorter looped course will help ensure the safety of the runners," said Nancy Harris, Logistics Director. "Last weekend's extreme heat led us to re-evaluate the longer course and conclude that for athlete safety we need to position water and relief stations much closer together than traditionally provided in a marathon. The new course ensures that marathon runners will always be much closer to trained volunteers and medics so that any health-related issues may be handled immediately." The decision was made in cooperation with City of Chicago officials.

The high tomorrow is forecast to be 79 degrees. By the time most of the runners finish, about 10am, the high of the day will not have been reached. Besides, it's always a little cooler near Lake Michigan in the summer. So I'm not sure why they changed the course.

Will the new course be accurate? USA Track & Field is the organization that certifies courses as complying to the distance promised, which is 26.2 miles for a marathon, 13.1 miles for the half-marathon.

To a person, runners ask of two things from a race organizer: Plenty of refreshment stops (it looks like the Gay Games is covered here) and an accurate course. I'm not so sure that the latter will fulfill expectations.

Chicago has an unhappy history with marathon course that are tinkered with at the last minute, as participants in the defunct Lakeshore Marathon discovered last year. Those runners had to contend with an extra mile added to an already long race.

Thomas Klocek press release

Crossposted on Marathon Pundit. Posted here at the request of another Illinioze contributor.

Grant Crowell of Walking Eagle Productions has put together the below press release. Be sure to click through the link to PRWeb, as Grant has some links to videos he's made about Professor Thomas Klocek's free speech struggle with DePaul University. The Chicago college prides itself as the nation's largest Catholic college.

Donations to Thomas Klocek's legal fund are being accepted, information on how to contribute can be found in the bottom third of the press release.

What's Ward Churchill got to do with this sad story? The likely soon-be-fired Colorado professor, was an invited paid speaker at DePaul several months after DePaul fired Klocek. In DePaul-think, it's Churchill, yes, Klocek, no.

The Scholars for Peace in the Middle East (SPME) petition to reinstate Thomas Klocek, the Roman Catholic faculty member who was suspended without a hearing by DePaul University for an on-campus argument with students on Middle East issues. The petition has already amassed over 1,200 signatures in just three weeks, and organizers are calling for more professors and teachers everywhere to sign it to reach their goal of 2,000. The petition, which can be viewed and signed at http://www.spme.net/cgi-bin/display_petitions.cgi?ID=3 calls for his complete reinstatement without prejudice or penalty.

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) July 20, 2006 -- Responding to what has been condemned as a violation of academic freedom, professors, scholars, and students worldwide signed a petition by The Scholars for Peace in the Middle East (SPME) to reinstate Professor Thomas Klocek to his teaching position at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois.

Titled "A Petition to Reinstate Professor Thomas Klocek to DePaul University With No Prejudice or Penalty," the petition is to be delivered to DePaul's president and Dean upon its goal of 2,000 signatures. As of this announcement, SPME needs 742 more signatures to reach its goal. Supporters can fill out the Klocek petition on SPME's Web site at www.spme.net.

DEPAUL'S ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF ACADEMIC FREEDOM

In an interview with Walking Eagle Productions, a documentary film company covering the DePaul controversy, Klocek said that he was suspended by DePaul administration and ultimately lost his position and teaching benefits after engaging in an out-of-class argument with pro-Palestinian students at a student activities fair on campus.

Klocek shared that he served 14 years a part-time adjunct professor in DePaul's School of New Learning and that he was considered a popular professor, with large class enrollments and received excellent student reviews, with no prior complaints about Klocek's behavior. But after engaging in heated discussion with two Muslim student groups at a Student Involvement Fair on DePaul's campus, the student groups Students for Justice in Palestine (SPJ) and United Muslims Moving Ahead (UMMA) went to the administration to call for Klocek's firing. Both groups were backed by CAIR (Council on American Islamic Relations) Chicago, and other local Muslim advocate groups, some of whom called for even harsher punishment.

Klocek said that although no 3rd party witnesses were provided by the offended parties, DePaul's Dean of the School of New Learning, Susanne Dumbleton, had him suspended without any hearing, and held his insurance benefits in jeopardy. Once Klocek was removed from his teaching position, Dumbleton then publicly castigated Klocek in DePaul's student newspaper, The DePaulia, stating that Klocek was being punished by the DePaul Administration for expressing what she deemed to be Klocek's "erroneous assertions" to the Muslim student groups.

Christina Abraham, Civil Rights Coordinator for CAIR's Chicago branch office, granted an interview to Walking Eagle Productions to explain their reasons for filing the original complaint to DePaul on behalf of the student groups. Abraham stated that she believed all of the student group's allegations, and that they were serious enough to demand Klocek's immediate firing.

First Amendment groups, such as the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), protested DePaul's actions. FIRE's then-president David French stated in its own press release that Klocek's suspension violated DePaul's policies guaranteeing academic freedom as well as its contractual promise of due process "because his statements were allegedly offensive."

"While DePaul may now argue that the issue is one of professionalism, its public statements at the time of Klocek's punishment make it clear that Klocek's real crime was offending students during an out-of-class discussion of a controversial and emotional topic." said French. "Academic freedom cannot survive when professors who engage in debate on controversial topics are subject to administrative punishment without even the most cursory due process."

A PEACE ORGANIZATION RALLIES FOR ACADEMIC FREEDOM

How did Scholars for Peace in the Middle East become involved in Klocek's defense?

"SPME is an academic community of scholars." explains SPME President Dr. Beck, in an interview with Walking Eagle Productions. "And as such, we're trying to support another scholar on what we see as a violation of his academic freedom and due process. The goal is to raise awareness among faculty members that we may not be as safe as we think we are, and to get him reinstated without penalty."

Klocek is undeterred and confident that true scholars will rise above such divisiveness, and support the petition on behalf of him. "The issue of free speech and academic freedom," says Klocek, "extends to all faculty members, part- and full-time, non-tenured and tenured alike."

While the petition is open for everyone to sign, SPME is especially encouraging signatures from professors. SPME however, has expressed the important role students can play in circulating their petition professors in their own schools and classes, or contacting professors who remain active during the summer in online forums and web blogs.

CONTRIBUTIONS FOR KLOCEK NEEDED

A fund has also been created to assist Klocek law counsel with legal expenses. Contributions may be sent to the following address:

Thomas Klocek Legal Defense Fund
c/o Cole Taylor Bank
P.O. Box 88481
Chicago Il 60680

ABOUT SPME

Scholars for Peace in the Middle East is an independent, faculty-driven, not-for-profit [501 (C) (3), "big-tent" grassroots community of scholars with well over 6000 academics and members, dedicated to peace in the Middle East consistent both with Israel's right to exist as a sovereign Jewish state within safe and secure borders. Full information can be read at http://www.spme.net/aboutus.html

For Further Information Contact, Dr. Edward S. Beck, President, 717.576.5038

What are they thinking?

This story in today's Chicago Sun-Times speaks for itself:

Gov. Blagojevich's administration has been hit with new subpoenas in a federal probe of its hiring practices but is concealing them from its own department heads and voters as election season heats up.

After the new subpoenas began arriving in late June, the governor's top lawyer, William Quinlan, sent internal memos asking agency chiefs and other top officials for lists of all human resources employees and computer equipment they used. He also ordered them to preserve a wide range of computer backup devices that "must not be deleted, overwritten, destroyed or modified in any manner."

But the June 28 memos made no mention of the subpoenas, even though both sets of documents asked for similar information. The Chicago Sun-Times reviewed language in the subpoenas and obtained copies of the memos from sources who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Disclosure of the Justice Department's latest demands marks the first time any hiring-related subpoenas have been revealed since November, when the governor's office confirmed receiving four such subpoenas, then quit discussing them publicly.

Oh, and the campaigns agreed to five debates:

It wasn't easy, but the campaigns of Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his Republican opponent, state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, said Thursday that the two candidates would square off at least five times at debates before the Nov. 7 election.

The agreement came after weeks of telephone and letter exchanges. There's still a possibility as many as seven additional debates might be added.

So far, the two campaigns said they have agreed to three debates sponsored by WTTW-TV in Chicago, the Southern Illinoisan/WSIU-TV and the Rockford Register-Star/WREX-TV. The camps also agreed to a radio forum sponsored by the Illinois Radio Network and a debate hosted by the Associated Press.

Sigh...is it almost November?

Thursday, July 20, 2006

Natarus Goes Postal

As you probably know, Chicago alderman Burton Natarus made headlines on Tuesday with a weird rant, which you can watch here. (Hat tip: YDD)He blamed black postal workers for problems with the mail and said that, "Of all the places in the United States where Afro-Americans have an opportunity with benefits and with good pay to do a job, it's the postal service." But then again, where could someone like Natarus get a job, other than the Chicago City Council? The guy's old, ugly, and has no eyebrows. And no sense, either.

At least the Post Office delivers. Even if it's raining, or hot, or there's ten feet of snow, your mail still comes. On the other hand, all the City Council does is go to meetings once a month. Trans fats? Smoking ban? A living wage? Natarus and others earn a living by making fun stuff illegal. In the name of those who like to smoke and eat Twinkies while working for 50 cents an hour, I think we should get rid of the CCC and replace it with the Post Office. The aldermen could get cool uniforms and drive around in little trucks, going to everyone in their ward.Then Natarus could see how hard it is to be a mail carrier, with a heavy bag full of letters, the sun beating down, and no end in sight. I don't know about you guys, but my dog would bark if he came to the door.

GOP's failed outreach

President Bush addressed the NAACP for the first time in his presidency today, but Obama had a warning for attendees.

Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois warned NAACP delegates to be cautious of any civil rights promises Bush offers when speaking to the group today. The senators criticized Republicans for allowing the landmark 1965 voting act to nearly expire and said the Justice Department has failed to aggressively pursue allegations of disenfranchisement.

"Don't be bamboozled. Don't buy into it," Obama said, trying to anticipate Bush's speech, which is expected to touch upon his support for extending the act. "It's great if he commits to signing it, but what is critical is the follow-through. You don't just talk the talk, but you also walk the walk."

This ties into an interesting story in this weeksNew York Time's which looked at the RNC's failed attempt to reach out to African American voters.

Mr. Mehlman’s much-publicized apology to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People seems to have done little to address the resentment that built up over what civil rights leaders view as decades of racial politics practiced or countenanced by Republicans.

That perception of Republicans as insensitive to racial issues was fed again by the opposition mounted by some House conservatives to an extension of the Voting Rights Act. The House approved the extension last week.

“I have heard Ken Mehlman talk about the Republican Party as the party of Lincoln,” said Bruce S. Gordon, the president of the N.A.A.C.P. “I have not seen that evidence itself as much as Ken would suggest. If the party wishes to reflect the principles of Lincoln, it has a long way to go.”

Can the GOP ever make inroads with African American voters?

Burt "Bobblehead" Natarus Does It Again

Alderman Burt "Bobblehead" Natarus (aka "Big Boob Burt" says Justin at Schadefreude.net, a big CapitolFax fan) just doesn't know when to shut up, and this time he's insulting "Afro-Americans" and raising the ire of a sitting U.S. Congressman, Danny Davis.

As Committeeman, Burt Natarus blocked a bid by Cong. Davis to fill the vacancy in the Democratic slate created by John Stroger's stroke. Natarus wasn't alone in supporting Todd Stroger for the post, so Davis can't really take offense.

