Jack Franks Meets with the Mayor

Yesterday, I wrote about McHenry County Democrat State Rep. Jack Frank's Friday.

Franks rolled out evidence of spending big bucks in his campaign disclosure. Look at the contributions' side of Franks' D-2. No contribution limits yet, remember.

The display of ready cash coming in big chunks should make second tier Democrats contemplating a statewide race (like Julie Hamos) give new respect to the resources Franks can bring to the table on behalf of his political ambitions.

Even first tier candidates like State Comptroller Dan Hynes probably does not have the family money to match Franks'.

What's Franks interested in?

My guesses are here.

He told the Northwest Herald he was interested in running for governor and, I guess, Franks could play the role that Mike Howlett took when Chicago ward bosses threw everything into defeating self-styled reform Democrat Dan Walker in 1976.

Franks has never portrayed himself as an organization guy, even as he has taken money from every union he could tap, including teachers' unions.

Not only did Franks display his financial resources Friday, but he was on WTTW's Chicago Tonight again.

And that wasn't all that happened.

The McHenry County Democrat was granted a face-to-face with Chicago Mayor Richard Daley.

My guess is that in their heart of hearts that they are pretty close in political views.

The political arena in Chicago has, of course, resulted in Daley moving left.

Franks has shown similar leftward movement on abortion and gun control during the past year. But on abortion, at least, he backed off.

It will be interesting to see how Franks will modify his stands as he moves from conservative McHenry County to the liberal electorate that rules statewide Democratic primary elections.

No one would suggest those who control the Democratic Party statewide are not composed of tax eaters.

I can't wait to see how they will react to Franks' current opposition to an income tax hike.

Published first on McHenry County Blog, where there is information about Jack Franks you won't find anywhere else.

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Whitney for Governor in 2010

It appears that Rich Whitney, the Green Party's candidate for Illinois Governor in 2006, is preparing to announce a run for Illinois Governor in 2010. Whitney garnered more than 10% of the total vote in the previous election, making the Green Party one of only three statewide legally established political parties in the state.

Whitney recently posted the following message on his website, suggesting that the news will come as early as this weekend:

In recent months, many people have asked me whether I intend to run for governor again, usually adding, 'you should have won last time,' and encouraging me to run in 2010. I thank all of you for your kind and supportive comments.

It is painfully clear that Illinois needs a genuine change of leadership in Springfield, from a party that represents the people. Please watch this space on July 15-16, 2009, as a major announcement regarding my future plans will appear at that time. Meanwhile, I encourage supporters to also visit the website of the Illinois Green Party, at www.ilgp.org, and please JOIN our Party, and, if possible, come to our upcoming State Party meeting in Champaign, July 17-19.

Doug Finke, at the State Journal-Register, previously reported that Whitney will make the announcement today, on Wednesday, July 15.

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How Blagojevich fits into Illinois history

Given today's arrest of Gov. Rod Blagojevich, we thought it might be helpful to consider the context of his arrest. Here is a list of Illinois governors tainted by corruption. Complete with page numbers, the information is gathered by Beverley Scobell at Illinois Issues magazine and contained in The Illinois Governors: Mostly Good and Competent.

Only one governor, Len Small (1921-1929) was indicted while in office. In July 1921, he was indicted by the attorney general whose appropriation he had cut (page 196, new edition of Governors book). Charges were conspiracy and embezzlement of interest money during Small's second term as state treasurer. The criminal trial held in Waukegan in 1922 ended with an acquittal. One historian suggested jury tampering because after the trial, four jurors received state jobs.

Four governors were indicted after their terms ended:

• William Stratton (1953-1961) was indicted in 1964 for violating income tax laws. He was acquitted on tax evasion charges centered on campaign contributions (page 242)
• Otto Kerner (1961-1968) was convicted in 1973 of conspiracy, income tax evasion, mail fraud and making false statements on income tax returns. He served 7 months of a 3-year sentence, released on parole when lung cancer was diagnosed (page 250 of the new edition of Mostly Good).
• Dan Walker (1973-1977) was sentenced after pleading guilty to bank fraud, misapplication of bank funds and perjury in 1987. He served one and a half years of a 7-year sentence (page 272).
• George Ryan (1999-2003) was indicted the December following his term on charges of tax fraud, racketeering conspiracy and other and crimes related to his actions as secretary of state. He was convicted in 2006 and began serving a 6 1/2 year sentence in November 2007.

One other governor, Joel Matteson (1853-1857), would probably have been indicted under today's laws. In the last year of of his governorship, he engineered the Scrip Scandal (page 80, new edition), where he cashed again notes issued to build the I&M Canal that had been redeemed but not cancelled. The state Senate Revenue Committee indicted him in 1859, held a trial, convicted then reversed the decision and finally acquitted him. He finally repaid the state more than $250,000 ordered by Sangamon County Circuit Court in 1863.