But Natarus was alone (the video is priceless) in his tirade against "Afro-Americans" (Natarus is so out-of-touch, I'm surprised he didn't say "negroes"), whom he blames for sub-par service at the U.S. Post Office.

Today, Cong. Davis said that Natarus should apologize, and the hard-working folks at the U.S. Post Office and their thousands of employees -- who have a main branch in Natarus's Ward, undoubtedly aren't too happy either.

I just wanted to add that I hope that Natarus wasn't relying on an extensive direct mail campaign in his re-election bid against Brendan Reilly. Every campaign I was ever in, I've learned it's good to be nice to the hard-working, union employees who carry your message to the door every day.

By the way, I want to say thanks to B12 Partners Solipsisms, for posting this listing of "Burt Natarus's Greatest Hits (and misses)":

Fining agressive panhandlers $100 (how do they come up with the money, Burt, more agressive panhandling?)
Cracking down on horses, and horse poo
Banning rollerblades and skateboards
Banning newspapers from carrying advertising inserts (I guess the Trib was getting too heavy)
Ending the annual Air and Water Show
Banning parasailing on Lake Michigan
Repealing "Right Turn on Red"
And my personal favorite, Burt Natarus once demanded that strip joints post prices for "all services rendered."

Alot of folks argue that Burt has simply gone daft, and I've tended to agree. But when you read this list of gaffs, goofs, and gaffaws stretching over 30 years, it's easy to see that Natarus has always had a screw loose.

How else do you explain the fact that Natarus is simultaneously calling for tougher enforcement of Chicago's cell phone ban and using taxpayer dollars to defend City Hall's hiring practices from Federal monitoring?

P.S. Natarus has removed the Bobblehead doll photo from his website and Schadefreude's link to the rap song about the Natarus cell phone ban is dead. If anyone can provide links, I'd especially love to hear the rap song.

Blog-Splosion

The Pew Internet Project released a new study on blogging this week. Some interesting stuff: blogging appears to be growing by leaps and bounds.

12 million Americans, or 8% of internet users, are bloggers;
57 million Americans, or 39% of internet users, read blogs;
37% of bloggers write about their own lives;
11%, or 1.3 million, focus on politics and government;

If you're a blogger, you can complete the Pew Internet survey yourself online, to help them paint an even more complete picture. The survey is at: http://www.psra.com/PewBloggerSurvey.html

Thanks to the Pew Internet Project and researchers Amanda Lenhart and Susannah Fox for an invaluable report.

So, anybody have any favorite blogs, political or apolitical, that they want to talk about?

Tony, Don't be a Cmizdravac

Dear T:

If you are a dick, you will lose.

Yes, we are sick that Todd Stroger got the slot because of his daddy.

But other than the chattering political junkies, nobody cares, YET. It’s the summer, baby.

The press will push the nepotism and anger angle for you. Stop being so indignant—you appear a little Allan KeyesISH.

Take a deep breath, smile AND charm the voters. How about some self-deprecating humor?

“When I first became a Commissioner, I still had some trouble understanding English, especially when people spoke really fast. So when Cook County employees said “Whoozen’M’Diddee”, I thought somebody had sneezed. Now I know they were asking “Who is MY daddy?”

If you are strident and angry all the time, Democrats will select the familiar name “Stroger”.

Better they go with the devil’s son they know, than the angry devil they don’t.

P.S. For the love of Jehovah, please donate to the Peraica campaign here.

Illinois Shadow

Interesting

After reading Doug Finke's story in today's SJ-R, you have to think team A-Rod already has someone in mind for this position.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich's office is hiring a consultant to prepare for the sale or lease of the Illinois State Lottery, even though the General Assembly has not signed off on the plan.

Blagojevich's budget office sent out requests July 12 asking for proposals from financial advisers who can guide the state through the sale of the lottery. The state expects to award one or more contracts on Aug. 7.

"Just because we are doing this doesn't mean we are ready to sell (the lottery)," budget office spokeswoman Becky Carroll said Wednesday. "We will not move forward on selling or leasing a lottery license until we have approval from the General Assembly."

Given this administration's track record, you have to believe some friend or contributor stands to benefit...what do you think?

Mark Brown on the Burge Report

Mark Brown on the Burge Report. It's 292 pages so I won't have time to read it until the weekend.

I have a friend. His brother is a lawyer representing an enemy combatant in Gitmo. I mentioned the Burge case and he responded with all the details on the cop killers. No sympathy with Wilson, you deserve it buddy --and my friend is right.

It's easier to get worked up over Gitmo. It's a little more abstract. But Brown gets it right below.

I still don't think it will be an issue in any elections this November, but maybe I'm wrong.

People often ask why politics breaks down along racial lines in Chicago. The torture report helps explain that, too.

After a while you come to realize that a person's experiences and perceptions depend a great deal on the color of their skin. Nowhere is that more true than when it comes to attitudes toward police and police brutality.

In the African-American community, the group most often on the receiving end of such treatment, the torture allegations have long been accepted as fact, while those of us whose experiences with police are more positive remained skeptical.

I came to town in 1982, the year of Andrew Wilson's arrest for the killing of two police officers. The allegations that he had been tortured after his arrest were well known at the time. The public wasn't particularly concerned. Wilson's guilt wasn't in doubt and still isn't.

But looking the other way had its price. And $7 million doesn't begin to cover it.

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Opps. Blagojevich Only Gives Gay Games $125,000 in Tourism Money; $25,000 More from Lottery

Guess I’ve been away from state contracts so long that I can’t interpret them correctly anymore.

In mid-June, I reported that the Gay Games, a.k.a., Chicago Games, Inc., had received $296,616. Turns out that was the total amount budgeted for the relatively non-controversial expendures outlined in my article.

Since the Gay Games woman sounded so sure that her organization was going to get $450,000 at the 3-2 Crystal Lake Park Board meeting, I thought maybe the money might be spread over two fiscal years.

Searching for money that might show up in the budget year that started July 1st, I discovered that only $125,000 in state touirism subsidies have been approved by that department.

Of the $125,000 grant, $62,500 was paid on May 11. The other half will be paid during the lapse period, that is, this or next month, I was told.

Illinois Review reported that $25,000 more came from the Illinois Lottery, about which I wrote here.

I do wonder why was the Gay Games women so sure of the $450,000 figure.

Washington Blade on Marriage Referendum and the DNC

Someone has to tell me why it's nasty to seek a referendum on the ballot, but it's ok to fight to take it off. The Washington Blade,

The Democratic National Committee, meanwhile, assisted a gay group in Illinois with its efforts to block an anti-gay marriage amendment from going before voters in November and has adopted a five-point plan for fighting similar ballot measures in other states, according DNC spokesperson Danien LaVera.

“As we move forward in this election year, we will help in a variety of ways,” LaVera said.
[***]
LaVera said the DNC’s involvement in the Illinois ballot fight was an example of how cooperation between the DNC and local or state gay groups have proven to be “highly successful.”

Rick Garcia, director of Equality Illinois, could not be reached for comment.
[***]
John Marble, spokesperson for National Stonewall Democrats, said officials with Equality Illinois and gay Democratic activists in the state were “very pleased” with the DNC’s help. Marble said the DNC also contributed $10,000 to the petition challenge effort.

LaVera said a DNC policy that prohibits disclosure of “internal strategy” prevents him from commenting on any contribution the DNC makes in electoral efforts like the Illinois ballot fight.

The DNC really ought to have listened to Kerry, quoted in the same article,

When the state party in Massachusetts officially threw its support behind gay marriage, Sen. John Kerry, the Democrats’ 2004 presidential nominee, criticized the decision. He is on record favoring the type of statewide ballot measures banning gay marriage that the DNC is now challenging.

Commodification with a plausibly human face

Eric over at SoapBlog Chicago lines up the House votes of Illinois Reps on Federal Funding for embryonic Stem Cell research.

I like the way these Marxists in the UK see it,

Although most of the ethical debate has focused on the status of the embryo, this is to define ethics with no reference to global or gender justice. There has been little or no debate about possible exploitation of women, particularly of ovum donors from the South. Countries of the South without national ethics committees or guidelines may be particularly vulnerable: although there is increasing awareness of the susceptibility of poorer countries to abuses in research ethics, very little has been written about how they might be affected by the enormously profitable new technologies exploiting human tissue. Even in the UK, although the new Medical Research Council guidelines make a good deal of the 'gift relationship', what they are actually about is commodification. If donors believe they are demonstrating altruism, but biotechnology firms and researchers use the discourse of commodity and profit, we have not 'incomplete commodification' but complete commodification with a plausibly human face. [my emphasis]

Sometimes I think this Red=Republicans / Blue=Democrats paradigm really makes sense. Guess I'm still a Red. Just like back in College.

The Gay Games come to Chicago

Crossposted on Marathon Pundit.

I don't get worked up about the Gay Games either way. I'm troubled over the state subsidies it's receiving (Hat tip Cal Skinner), and since previous Gay Games have lost money, I think fiscally-challenged Illinois should be wary of sinking cash into a financial sink-hole.

Last weekend the Gay Games opening ceremony took place at Chicago's Soldier Field. As an amateur athlete, I think it's great others are utilizing their spare time engaging in sports and keeping fit.

However....

The Gay Games have a marathon. I was seriously toying with the idea of entering--that'd make for some interesting blog entries--but they want a whopping $250 to sign up. The Chicago Marathon charges only $80 dollars, and for that price I'd become a Gay Games athlete.

I brought up my concerns to the organizers a few months ago--Nancy Harris replied:

The $250 registration is higher than other Marathons - that is true. But that fee is for more than just participation in the Marathon it includes the full, week long Gay Games experience.

Registration for the Gay Games comes in two parts Â– the base registration and the sport registration. The base registration of $175 allows you to participate in as many sports and cultural events as you would like and includes:

Participation in Opening Ceremony at Soldier Field

Participation in Closing Ceremony at Wrigley Field

Gay Games VII Participation Medal

Free spectator access to many events

Free Week-Long Transit Pass

Gay Games VII Program Guide

Gay Games VII Souvenir Bag

Collectible Participant ID

Discounts at area merchants

Special online giveaways through 2006

Each sport then carries its own fee ranging from $35 to $124. The fee structure has been designed to fairly represent the costs of managing each sport or cultural event. In the case of the marathon the sport fee is $75.

$75 plus $175 equals $250. The marathon will take place on Saturday, without me in it.

I'm very familiar with the basics of the course--Chicago's lakefront paths--so the participants will benefit from a flat and fast runway to the finish line at 26.2 miles. Good luck, and hydrate well, runners.

Chicago pro-Israel rally: Topinka stands up for the Jewish state

Crossposted on Marathon Pundit.

Republican candidate for Illinois governor Judy Baar Topinka had this to say at a pro-Israel rally in Chicago yesterday:

When Israel is attacked, we are attacked.

Her Democratic opponent, incumbent Rod Blagojevich, was not at the rally, which shouldn't be a surprise. Last year, Blago appointed a senior member of the notorious anti-Semitic Nation of Islam to the state's hate crime panel. Four Jewish members of the panel did the honorable thing and resigned in protest.

Monday, July 17, 2006

Happy Illinois Cost of Government Day

Last Thursday, Americans For Tax Reform released their annual report on Cost of Government Day. The Cost of Government Day identifies when the average American worker has worked enough to pay for the total spending and regulatory burden of government. That day, this year, was July 13th.

When the Cost of Government Day is broken down by state, Illinois ranks 41st in the Nation. The Cost of Government Day for us is July 17th. So, Illinois workers, thanks to our state and local policies you work a full four days longer than the average American.

To give you some perspective. The number 1 ranked state is Alabama. Their Cost of Government Day was June 25th. Number 50 was CT, which will reach Cost of Government Day on July 30th.

By the way, hanging on my wall is proclamation by Gov. George Ryan stating that Cost of Government Day in 2000 was June 16th, nationally, I don't have Illinois' rankings for that year. But, in 2001 I do know that Illinois Cost of Government Day was July 5th -- 12 days earlier than this year.

Roots of Political Corruption

I hope the part of Pioneer Press’ cartoonist Eric Allie’s “1000Words” that I have reprinted here does not go over the “fair use” copyright line.

It shows a man in shades mowing a lawn with a lawn mower on which the label “The FEDS” appears.

The mower is approaching a weed with leaves above ground, but massive roots below. It is labeled,

Illinois Culture of Corruption

The implication is obvious.

While U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald and his yeoman crew of federal investigators from departments all over the Federal government are keeping the corruption weed under control above ground, cleaning up Illinois politics is hopeless.

But, just as we homeowners cannot stop weeds from growing, we still keep mowing the lawn.

But, helping the FBI and postal inspectors and Transportation Department inspectors and many others are people like former Lee Daniels’ top aide Mike Tristano, who, the Chicago Tribune reported on a page 2 story in the Metro section that

He agreed to have telephone conversations recorded during the investigation, which has now run for several years.

A 2003 search warrant obtained by the Tribune called for the seizure of
all documents related to
hiring and/or termination of any employee;

job descriptions and assignments;

organizational charts;

salaries;

pay periods, payroll records, or any changes made to salaries or payroll;

for any and all House Republican employees.

That might provide some weed killer for at least one caucus of the Illinois General Assembly.

Gay Games and the Spartans

Ron Grossman gives us a history lesson today in the Trib about ...one of the most famous Greek military units, the Sacred Band, 150 pairs of warriors who were lovers.

I wish Gay Activists then would lay off banning ROTC in Universities and instead replace the words American and United States for Spartan and city in this paragraph,

Those gay unions were intended to foster a spirit that, in every generation, on every battlefield, the foremost thought in a Spartan's mind must be never to let down their city.

I think they'd do more service to their cause if they tried that.

Pantagraph.com: Vets seek job applicant names

Today at Pantagraph.com,

Veterans organizations and minority groups say Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration should release information about unsuccessful applicants for state jobs.

They argue the information must be public so people can tell whether the state is following laws that give veterans preference in hiring and seek to recruit more minorities.
[***]
The American Legion, a driving force behind the veterans preference rule, believes jobs in public service should be open to public scrutiny.

"All the hiring practices should be open and aboveboard so that the people can know if the veterans preference was given," Prosser said.

Roy Williams Jr., executive director of the Illinois Association of Minorities in Government, said the administration should "know better" than to withhold the hiring lists.

Williams said he is disturbed by the allegations of misconduct, adding that Blagojevich should reward experienced, competent employees by promoting from within state government rather than hiring outsiders with political connections.

Topinka / Birkett should be hammering away at these abuses. Democrats in Chicago keep lists of job applicants by political sponser and race. They're not doing it to promote diversity in the workplace.

Sunday, July 16, 2006

Ellen's 10th Congressional Blog, Cong Kirk, and free speech

Ellen says Kirk supporters are curtailing her free speech by circulating links to her blog (blogs are speech to me) where Ellen told her readers:

Many in Israel don't want to be used as pawns in the American right wing/Bush Administration/Kirk Campaign Strategy/Arms Dealer and Oil Company plan for them.

I'm no expert on Israeli public opinion but I'm baffled on how circulating your blog posts curtails your speech.

Folks over at Soap Blog Chicago say its a Rovian tactic. Maybe it's Exxon or BP behind these tactics instead.

Police Out in Force for Crystal Lake Gay Games Regatta

This morning before 11, I went over to Crystal Lake’s Main Beach to see what was happening with the Gay Games.

What made the biggest impression was the show of force by the police. I drove on South Shore Drive.

Speed boats were enjoying the lake. This one is pulling a young child on a tube.

I saw that CCAPOA (Country Club Additions Property Owners Association) beaches had signs saying,

CCAPOA Members Only

Before I even got to the Main Beach, I saw the police boat with two officers in it. I don't think I have ever seen two officers in the boat, but maybe I have just not been observant before. (Having just seen the Piratis movie, I wonder if they were planning on boarding misbehaving boats.)

Next, I saw two Lakewood police cars, one sitting at Gate 4 and the other behind me at Gate 3.

As I drove past the last house west of the main intersection, I saw Christians holding signs. They were cordoned off behind a snow fence. Their small part of the area is where only traffic and those allowed to go behind another snow fence blocking off the west end of the Main Beach park where the regatta is being staged can see them.

Christians must be really threatening to the powers-that-be.

Inside there were white shirts, blue shirts and green shirts on policemen.

There was even a policeman on a bicycle talking with other blue and white shirted colleagues south of the Main Beach House. The only place I did not see police was north of the Main Beach House on the opposite end of where the Gay Games Regatta was being staged.

Nine police cars were parked on the grass south of the main parking lot.

There are two policemen standing near a gate on Lake Avenue across the street from what a snow fenced off area that is euphemistically called

First Amendment Participation Area

It is where most participants will never see it, of course.

We couldn’t have those giving the Christian message interacting with the public.

But, it was close to the media parking area. When I left at 1, ABC and CBS had trucks parked near the 1st Amendment area. In this photo, the Channel Two reporter is interviewing the Christians.

Many more stories about the Gay Games in Crystal Lake Sunday at McHenry County Blog, including "4000 Attend" with photos of rowers and spectators.

Daily Herald: Struggling to meet state’s promise to veterans

Daily Herald on another promise Illinois makes but pushes the funding off to others.

How many dead Jews does it take, Congressman?

It's no secret Ray LaHood (R-18th, Peoria, Ill.) has more sympathy for those Arabs who hate and want to kills Jews than he does for the nation of Israel. Several months ago, LaHood endorsed a bill that would require the United States continue to give financial support to the Palestinian government even after the terrorist organization Hamas took over. But I really didn't think LaHood would actually allow himself being quoted in today's Journal Star siding against Israel as it sought to defend itself against Hezbollah's terrorism.

LaHood complains that Israel attached the "whole country" of Lebanon simply because two Israeli soldiers got themselves kidnapped. Forget the fact that the reason the attacks are happening in Lebanon because that nation is the one harboring Hezbollah. Had the government of LaHood's beloved ancestral home dealt with Hezbollah itself, they wouldn't be in the position that are in now. It's no doubt true that for all the outrage LaHood has against Israel, there are Christians, Jews and moderate Arabs who desperately want to see Israel drive Hezbollah out of their nation. Doing NOTHING won't accomplish that.

LaHood's position might make sense were this happening in a vacuum. But tiny little Israel is under constant attack from terrorist organizations that expose a virulent form an anti-Semitism that might even make Hitler blush. It's also a fact that Hezbollah -- the thugs responsible for starting this most recent armed confrontation -- are funded and supported by Syria and Iran, two nations whose governments are as committed to destroying Israel as Nazi Germany was to killing every Jew they could.

Perhaps one day Congressman LaHood can tell us exactly how many Jews have to be lying on the ground dead at the end of one day before Israel to has the right to defend its borders. I'm going to assume it's somewhere between two and 6 million.

Crossposted to Peoria Pundit.

Freedom

Americans are brave.

Born from strong stock that conquered a wilderness, fought off a colonial parent, and weathered a war between brothers, we have a rich history of strength in the face of adversity.

But in the last decade, we have become soft, frightened and spooked by the nebulous threat of terrorism. Of course, our government has stoked that fear, reminding us constantly of the boogey Muslim around every corner.

We must find strength in our history.

By conquering our rational yet over hyped, oversold fear, we might have a chance to return our government to its owners: We the People…

From illegal searches, seizures, surveillance and torture, the assaults on our freedom and traditions are legion. George the 43rd and his cronies have hyped fear to consolidate power in the executive branch—you are either with us or against us, he mumbled. And the monarchy began.

But King George is neither a Republican nor a conservative: he is the CEO in Chief, corralling us with memos from Homeland security. His intent to keep us safe is sincere, but his methods are wrong.

Instead, in the face of terror, he should remind us of our past. We are not lambs needing shelter; we are Americans requiring freedom.

Yes, a Jihadist may kill me; but I rather die free at the hands of a terrorist, then suffer a thousand cuts to our Liberty.

Illinois Shadow

Saturday, July 15, 2006

Woodstock Tax Hikers Spends $45,000 on Unicom ARC - St. Louis Tax Hike Consultants

The Woodstock District 200 School District tax hike committee, officially called Citizens for District 200, has reported how it spent its money to pass the over $200 million bond issue that will raise real estate taxes next year.

It spent $66,227.04, of which 68%--$45,127.35, to be exact--went to St. Louis campaign consulting firm Unicom ARC.

The out-of-state hired guns were given something of a down payment ($6,670) on January 27th, four days before a statement of organization was filed with the State Board of Elections.
District 200 vendors primed the pump with $15,000

· $10,000 from life safety vendor IHC Construction Companies LLC of Elgin and

· $5,000 from insurance and benefits consultant Fringe Funding Inc. of Rolling Meadows.

Since the check was not reported having been received until Jan. 30th, Unicom must not have cashed the check immediately.

The next payment was not made until March 6th, two weeks before the election. It was for $16,464.76.

On election day—March 21st—a check for $6,660 changed hands. (Nothing Biblical there, right?)

Finally, after the victory, on April 12th, Unicom got 15,332.59. That included a “meal expense” of $192.69 that Unicom paid and was, apparently, reimbursed for.

McHenry County Blog has already reported who financed the campaign. Two words explain most of the contributions:

developers (see also here and here and here)

and

school district vendors (see here and here).

The committee was what I call a “pop-up” committee, undoubtedly a strategy to forestall opposition by pretending nothing is happening until the last minute.

(This pop-up committee at least reported prior to the referendum date, something the Pecatonica tax hike folks, led by German-American Bank vice president Jeff Sterling, did not.)

I was astounded to see that the tax hike committee actually rented space from School District 200. It was only charged $320 for “Canvassing Expense Building Rental.”

Local radio station advertising cost $2,410, while the Northwest Herald pulled in a similar amount--$2,394.01.

The Woodstock Independent charged $3,820 for ads, but rebated $770 on May 30th. (Maybe there was a double billing or the committee paid the same bill twice.)

Besides these three local media, other local business people getting a significant part of the action include

· Indepth Graphics and Printing of Woodstock - $3,658.02 for signs, probably the yard signs and
· Vision Mailing Services Inc. of Huntley - $3,940.97.

Oak Park’s Purple Monkey Studios Inc. was paid $1,680 for “Professional Services Computer – Access.”

The election night victory party at Pirro’s cost $800.

Three names of apparent committee members appear as having been reimbursed for expenses:

· DeMartinis, Anthony & Cathleen, for $188.19 for the election reception and
· Larson, Maureen, for $194.72 for canvassing expenses.

The tax hike committee has $7,368.40 left for future tax hike efforts.

Want to learn more about Unicom ARC?

Go here to Kevin Killion's Illinois Loop.

Anyone know more about Unicom ARC?

= = = = =
The top illustration is from a tax hike committee mailing. Next is the front page of the Unicom ARC's web page.

The "boom town" logo is from Kirk Homes. Kirk gave $15,000 to the tax hike committee--more than any other contributor. That amount is less than it profit on one home, however. Kirk scored a new school campus in Apple Creek Estates after the referendum's passage. Get ready to have your wallet blown out of your pocket, Woodstock taxpayers.

Friday, July 14, 2006

Medicaid Director for a Day

Rich Miller's Sun-Times column today was a doozie. For those of you who missed it, Miller pointed out that letters announcing acceptance into AllKids go out of their way to mention Governor Blagojevich:

“Your application for Governor Blagojevich’s All Kids health insurance program has been approved. Thank you for your application. Governor Blagojevich believes there is nothing more important than making sure your family has access to the health care they need.” (emphasis added)

While letters denying enrollment in AllKids don't mention the Governor at all:

“Your application for the All Kids health insurance program has been denied.”

In the Governor's defense, no one would have batted an eye at this in the old days. Of course, in the old days, folks didn't run multi-million dollar campaigns claiming they'd end Business-as-Usual and then open up a Business-as-Usual franchise in every state agency.

Needless to say, the Hypocrite-o-meters over on CapitolFax were going off the charts, and folks were having a grand old time writing their own rejection letters, including this:

“Your application for the All Kids health insurance program has been denied. Governor Blageovich has been working hard to make health accessable to all, but in this like in his other great works he has been underminded by Juby Bar Topinka and her other puppy eating Republican allies” (rmwstanford)

And this:

"Your insurance for your kid has been denied but if you meet one of our agents and bring 3 friends who will sign a pledge to vote for me we will happily sign your child up.Oh as a bonus to speed up the paper work bring some cash for my upcoming indictment."(DOWNSTATE)

And then Old Elephant offers this acceptance letter:

You have been accepted for the “All Kids” health insurance program. Now…good luck finding a doctor who will serve you because for some reason these selfish, disloyal people seem to think they should actually get paid and of course, while you may be earning $150,000 — we are only paying the doctors the same amount they would get if you were making $10,000 and on Medicaid. Oh…yeah…we forgot… we don’t really pay them — we just pretend to pay them.

Since comments are closed over at Capitolfax, I thought I'd open this thread so folks can feel free to let their creative juices flow all weekend long. Pretend you're Medicaid Director for the day, and write your own darn letters.

Roskam mixes and mingles with the NRA

You need to look at the cached version as the current version is cleansed of numerous references to Roskam.

ATTEND FREE NRA-ILA "MIX N’ MINGLE" IN ADDISON, IL ON JULY 15! Help Pro-Gun Congressional Candidate Peter Roskam!

Mix N’ Mingle with Illinois State Senator Peter Roskam (R),NRA-ILA Staff, & Fellow NRA MembersEarn Free NRA Items

Please join NRA-PVF-endorsed congressional candidate Illinois State Senator Peter Roskam (R) and his campaign team, NRA-ILA Headquarters staff, and your fellow NRA members, for a few hours of socializing and protecting freedom.

Blogging here doesn't make me any kind of guru for sure but you gotta wonder who advises Roskam on stuff like this...

...and they ought to know what goes on the internet stays on the internet....

... forever.

Medical Society on reducing medical errors: No Position

Governor Blagojevich got mixed reactions today to a proposal aimed at reducing medical errors in Illinois that would focus mainly on reducing prescription drug mix-ups, such as providing the wrong drug or preventable drug interactions. An estimated 4,000 Illinoisians are killed each year by preventable medical errors and tens of thousands more are injured. Public health experts believe the new electonic prescription drug system will reduce those errors by 80%.

The Illinois Trial Lawyers Association is applauding the proposal:

Judy Cates, president of Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, said the group welcomes anything that might prevent incidents that end up in court battles.

State Rep. John Fritchey reminds us that this does not restore the legal rights that Blagojevich stripped away from victims:

"While laudable, nothing in this mitigates the rights that we're taking away in the malpractice legislation," said Rep. John Fritchey, a Chicago Democrat who called the plan "somewhat bittersweet."

And the Illinois State Medical Society, which has stood by as Democrats and Republicans have worked together at the federal level (Newt Gingrich and Hillary Clinton) and state level (Beth Coulson and Julie Hamos) still can't admit that doctors make mistakes:

The Illinois State Medical Society, which represents thousands of doctors, said in a statement it has had no conversations with Blagojevich about his plan and was unfamiliar with its specifics.

Unfortunately for Blagojevich, this long overdue step forward was buried under today's corruption story. In fact, the medical error proposal was the reason Blagojevich was in Evanston, but he ended up fielding corruption questions instead.

My only question for Blagojevich: If this is a lifesaving program, why make it voluntary?

Thursday, July 13, 2006

Former Head of the Historic Preservation Agency Makes Some Serious Allegations

This kids may be some really big news.

The former head of Illinois' Historic Preservation Agency alleged Thursday that he was forced out of his job for refusing the Blagojevich administration's order to fire Republican employees.
A lawsuit filed by Maynard Crossland claims aides to Gov. Rod Blagojevich came to his office in 2003 with a chart with red X's over the names of people the governor wanted to fire. Crossland says he was told the employees should be fired because they were Republicans, even though their jobs were protected from political hiring and firing.

Some of the specific claims from the suit can be found here.

Even more in the story but I don't want to just quote the whole thing. Looking forward to someone posting a copy of the suit.

OneMan

Whistle Blowing Attorney Rich Means Comments on Mike Tristano’s Sentence

When I learned that Mike Tristano had been sentenced to a year and a day in jail (his request, so he can qualify for a 15% good conduct reduction in sentence), I asked Rich Means, the man who started the ball rolling downhill that has now pretty much crushed ex-House Republican Leader Lee Daniels’ top aide.

Means was handed time sheets by a member of Daniels’ staff when Daniels refused to release them himself. Those time sheets showed that some of his House employees were working in McHenry County for non-incumbent House candidates in 2000 on state time.

Means gave his analysis of that information to then-Illinois Attorney General and GOP gubernatorial candidate Jim Ryan, who, in turn, passed them on the U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.

The result was Lee Daniels’ resignation—at Jim Ryan’s request—from the chairmanship of the Illinois State Central Committee and deciding not to run for re-election as Republican House Leader.

Here are the comments that whistle-blower Means sent me:

I'm pleased that the law has finally caught up to Tristano. I'm particularly pleased that he got significant jail time and had to pay back $125,000 in restitution because those are important signals to both the seriousness of the crime and the fact that significant amounts of public money was stolen. Together with the Sorich convictions, public employees should now be clearly on notice that government offices can not be used for political advantage.

However, Tristano was only the hands-on staff operator of this longstanding theft of public funds to subsidize State Representative campaigns. He clearly did it for and with the knowledge of and with the participation of his boss Lee Daniels who, at the time, was the House Republican leader and the State Chairman of the Republican Party. It appears that Tristano will be a Government witness against Daniels who is clearly the "big fish" to be caught here.

When Daniels finally goes down, maybe the system will finally reform; not because the political leaders finally figure out that this kind of theft is wrong, but because they figure out this kind of theft just may be too darned expensive to them. I don't expect them to really embrace common ethics, only to recognize what is in their self-interest.

And, if you would like to know what role the House Republican Campaign Committee-financed mailing about my ex-wife's divorce charges, laundered through Roger Stanley, go to McHenry County Blog.

Previously, I have written "Tristano's Promise," in which I speculate where his information might lead law enforcement officials. You can read the heated "you can't be right" rebuttals here.

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

A Smart Energy Future For Springfield

I was in Springfield today to announce a remarkable agreement between the Sierra Club, Citizens' Water, Light, and Power (Springfield's utility), and the State of Illinois, that:

-Allows CWLP to build a new coal power plant with state-of-the-art pollution controls
-Commits CWLP to reducing global warming pollution by the levels called for in the Kyoto Protocol
-Provides for all state government buildings under the Governor's control to be powered by wind
-Will bring new initiatives to save Springfield citizens and businesses money through conservation and efficiency programs.

Yes, the Capitol building and over 100 other state properties in Springfield will be powered by wind. And we're not talking about capturing the hot air from the House and Senate chambers - new investements by CWLP in wind energy will bring green power to Springfield residents and state government.

We believe this is the first utility in America to agree to the carbon reduction limits proposed in the Kyoto Protocol.
We are proud to partner with CWLP, Springfield, and the State to reach this landmark agreement for 21st century energy plan that meets Springfield's power needs while setting an example for the rest of Illinois, and indeed America, to follow.

The agreement will pay off for Springfield ratepayers and residents. The conservation and efficiency programs CWLP will offer will help homeowners and businesses save money on their electric bills. Diversifying their source of power to include wind will help protect against price shocks caused by volatile markets. And, the pollution control installations, efficiency investments, and new wind power will create local jobs.

The package awaits a vote by Springfield's city council next week. Hopefully the council will embrace this 21st century deal as a win-win for Springfield and our planet.

Another Fundraising Democrat Indicted: Tru-Link Fence’s James Levin

If anyone needed more evidence that the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago is overworked, consider the timing of today’s indictment of influential Chicago Democrat James Levin, the former president of Tru-Link Fence, on one count of wire fraud.

Levin’s crime, to put in the words of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, was

allegedly swindling the school system in connection with fencing contracts.

The deal that Levin cut with the federal government was first announced in May of 2005 in the Los Angeles trial of Hillary Clinton fundraiser David Rosen. Rosen was found not guilty.

The most recent Chicago Democrat to be indicted was described as

a friend of former President Bill Clinton and a Democratic fundraiser

in a May 30, 2005, article by Ray Gibson in the Chicago Tribune.

According to the New York Sun, May 27, 2005:

(Jury Foreman Michael) Johnson said he wasn’t sure what to make of Mr. Levin, a Chicago businessman who recently admitted to contracting fraud and offering kickbacks, but who also told the court he is a “dear friend” of President Clinton. The jury foreman said he thought Mr. Levin was embellishing, until defense lawyers played an ABC News “20/20” story about Paul that showed pictures of Mr. Levin side-by-side with Mr. Clinton in various settings.

Here’s what the New York Sun had to say about Levin on May 24, 2005:

However, a Chicago fund-raiser involved in planning the gala, James Levin, testified that he was the one who asked Mr. (Gary) Smith for the (concert production) discount. Levin, too, has credibility issues. He recently agreed to plead guilty to a scheme involving bribery and minority contracting fraud. Mr. Rosen's attorneys have branded him a liar.

But, here it is over 13 months later and Levin is just getting indicted. The minor charge indicates to me that Levin cut the deal referred to in Los Angeles.

Lack of Assistant U.S. Attorney’s is the only reason I can come up for the delay in court action in Illinois.

Levin was indicted along with

· James W. Picardi, 51, of Wauconda, the former assistant manager of operations and operations manger for the Chicago Public Schools, who was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery and one count of income tax evasion, and

· Arthur F. Miller, 39, of Chicago, owner and operator of All Power Electric, also charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.

Chicago School System official Picardi agreed to

assist Levin in obtaining work for Tru-Link with CPS in exchange for being paid approximately $1,000 a week by Levin, and 10 percent of the amount of certain work Tru-Link performed for CPS, including the snow removal,

the U.S. Attorney's press release adds.

According to the press release, another bribe of $3,500 was

to prevent Individual A from informing school board investigators about the false representations made regarding the Minority Business Enterprise work performed by Individual A’s company – Company A – in the bid and payment materials submitted by Tru-Link Fence,

Picardi allegedly directed Levin to make payments by check to Miller under the name of one of Miller’s businesses, MPZ. (Sounds a lot like the way George Ryan advisory Don Udstuen got his money laundered.)

This is the second Chicago Democratic Party fundraiser to gain unwanted attention from U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.

The first was former DNC National Finance Chairman Joe Cari.

Here's what I found at the State Board of Elections web site:

Levin, James, 2300 West Madison, Chicago, IL 60612
Occupation: President Employer: TLC
$2,500.00 3/13/2002 Individual Contribution - Friends of Blagojevich

I don't know if it the same guy, but "TLC" could stand for "Tru-Link."

Now, to be bi-partisan, I should also mention that former House Republican Leader Lee Daniels' top assistant Mike Tristano was sentenced a year and a day for using state resources to try to elect Republican House candidates.

Dan's on the Money

For several years now, Comptroller Dan Hynes has provided an accurate analysis of the state's budget situation. And I think that the latest story in the State Journal-Register continues this trend:

Significant problems are bubbling just below the surface of the state budget as officials delay paying billions of dollars owed to doctors, pharmacists and more, according to a recent analysis.
Despite Gov. Rod Blagojevich's claims that the state's financial problems have largely been solved, the budget deficit grew by $500 million in fiscal 2005, topping $3 billion, according to the state comptroller. (Emphasis added)
That's largely because the state simply didn't pay more than $2.9 billion in medical bills that year. In essence, those expenses were pushed off to future years so the 2005 budget could be declared balanced.
"It is a problem, and it is growing," Comptroller Daniel Hynes said. "It's not harmless. Medicaid providers are the ones who suffer when we do this."

What I find more interesting though is a quote at the end of the article from John Filan, the Governor's Budget Director:

"I think year-to-year we're doing a better and better job, but we have to still correct the long-term structural deficit that's been here for more than 20 years," Filan said. (Emphasis added)

If your own budget director is publicly acknowledging what others have said for years, namely that there is a structural decifit in our state, one would think that this would be a major priority.

It is difficult to understand why so many people continue to put their heads in the sand on this issue. If people didn't like House Bill 750 (the tax swap bill proposed by Sen. Meeks), which among other things, addressed the structural deficit, fine. But then put another idea on the table for debate.

I had always maintained that I was open to other ideas of tackling these issues and envisioned HB750 being, at a minimum, a good device by which to foster debate and ideally a solution to a number of our critical issues. But instead, there were a whole lot of criticisms of the plan...and not much else. If there was another bill filed to directly deal with the structural deficit, I must have missed it. I don't think that I did.

If the energy that has been expended dealing with all of the nonsense that has been going on in this state for the last several years had been put toward fixing some of these very real problems, we would all be much better off for it.

I think the right transitional slogan would be to go from Illinois First to Illinoisans First.

To read, or post, comments, visit Dome-icile

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Libel and False Light

A new type of suit to most folks is “false light.”

Expect to hear a lot more about it, compliments of Shaw Newspapers' Kane County Chronicle. (Shaw also owns the Northwest Herald.)

A Sun-Times article by Eric Herman Monday explained the case this way:

Chief Justice Robert Thomas sued the Kane County Chronicle in 2004, alleging the paper libeled him in a series of columns by Bill Page.

Some more details from Herman’s story:

The Page columns dealt with the case of Meg Gorecki, a former Kane County state's attorney who faced discipline by the Supreme Court. According to Page, Thomas had a bias against Gorecki and wanted to suspend her law license for a year.

But Thomas agreed to a four-month suspension, Page wrote, after Gorecki supporters backed a judicial candidate he favored.

At one point, Page sent the Supreme Court an e-mail promising a "nightmare of bad publicity" if Thomas didn't withdraw from the Gorecki case.

A public official has a high burden of proof in a libel case. He must prove actual malice and that the article is incorrect, if not be charged with criminal behavior. (Now, remember, this is coming from a non-lawyer, so may not be completely correct.) Sounds to me as if Page’s email might help meet the "malice" burden.

But, the Sun-Times article did not mention “false light.” That is a milder from of libel, I’ve been told, in which the official must prove that he has been cast in a false light.

The suit states, that the statements made in the second column “place Justice Thomas in a false light before the public by alleging that Justice Thomas was a vindictive, petty and biased human being.”

Also found in Page’s column is this, according to the court papers:

As I sifted through the various pronouncements that followed the court’s decision, I couldn’t help but laugh at the self-righteous posturing of Gorecki’s critics, especially those who claimed her troubles ‘had nothing to do with politics.’
malice burden.

What nonsense. It had everything to do with politics….

Why, if not for political payback, would Thomas go so against the grain? And why, after demanding a year’s suspension, did he agree to four months? Ah, yes. Politics. The four-month suspension is, in effect, the result of a little political shimmy-shimmy. In return for some high profile Gorecki endorsing Bob Spense, a judicial candidate favored by Thomas, he agree to the four-month suspension.

You can bet that all of Shaw’s managing editors know a lot more about the “false light” tort than they used to. And, maybe, eventually, the word will filter down to the Northwest Herald’s columnists.

And, perhaps Justice Thomas’ lawyer’s name might be important.

It’s Joseph Powers.

He’s the one who represented the Scott Willis family when their six children were killed in a Milwaukee accident involving a truck driver who paid a bribe to an employee of George Ryan’s Secretary of State’s Office the day Ryan won his second term. Power’s discovery led to the U.S. Attorney’s Operation Safe Road investigation that led to Ryan’s corruption conviction, among others.

He’s one tenacious lawyer.

= = = = =
The Chicago Tribune also had an Associated Press article Monday afternoon, at least on its web site, a friend of McHenry County Blog tells me.

These quotes from Justice Thomas are especially favored by our friend:

"’The one thing the law doesn't protect is lying, and that's what this was,’ he said.

“The judicial system isn't set up, he added, so that ‘all citizens except judges on the Supreme Court have the right to a claim in which they've been wronged.’"

I wonder if it ran in the Northwest Herald today.

Illinois Hall of Fame

This great State has been the fertile ground for thousands of talented and productive people. Levois reminded me of Congressman William Levi Dawson and his leadership of black Americans during and after the Great Migration from the South.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Levi_Dawson_(politician)

So many talented people have called Illinois home, even those like Congressman Dawson who were born elsewhere -as was our greatest native son Abraham Lincoln. This State has no Hall of Fame. There are many people who would qualify aside from Lincoln, Sandburg, Jane Adams, and the more highly touted Illinoisans

Poster's Note ( 6/12/06 8:40AM): I neglected to cite Mark Rhoads' fine Hall of Fame Feature in Illinois Review
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/mark_rhoads/

I wish to name my top ten. Name Yours.

1. William L. Dawson - politician ( Chicago)
2. Steve Allen - Genius ( Chicago)
3. Lt. Pat O'Brien ( WWI Aviator, author, silent screen star Momence, IL)
4. James Butler Hickock ( Lawman - Troy Grove, IL)
5. James J. Shields (U.S. Senator for IL, MN, MO; General Mexican war, Civil war Springfield,IL)
6. Joseph Smith ( Religious leader founder of the Mormons Nauvoo, IL)
7. Charlie Birger (Southern Illinois Arch-criminal Carbondale, IL)
8. Joseph Glidden (Inventor of Barbed Wire DeKalb,IL)
9. Clara Barton & Sisters of the Poor of St. Francis Quincy, IL
10. George Cardinal Mundelein ( American Churchman , Mundelein, IL)

Smell like a Monkey; Look like one too.

I just had a birthday. Here is what I have learned:

Woman love hugs, deep kisses and bed skirts;

Men love hugs, deep kisses but only if it leads to the removal of a skirt;

Democrats who send there kids to private school are like gay Republicans--decrying the state of union, but screwing their neighbors anyway;

Peanut Butter is the perfect food, unless spread on a gay Republican;

Rod Blagojevich is an early Sputnik monkey: smiling, hairy, lost in space;

Girls rule--Boys drool.

Jews for Jesus are really Christians;

John Stroger is just as articulate in a coma--Tony Peraica is friendlier in a coma;

Life is hard, a one-way street, but nothing a long nap can’t cure.

CP: illinoisshadow.blogspot.com

Monday, July 10, 2006

Mary Mitchell: absence of African Americans

What strikes me about the City Hall hiring scandal is the absence of African Americans.

I know that sounds odd. But hear me out.
--Mitchell in the Sun Times

What's odd is that Mitchell thinks she sounds odd. Chicago's changed but it hasn't changed that much. That's what those columns for race were all about.

And there is no progressive politician out there telling today's Big Bill Dawsons it's time for a change. That's what's odd. They've all got their Carol Marin Daley blinders on instead.

By the numbers

Mike Fitzgerald of the Belleville News-Democrat has an interesting investigative report on the money already spent by the state of Illinois for the stalled new bridge over the Mississippi River connecting Illinois and St. Louis. The original plan called for an 8 lane bridge paid for by federal transportation funds, Illinois funds and Missouri funds. Missouri has recently balked and wants their portion paid through bridge tolls while Illinois officials and the governor have said, "never" to tolls.

3 million: spent to buy land or property access rights in the past 3 years, taking these properties off the tax roles.

$606,000: paid to Paul Siddle for 3 parcels in East St. Louis, who bought part back.

$22,140: Taxes paid by Siddle in 2004

$801: Taxes paid by Siddle in 2005

$80 million: Paid by IDOT preparing for the new bridge -- including engineering and environmental studies, the relocation of railroad tracks and archeological excavations.

$239 million: Federal dollars earmarked for this project which must be salvaged by the end of the year or lost.

$450 million: Alternate bridge plan proposed by Illinois which would be a 4 lane connector bridge along side the present MLK bridge.

$0: Missouri's answer to the alternate plan.

Illinois Veterans Task Force

Heard speaker Cross while driving on the radio talk about the Illinois Veteran's Task Force hearings held in Romeoville a few days ago. I'll email his office for more information.

The Gov's fiscal mismanagement continues to cause waits for empty beds in the Vet Homes,

Understaffing at the state’s veterans homes is also a mounting problem. A recent AFSCME report pinpoints barriers faced by aged and disabled veterans seeking care in the state’s four veterans homes and the harm that funding cuts have caused to the quality of care provided. Nearly 1,000 veterans are on the homes’ waiting lists even though the facilities have more than 260 empty beds that cannot be filled due to lack of staff.

“Illinois’ veterans deserve better,” said State Rep. Ron Stephens (R Greenville). "Those in need of care should not have to wait for months or even years to gain admittance when there are empty beds. Rather than confront the problem and hire needed staff, the Department of Veterans Affairs has increasingly relied on making employees work overtime, again causing a drop in the quality of care.”

Not to mention the insult to Veteran Hiring preferences created by the patronage hiring scandels.

AFSCME's full report can be found here.

Fed deficit down, Illinois deficit up

Folks over at Illinois Review debate if Bush undercut Topinka when he touted US economic growth while they've been taking shots at Blagojevich for lack of growth. Well, growth is relative is the point and Illinois hasn't been managing the revenues from that growth very well when compared with what's happing nationally. From Frank Watson reviewing Hynes's report on Illinois's deficit,

The deterioration in the state’s fiscal condition occurred during a period of very healthy revenue growth. The Governor managed to increase the deficit during a year in which state income tax revenues grew by $1.332 billion and other state tax revenues went up by $833 million.

And compare that with the NYT's story from July 9,

Tax revenues are climbing twice as fast as the administration predicted in February, so fast that the budget deficit could actually decline this year.

The main reason is a big spike in corporate tax receipts, which have nearly tripled since 2003, as well as what appears to be a big increase in individual taxes on stock market profits and executive bonuses.

Illinois could be growing faster and could be managing the revenues better. There's plenty for JBT and Birkett to chomp on if they would come out swinging.

Sunday, July 09, 2006

Hey Lisa Madigan, Over Here! Lisle's Illinois American Water Customers Need Relief

[Cross-posted at WurfWhile.com]

They live in Lisle, Illinois. They use water and sewers just like other Lisle residents. The difference? Four hundred Lisle Oak View residents (sometimes rendered "Oakview") are serviced by the private company Illinois American Water instead of the Village of Lisle - and for that "privilege" they pay "287 percent higher than Lisle residents pay for village water service and 792 percent higher than for village sewer service," according to a village study as reported a couple weeks ago by the Lisle Sun. The water problem is longstanding and involves problems and concerns not only with cost - but with maintenance and public safety. From the January 30th Daily Herald:

"Susan Srail and Elizabeth Peery are tired of paying water bills to a private utility that total twice as much as other Lisle residents pay for the same water delivered by the village.

Lucy Utley has grown tired of not receiving notices from that same utility of orders to boil her water until days after they go into effect.

And Lisle-Woodridge Fire District Chief Thomas Freeman is growing tired of trying to make the utility raise the water pressure in hydrants near two Lisle schools as a matter of public safety."

Members of the Oak View community, frustrated by lack of action and delayed action by public officials, while their money goes down the drain and their safety is compromised by Illinois American Water, formed the Oak View Community Association (OVCA). In their local advocacy and attempts to deal with local water issues they resemble other local resident activists like Liz Chaplin, who have found that they need to get politically involved in local government due to water concerns in order to protect their property and health. To paraphrase OVCA, they need to get involved because the community belongs to its residents!

While I haven't written about the Oak View water story - I've been following it. Now I believe there may be a good opportunity for the members of the Oak View community, and other communities "serviced" by Illinois American Water, to act. It seems that Illinois American Water may have been overcharging customers elsewhere in Illinois and in Missouri (the parent company American Water is the largest water provider in the U.S. serving 29 states plus Canada). From Thursday's St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

"Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is calling for a massive state audit of the company that sells water to tens of thousands of Metro East area residents after an investigation found hundreds, perhaps thousands, of customers were charged for 'zero' water use while others were charged thousands of dollars for a single month of service.

The company, Illinois American Water, serves about 1 million people throughout Illinois. A sister company, Missouri American Water, serves about 1.5 million people in Missouri....

Madigan wants results of the Illinois investigation sent to all other states where the water company operates....

One of American's subsidiary companies handles billing and customer service for customers across the country. Customer calls nationwide go into two call centers, including one in Alton.

That centralized billing is cause for concern, says Scott Rubin, the investigator Madigan hired. He said the problems in Illinois suggested that American's customers nationwide might be experiencing the same billing errors.

Rubin, a lawyer from Pennsylvania, is a nationally recognized expert who has testified dozens of times in water rate cases. He examined thousands of billing records, most of them from the Chicago suburbs. He said American's billing errors were pervasive and probably existed throughout the company's Illinois operations:

'Somebody who would normally get a bill for seven or eight thousand gallons would get (billed for) maybe 50,000 gallons. I saw one as high as 179,000 gallons,' Rubin said. 'A bill with water and sewer combined that might be $90 or $100 would all of a sudden be $500 or $600.'

American said that it had no evidence of widespread errors and intended to fix any problems.

The company said it would respond fully next month with testimony before the Illinois Commerce Commission.

Rubin said many of the practices he uncovered appeared to be in direct violation of the commerce commission's regulations and of reasonable industry practices.

He said American:

- Had numerous problems with the quality and accuracy of its bills and metering.

- Improperly issued 'make-up' bills to hundreds of customers, did not provide truthful and accurate information about the cause of the bills, and failed to refund the makeup charges with interest as state regulations require.

- Did not adequately track and investigate the cause of bills that were issued for zero consumption.

- Issued bills that didn't show the per-unit charge for purchased water, another violation of state regulations.

He said the company issued some bills for 30 to 40 times more water than normal for a single month.

'It doesn't look like they have any process in place to find a lot of errors,' Rubin said.

The attorney general hired Rubin after receiving hundreds of complaints last year about high water bills. Madigan has since filed a formal complaint with the Commerce Commission on behalf of consumers....

Whom to call

Consumers with complaints about their water bills should call state agencies.

In Illinois, the state Commerce Commission: 1-800-524-0795."

If I were a Lisle Oak View resident I think I'd call a few people in addition to the Commerce Commission - just to make sure they knew about the Oak View situation and the allegations against Illinois American Water:

I'd let Lisa Madigan know you're happy she's looking into allegations of overcharging - and mention you believe Oak View is overcharged too [Click here to email the Consumer Protection Division.]

I'd call Lisle Mayor Joseph Broda and Trustees in Lisle and ask them if they've heard about Lisa Madigan's investigation.

And if I were an Illinois American Water customer, anywhere, I think I'd be making some phone calls to my local and state government officials too. In Illinois that would be about a million calls - and a small fraction of that would likely get some big results.

It's long past time for Oak View residents to pay reasonable prices for reasonable water and sewer service - just like other Lisle residents. Lisa Madigan's investigation may be their golden opportunity to finally get positive results.

Wal-Mart scorecard: Niles 2, Chicago 1

Crossposted on Marathon Pundit.

Niles, Illinois is a village of 30,000 people located on the northern border of Chicago, a city that has a little bit under 3 million residents.

This afternoon I took this photo of an under-construction Wal-Mart on Golf Road near the Golf Mill Shopping Plaza.

This store will be the second Wal-Mart for Niles.

To the south, Chicago's first Wal-Mart should be welcoming customers through its doors sometime next month.

That's right, Chicago, which has almost 100 times the population of Niles will have double the Wal-Marts of Chicago.

Why is that?

Alderman "No Foie Gras for Me" Joe Moore, whose ward isn't too far from the original Niles Wal-Mart, is a big part of the answer. Moore has been on the anti-Wal-Mart bandwagon since at least 2004.

Moore tried to push a "Living Wage" ordinance that would only apply to "big box" retailers such as Wal-Mart and Target that was opposed almost unanimously by Chicago business leaders. An amended version was proposed late last month that seems to be more palatable to those interests.

Meanwhile, the jobs Wal-Mart provides, as well as the sales tax revenue, flows to the suburbs.

Chicago will see its first Wal-Mart open soon. The suburbs that surround Chicago have 18.

Previously on Marathon Pundit:

Chicago's "big box" anti-jobs ordinance

Chicago alderman accuses unions of strong-arming colleagues over "big box" ordinance

Carol Marin's Blinders

Former television anchor’s Carol Marin’s Sun-Times column Sunday explains why she wanted Mayor Richard Daley’s patronage chief Robert Sorich and his fellow defendants to be found not guilty.

I guess her message is that they weren’t close enough to Daley.

Marin refers to how the U.S. Attorney did not want Mara Georges, Daley’s female chief lawyer, to be questioned by defense attorneys about

how she could possibly be “unaware” of irregularities in hiring at City Hall when she herself had turned over patronage records subpoenaed by the feds back in 1997 that directly pointed to that.

Then, Marin includes this stunning sentence in parentheses:

It was something neither she nor the feds bothered to investigate nine years ago.

What is she talking about?

That’s the whole point of what is happening today, in my opinion.

Nine years ago, President Bill Clinton’s then-U.S. Attorney and the Daley administration completely ignored the blatant violations of the anti-patronage Shakman Decree, not to mention the accompanying fraud that can’t have been very different from what was proved in the Sorich trial.

The man U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald’s picked for U.S. Attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald, has not had blinders on.

That, Carol Marin, is the story.

Of course, the feds and Daley’s folks did not “bother to investigate nine years ago.”

Marin needs to read more John Kass column’s. Like today’s, which explains how people like Algonquin’s Michael Hall has helped “eviscerate” the

"My client didn’t take one dime"

defense.

You know, the ones written by the guy on the State of Illinois beat in the James R. Thompson Center when Marin was a big TV news star.
= = = = =

Today’s column also reminded me of Marin’s July 31, 2005, puff piece about the pristine purity of former Democratic Party Finance Chairman and now Downstate Teachers Retirement Fund felon Joe Cari—recent TV star in the California Democratic primary—just two days before he pled guilty.

(Still waiting for a mea culpa on that one.)

(And, I'd link to the original column, if I could find it on the Sun-Times web site.)

Also posted on McHenry County Blog.

Frank Zeidler 1912-2006

Frank was the last Socialist Mayor of Milwaukee and served from 1948 until 1960. Proud to say I knew him in the 1970s and invited him to speak at Grinnell College in 1975. His wife drove him out to Iowa since he didn't drive. He always took the bus while Mayor and told me it was one way he stayed in touch with voters. He was also a devout Lutheran and taught Sunday School.

Milwaukee Journal has a nice slide show on him.

Zeidler later ran unsuccessfully as a Socialist candidate for governor and the House of Representatives. In 1976, he was the presidential candidate of the Socialist Party USA.

Jimmy Carter won the presidential election that year with nearly 41 million votes. Zeidler, on the ballot in six states, received 5,427 votes, of which 4,258 were from Wisconsin.

Mine was one of those votes from outside Wisconsin. It was the only time I broke from voting for a Democrat until 2004. More from the MSJ,

Milwaukee has had non-partisan elections since 1912, but Socialism had developed a strong foothold in the largely German and working-class Milwaukee of the turn of the century, said Milwaukee historian John Gurda.

"They were creative; they were incorruptible; they were absolutely incorruptible; they were frugal," Gurda said of the Socialists.

Creative, absolutely incorruptible, and frugal not bad ways for a politician to be remembered.

Saturday, July 08, 2006

Mike Tristano Fingers Old Boss Lee Daniels

It had to happen.

Mike Tristano, a former Jim Thompson Director of the Department of Central Management Services, is used to being in the driver’s seat.

When he agreed to cut a deal with the government after someone who worked for him rolled over on him, you just knew that he was going to point the finger at his former boss House Republican Leader and once-Speaker Lee Daniels.

Now Natasha Korecki and Chris Fusco of the Sun-Times have written the article Friday. (Of course, it got buried by Mayor Richard Daley’s patronage chief’s conviction.) And, although the Associated Press picked up the story for today's papers, the Chicago Tribune has yet to run anything. Tristano always was close to the Tribune, at least its editorial board.

Tristano is seeking a year and day in return for apparently revealing how he, at Daniel’s instruction, he says, used state payrollers and pork to help elect Republican House members.

Even, non-incumbents, I might add.

Even in McHenry County.

In order to reduce campaign costs.

For more about where Tristano might lead the Feds, click here.

= = = = =

Personal disclosure:

After being given a job (Manager of the Bureau of Benefits) at CMS by the Thompson administration following my 1982 loss to Roland Burris in the State Comptroller’s race, Tristano eventually became the department’s director. The line item for my job disappeared after I helped State Rep. Bernie Pedersen fight Governor Thompson’s 40% income tax hike. (I couldn’t take the attempt to merchandise the tax hike as a 1% increase.) Tristanto could be sweet as saccharin, but he liked to prove he was head of the pack by shouting at employees. I was amused when he did it to me. Such insecurity.

When Tristano was Daniels’ top aide, he asked me to set up a phony taxpayers’ group to counter Jim Tobin’s National Taxpayers United of Illinois. I refused. It was later used to counter NTU's endorsement of Steve Verr. For many more details, go to McHenry County Blog on Monday. Find out which future felon told the State Board of Elections:

“Big Brother Is Watching.”

Here's more about how a Lee Daniels' staffer admitted working on a McHenry County GOP legislative campaign while being paid by the state.

Friday, July 07, 2006

Nailing Denny Hastert's to the Wall on Urban Sprawl

The Chicago Tribune keeps the drum beating—or at least one of its columnists, John McCarron, does—on U.S. House Speaker Denny Hastert’s head. The paper even had an editorial after the story and column about which this McHenry County Blog post was written.

Last Wednesday, the Tribune ran an editorial entitled,

Secrets of Little Rock Road

It added one fact I had missed previously. Not all of the $207 million Hastert earmarked for his Prairie Pathway was for the road in general. One was

...for a $55 million interchange. The parkway interchange is about 5 miles from the property he held in secret (that is, in a secret land trust).

Friday, on its op-ed page was a John McCarron column which attempts to pin urban sprawl on Hastert. (Well, his allies are included, too.)

At least, that is my quick reading of its thrust.

Urging people to live near employment centers or train stations, McCarron makes this very good point about housing development because of the cost of driving and commuting time:

It's a business in which the main economic benefits are realized upfront by a savvy few, while the bulk of the costs are distributed over time to the unaware many. Sure, you can technically become one of the few by buying the stock of a corporate home-builder. But that's the hard way. Better you should buy raw farmland and wait for the home-builders to come calling.

McHenry County Blog ran numerous articles about Carpentersville School District 300’s and Woodstock School District 200’s major tax hike committee contributors being home builders. Check posts in February and March of this year.

McCarron then goes after Hastert, trying to make him a poster child of the people who benefit from urban sprawl. He says it demonstrates the “the depth and power” of what he calls the “farm flipping industry.”

This is the technique apparently mastered by U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and a group of his fellow investor-politicos out in Kendall County. Records show the speaker and his family made nearly $2 million last year selling farmland in and around Plano, a hot market for subdivisions. One of his investment partners is Dallas Ingemunson, the longtime Kendall County GOP chairman. They held the property in secret land trusts. Wouldn't want to give people the wrong idea about why Hastert has been pushing for a new expressway out that way, or why he's secured more than $200 million in federal funds to get the concrete flowing.

All of this “background” is to introduce a new “Housing and Transportation Affordability Index” that is being developed by what can be reasonably described as a group of not-for-profit organizations run by lefty-liberals. The Chicago group is Chicago by the Center for Neighborhood Technology. The index can be found at www.reconnectingamerica.org, but it’s not ready for Chicago yet.

Have to hand it to McCarron. He has made a very interesting connection between his two topics.

Ironically, while attacking Hastert’s $200 million earmarking for the 4-lane Prairie Pathway, his favored organization, Reconnecting America, which hosts the Center for Transit-Oriented Development—the one that developed the index—Reconnecting America just received $1 million in earmarked money from the same congressional process.

June 30th I left messages with each of the individuals listed as contact people on the June 1st press release, asking which congressman was responsible for inserting the $1 million of earmarked money in the Federal budget. No reply yet.

Speaking of frivolous lawsuits

I'm glad this guy doesn't live in Madison County.

An Oregon man sues basketball superstar Michael Jordan because, according to him, they look too much alike.

Allen Heckard said he has been mistaken as MJ nearly every day for the past 15 years and he's tired of it. He is suing Jordan and Nike founder Phil Knight for $932 million dollars. His claim alleges defamations, permanent injury and emotional pain and suffering.

Jordan has not commented on the suit.

Fitzgerald's reappointment?

Pearson writing in the Trib on Bush's response to the Sorich convictions.

Wild... when you figure a month or two ago people on Illinoiz were making fun of Topinka's staff's comments that Bush should stay away. Now we have him here praising Daley.

The president replied, "I still think he's a great mayor. This is a well-run city, and he gets a lot of credit for it.""He's a leader," Bush said. "The thing I like about Daley is, when he tells you something, he means it…. I'm proud to call him a friend and I'm proud to have shared my 60th birthday with him."

Asked if he intended to reappoint Fitzgerald as U.S. attorney in Chicago-Fitzgerald's term as chief federal prosecutor here expired last October, and he currently serves at the pleasure of the president—Bush was briefly taken aback."

You know, I don't have any plans to reappoint him, because I haven't thought it. I want to think about it now that you've brought it up," Bush said.

Bush as about as transparent as a person can be... I don't think he could lie if his life depended on it. His face shows every emotion, so without seeing this tape, I'm betting the briefly taken aback very real and Bush hasn't thought much about Fitz's reappointment.... yet.

FOUL MOOD FRIDAY

Cross-posted on From Where I Blog

I woke up in a good mood on Friday. I slept good and felt great when my feet hit the floor.

I was looking forward to the end of another long work week and the beginning of a weekend. The weather is going to be beautiful throughout the weekend with unseasonably cooler temperatures.

So, what was it that turned my mood sour, pessimistic and cynical within 10 minutes of crawling out of bed? I can trace my change in moods to a specific moment -- my daily walk to the mailbox to get the morning newspaper.

As I sauntered back to the house, like I do every morning, I unrolled the paper and glanced at the front page and there staring back at me was the smiling faces of the politicos that had gathered for the ribbon-cutting at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta.

Let me preface my comments by saying that I'm happy for the folks in Randolph County that the 1,700-acre facility is up and running and I hope the forecast of jobs and economic opportunity prove to be true. It should also be pointed out that Les Winkeler, Southern Illinoisan sports editor, did a nice job of covering the event.

So, why would the story upset me?

Perhaps it's just the job I work in or that I'm growing cynical in my old age but I looked at the picture that accompanied the story and it made me, as my late mother used to say, 'mad all over.'

There in the photo-op, smiling and standing side by side was former Illinois Department of Natural Resources director Joel Brunsvold, current IDNR director Sam Flood, Gov. Rod Blagojevich and state Rep. Dan Reitz.My, what a happy group it was as they smiled and cut off a piece of the bright red ribbon.

But, as the saying goes, 'a picture is worth a thousand words,' so let me use up at least a part of those thousand words telling you a little more about this smiling, glad-handing group.

First, there is Brunsvold, who spent more than 20 years as a state legislator before taking over the helm of DNR -- a position he held for less than three years before retiring. It should be pointed out that those few short years as DNR director bumped Brunsvold's pension up by approximately $40,000 PER YEAR. It's the old Springfield game where a political buddy appoints you to a high-paying post-retirement job that enables you to pad your pension by tens of thousands of dollars for your second retirement. In most circles it's referred to as 'double-dipping.'

Then there's Flood the current DNR director, whose name showed up umpteen times on the recently released and infamous 'clout list' that detailed state hiring. In fact Flood made headlines again this week as the sponsor of a new hire in the DOC who just happens to be the son of a St. Claire County attorney who just happened to contribute $100,000 to the Democratic Party and $25,000 to Blagojevich. Flood, a high ranking Democratic Party official from Madison County, is a great example of the Illinois version of the Peter Principle where an individual rises to the level of his/her incompetence.

And then there's Gov. Blagojevich, touting the 250 jobs that will be created at the shooting complex ... but failing to mention Maytag, American Coal, MUMS or any of the other 2,000 plus jobs that have been lost in Southern Illinois during the past year. I'm sure it was a pleasant experience for Blago and his staff to head to Southern Illinois and in turn get away from the glare of the federal investigation into illegal job hiring that has been swirling around them for months.

And last, but certainly not least, is Rep. Reitz who turned his job as a state legislator into a one-man employment agency for his family members and friends.

It seems to me that the guy who coined the phrase 'a picture is worth a thousand words' might have attended a few events that featured smiling political hacks.

As a footnote to this story I found it more than a little bit ironic that on the same front page, right beside the picture of the grinning group of politicians was another story that carried the headline, 'Laidlaw workers to lose jobs in September.' The story was about 70 Laidlaw Corp. employees who will be out of job in September when the wire hanger operation will transfer from Metropolis to Monticello, Wisconsin. Huh, another business fleeing Illinois?

I bet if you polled those 70 workers in Metropolis or the 1,100 Maytag employees you'd find that not everybody in Southern Illinois was as happy as that smiling group that assembled in Sparta on Thursday.

Here's the story ... but as a word of caution it could put you in a foul-mood Friday.

Bush at Lou Mitchell's

Prez knows where to go for what's still the best breakfast in Chicago. Not the same kind of crowd anymore in the near West Side now that more people seem to live part-time, in their second-homes, than work there.

I used to see Rich Daley there a lot in the 70s and early 80s.

While Bush isn't doing much for the Cook County GOP, at least he had Larry Ivory and Juan Ochoa from the Black and Hispanic Chambers of Commerces at his side last night. Maybe he's at least getting some advice from them on helping entrepeneurs: guys like Lou, who opened the door at 5:45 AM six days a week, handing out the milk duds.

Think like Cermak

Eric Krol writes a week makes a big difference.

For Topinka, the cash influx and Fitzgerald letter must be making the race seem more like a downhill run than the uphill climb it appeared to be just a week ago.

Good column, but c'mon Eric, yesterday was predictable and probable. Topinka was planning for today... at least I hope so.

Watched Bobbie Steel, Danny Davis, Jackson Sr on TV least night and while Davis still has a voice that thunders, the leading African American Politicians in Cook County look pretty decrepit. I wish Bush could have found some time to swing over and show some support for a guy like Eric Wallace.

Because the reality is the people doing the hiring in Chicago: Sorich, McCarthy, Slattery, and Sullivan aren't African American Democrats. And there was a reason those lists had a column for race and it wasn't about promoting a liberal's diversity in the workplace. Politics is about power and there wasn't much black power energy evident with the aging crowd surrounding Bobbie Steele yesterday.

Fitzgerald may destroy both the Blagojevich and Daley machines this summer creating a huge power vacuum. There's no progressive Democrats to fill this hole. Bush should have torn himself away from that dinner with Daley last night and drove out south to help an African American in the GOP. (Maybe have Tony Perica along for the ride.)

The party isn't going to coast downhill with Topinka as Democrats go down in indictments. It's time to think like Cermak and start building a coalition to seize the day from the chaos going to hit Illinois politics.

Thursday, July 06, 2006

Candidacy Fosters A Debate On Race

This post is also posted at It's My Mind. This isn't actually an article from Illinois but since this state is home to some majority-minority districts, I figured this article should get some play here. Rep. Rahm Emmanuel was even quoted here. I wonder what the people of Illinois think about majority-minority districts?

I found this interesting article from the Washington Post about a white man running for a congressional seat in a mostly black district in New York. David Yassky a Democrat has three other opponents and he apparently is the only black in the race. He is running to replace Rep. Major Owens (a Morehouse Man).

Check some of this out...

David Yassky has a solid résumé, lots of campaign cash and plenty of ideas for improving the slice of Brooklyn he wants to represent in Congress. In another Democratic stronghold, he might be the runaway favorite.

But in New York's 11th District, Yassky's candidacy has touched off a controversy about race and turned a sleepy primary contest into an emotionally charged debate over minority political representation. The 11th District is one of the dozens of majority-black seats created in the aftermath of the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act. And Yassky, unlike his three primary opponents, is white.

The City Council member's bid has not been well received by the district's black establishment. Rep. Major R. Owens (D), the retiring 12-term incumbent, labeled Yassky a "colonizer." Local black leaders have staged events to pressure the 42-year-old Brooklyn Democrat out of the race. A Web site was launched. Al Sharpton is calling on prominent white politicians, including Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), to take a stand against Yassky.

And here's a little more about the controversy. Afterall apparently he isn't the only one waging a campaign in a mostly black congressional district...

But some Democrats have come to recognize the downside of these majority-black
districts. For instance, they can spark racially polarized politics, pitting blacks against other minorities and whites, particularly as the districts become more gentrified and ethnically mixed.

In a black district of Memphis, a white candidate who is among 15 Democrats vying for the seat being vacated by Rep. Harold E. Ford Jr. (D-Tenn.) has encountered racial hostility similar to that experienced by Yassky. Stephen I. Cohen, a Tennessee state senator, said in an interview with a Jewish newspaper, the Forward, that he is entitled to the same treatment Ford, who is black, has sought as he campaigns statewide for the Senate. "Don't judge me by my race but by my record," Cohen said.
Elsewhere, the "majority-minority" phenomenon has increased Republican strength by packing the Democrats' most loyal constituency inside fewer districts, allowing surrounding districts to become more white and Republican.

When Virginia's Republican-dominated legislature redrew its congressional boundaries in 2001, blacks were shifted from GOP Rep. J. Randy Forbes's Chesapeake area district to Democratic Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott's majority-black district, which follows the James River from the Norfolk area to suburban Richmond.

In a 2001 special election before redistricting, Forbes narrowly defeated a black state senator, L. Louise Lucas, 52 percent to 48 percent. In 2002, after the boundaries were redrawn, Forbes won his seat with 98 percent of the vote. This year, when Democrats are positioned to possibly take back control of the House, Forbes is running unopposed.

Now what is discussed in this article are provisions for the Voting Rights Act 0f 1965. It is set to expire this year and it is to be voted upon for another re-extension. The creation of a majority minority congressional districts are a by-product of the Voting Rights Act by helping to improve black participation in politics. There are those who want greater protections while there are those who think that this policy is an issue...

But some Democratic strategists have begun to question whether strict adherence to a 40-year-old model of minority-dominated districts could be hurting the party in the long term. Rep. Rahm Emanuel (Ill.), chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said that at one time it made sense for the courts and state legislatures to carve out majority-black districts to break racially discriminatory practices, primarily in the South.

Looking at the map of congressional districts today, Emanuel asked: "Are we at the point in the political process where you don't need a 70 percent district, but a 50 to 45 district, with the political capacity to be more competitive in surrounding areas, so that more Democrats can win?"

The rapid transformation of urban areas could force Democratic and civil rights leaders to rethink minority districts, voting rights experts say. A combination of gentrification, immigration, intermarriage and a migrating black middle class "means that race just doesn't have the power that it once did, in these kinds of settings," said Edward Blum, a fellow at the conservative American Enterprise Institute who has written extensively about minority districts.

Oh yeah here are some statistics...

Just over half of the 40 black House members represent majority-black districts, while three of the four California black members represent larger Hispanic populations, said David A. Bositis, a senior research associate at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a think tank that focuses on minority issues.

But they are all serving in the Democratic minority. "Remember, the [Voting Rights Act] is about black voters, not black elected officials," Bositis said. "And black voters are not having their interests represented, although there are more black members of Congress."

Finally here's some information about New York's 11th congressional district...

The 11th District was drawn in 1968 as a result of a Voting Rights Act lawsuit and was first occupied by Shirley Chisholm, who gained national prominence as an advocate of women and minority rights, and who ran for president in 1972. She was succeeded by Owens, a former librarian and state senator with liberal views and a penchant for passionate floor speeches, often delivered in rap style.

The district has evolved in recent years into a demographic melange, blending long-standing African American and Caribbean American populations with newer arrivals, including Arab, Asian and Hispanic immigrants and affluent white voters. The four candidates in the race to succeed Owens represent this new demographic reality: Yassky lives in wealthy Brooklyn Heights; City Council Member Yvette D. Clarke is of Caribbean descent; state Sen. Carl Andrews is an African American from Crown Heights; and Owens's son, Chris Owens, is biracial, having a white Jewish mother.
...
Perhaps more dramatic has been the change in the district's income levels, which have skyrocketed along with property values. The imbalance is reflected in the candidates' campaign accounts. As of March 31, the end of the most recent campaign reporting period, Yassky had $750,000 cash on hand, compared with $450,000 combined for his three competitors.
...
One feature that has not changed is the district's deeply liberal bent. Regardless of class or color, Yassky and Owens said, voters are overwhelmingly opposed to the war in Iraq and want better schools and better health coverage. Anna Acosta, 21 and black, stopped to chat with Yassky along Eastern Parkway. Acosta said she is looking for a candidate who is willing to aggressively stand up to Republicans.

Very interesting.

Patronage is Still Wrong

Cross posted from ICPR's blog, The Race is On:

Cynthia Canary, Director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, released the following statement in reaction to the convictions of Robert Sorich, former director of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, and his three co-defendants:

A U.S. Supreme Court decision, newspaper exposés, and angry taxpayers have not been able to stop corrupt hiring practices in Chicago City Hall. Some long prison terms should help clean up City Hall. The men convicted today were not merely “playing the game” the way it has always been played. Government isn’t a game. Public funds and the health and safety of the public were at stake. The schemers who treat government as a game should be drummed out of City Hall and we’re confident U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald and the scores of prosecutors and investigators working with him will remain vigilant.

Sorich Patronage Trial Verdict In

The U.S. Attorney's Office sent the following the message at 3:04 PM Thursday:

The parties have been summoned to court for what we believe is a verdict in the Sorich trial.

= = = = =
All were convicted of some charge.
= = = = =

From Thursday night internet:

Tribune story. Sun-Times story. Marathon Pundit's take.

= = = = =
And, you can see the how the Friday papers treated the story.

What luck for Mayor Richard Daley that President George Bush was there to bolster his image.

Crimefighting Shock story is little more than press release

I have to agree with Willy Nilly, if the Journal Star is going to print a story about how State Rep. Aaron Schock (R.-Peoria) -- four years ago, mind you -- helped the FBI track down the perpetrators of an Internet scam, they need to speak to at least one source within law enforcement. And since this is "smack dab in the middle of the campaign" (the JS's own words, not mine) then it's proper from now until November to make sure the other side gets a phone call. I'm sure someone in the Democratic Party might have something to say about whether someone gullible enough to fall for a Nigeria-based Internet scam should be serving in the General Assembly. The JS can redeem itself by finally getting a hold of those "local officials who pursued the case" rather than let a politician's word go unverified.

Crossposted to Peoria Pundit.

Harmon-Tryon 'Truth In Taxation' Bill Signed Into Law By Blagojevich

[Cross-posted at WurfWhile.com]

Democratic State Senator Don Harmon and Republican State Representative Mike Tryon tried to get their 'truth in taxation' legislation passed last session, but ran out of time. They kept up with the commonsense legislation that says that property tax referenda should spell out the dollar cost of increases instead of just saying the rate of increase - a subtle distinction that has led to about $263 million in taxes that taxpayers weren't aware they would pay, according to the Daily Herald. Here in Naperville District 203, to take one example, a 2002 referendum yielded $24 million above district tax projections according to the Naperville Sun. The final version of the Harmon-Tryon tax reform bill passed both state houses without a single vote against it and was signed into law by Governor Rod Blagojevich June 30.

State Senator Don Harmon, the main senate sponsor, described the legislation to me yesterday.

How Senator Harmon Got Involved

"I started work on this bill because a school district within the senate district I represent got caught [by the complexities of the old law]. The district passed a referendum, but because of a technicality in the ballot language, it was not going to be able realize the benefits of the voters' approval. At the same time, the Daily Herald was running its series of stories on school districts that were exploiting similar vagaries in the tax cap law to realize benefits significantly greater than those approved by the voters. It made a great deal of sense to collapse these two legislative proposals into one, and I'm very pleased with the results."

What The New Law Means For Taxpayers And Future Referenda

"Greater clarity inevitably leads to greater accountability. Voters should be able to easily understand the proposal they are being asked to approve - not only the consequences for the taxing body's finances but also the consequences for their own household finances. Taxing bodies shouldn't count on voter confusion in the effort to pass a referendum.

I was often asked whether this would make it easier or more difficult to pass referenda, and my answer is 'both' - it will make it easier to pass a justifiable referendum and more difficult to pass a suspect referendum. I expect that fewer referenda may be presented, but those that are presented will be easier to explain and easier to justify."

Conclusion

This was a real victory for taxpayers and school districts. The persistence of Senator Harmon and Representative Tryon produced a bill that permits taxpayers to understand what a referendum asks them to pay - and permits school districts to understand what they're asking from taxpayers. Often the focus of news reports is on government failure - and when government fails it deserves blame. This law shows state government working, in a bipartisan manner, to achieve meaningful success. When that happens government deserves praise and credit.

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

3rd Party 8th Congressional District Candidate on the Ballot

Capitol Fax is where I found this stunning news.

The Democrats did not challenge 8th congressional district Moderate Party candidate Bill Scheurer’s petitions, even though he was short of the 14,000 required. Even though Mike Kasper, Democratic Party Mike Madigan’s election lawyer of choice, picked up Scheurer’s petitions.

Scheurer had made a big deal about having been deceived by a person whom he thought was a political consultant whose day job was with Democratic Party first-termer Dan Lipinski.

But, he issued more than a press release.

He filed suit in Federal Court against Lipinski, House Democrat Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Congressman Rahm Emanuel (8th congressional district Melissa Bean’s godfather, so to speak) and House Speaker Mike Madigan in his capacity of party chairman in Illinois.

Whether it was the suit or something else, the Democrats decided to let Scheurer stay on the ballot.

And, that is stunning, because conventional wisdom says anti-war Scheurer will drain enough votes from Democrat Bean to elect Republican David McSweeney.

This was originally posted at McHenry County Blog, where I have a story about a Winnebago County school district PAC that broke election law and was fined for it by the State Board of Elections.

CAIR-Chicago recommended that DePaul fire Klocek