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Term Limits for Legislative Leaders

That, plus computerized redistricting of legislative seats are the main suggestions of Capitol Fax's Rich Miller in his latest syndicated newspaper column.

Term limits for legislative leaders.

Where have I heard that before? (See third issue link on the left.)

Oh, I know, I espoused the idea when I ran for governor as a Libertarian in 2002.

Here's what I pulled up from the Library of Congress archived web site:

Where does Cal Skinner stand on term limits?

Professional politicians are running our country and our state into the ground. They spend most of their time scheming to get re-elected. Then they pass porkbarrel legislation to please their biggest donors, to keep the donations rolling in.

And guess what keeps this corrupt system going? Your tax dollar.

The problem is especially bad in Illinois, where four legislative leaders — the House Speaker, the Senate President, and the House and Senate minority leaders — dictate nearly the entire legislative agenda. The founders of our country never meant for so much power to be in the hands of so few elected officials.

The solution?

Six-year term limits for legislative leaders. Don't give career politicians like Michael Madigan and Pate Philip time to build political empires that allow their power to go unchecked. Bring back the era of the citizen-politician, when the average citizen took an active role in governing his community.

Cal Skinner and the Libertarian Party support term limits as a sensible means of restoring order to the out-of-control power and money system at the highest levels of our government.

Well, infusing new ideas into the body politic is the primary role of third parties, isn't it?

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More people on the move and Medicaid

Abby Ottenhoff, Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s communications director based in Chicago, is resigning. She’s the third high-level employee in the governor’s office to step down within a month.

Deputy Gov. Sheila Nix resigned this month and was replaced by Bob Greenlee, a former chief of staff and deputy director of the governor’s budget office. Springfield-based spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch stepped down to join a St. Louis-based public relations firm and is replaced by Brian Williamsen, a former TV reporter in Springfield and in South Carolina.

Ottenhoff said in an e-mail that she plans to take some time off to travel and visit family and friends before returning to the professional world. She’s spent five years as the governor’s spokeswoman and previously was an aide to House Speaker Michael Madigan.

She’s replaced by Lucio Guerrero, deputy assessor at the Cook County assessor’s office since 2006. He also was a reporter, writing for the Chicago Sun-Times and its affiliate, the Post-Tribune in Indiana. He also worked for newspapers in Delaware and Florida, according to the governor’s office.

Transparency troubles
By Patrick O’Brien and Bethany Jaeger
The state auditor general’s office had a hard time getting timely and accurate fiscal information about a $1.2 billion Medicaid program overseen by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, according to an audit released this week.

Meanwhile, the state is pursuing federal approval to implement a similar but larger Medicaid program that reimburses hospitals caring for the most needy patients.

The audit notes “untimely and inaccurate submission” of records regarding the program, referred to as a hospital assessment because hospitals pay a tax and then get back $3.6 billion from the federal government over three years. Those reimbursements were delayed last year as part of political infighting, but state officials agreed to borrow money to secure federal matching funds and pay hospitals last fall (see more here by scrolling down).

The problem, according to the audit, was a discrepancy over the appropriate way to record the complex transactions of the hospital assessment program. The audit also notes that the department delayed the reporting process by hiring private consultants, which eventually agreed with the auditor’s findings.

Annie Thompson, spokeswoman for the department, said hiring external consultants on such a complicated, $1.2 billion program is routine. Director Barry Maram also wrote in a letter to the auditor general: “Our overall concern is that a misinterpretation could be made that the assessment liability is a strain on state resources, when in fact there was no strain but instead a net gain to the state.” The department agreed with many of the auditor’s other findings.

The department previously has been criticized for “deficient” accounting practices, as noted by previous audits (here and here) and by Comptroller Dan Hynes. Regarding the most recent audit, Hynes said in an e-mail Thursday: “Accuracy and timeliness of fiscal information from state agencies is a critical concern affecting the state’s ability to produce official financial statements that portray the state’s fiscal profile and creditworthiness. That process is potentially jeopardized by the conditions noted by the auditor general.”

As for the future hospital assessment program, which is pending federal approval, the plan’s structure is more important than some bookkeeping concerns, said Sen. Dale Righter, a Mattoon Republican. “We don’t want to give the federal government excuses to deny the assessment. It is troubling.”

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Man bites Dog | Madigan backs single-payer?

A strange thing happened in Springfield Tuesday night. The moon set, the sun rose, and rain began falling upwards. That, and Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan signed on as a chief sponsor of House Bill 311, which would create a single-payer healthcare system in Illinois.

Has he gone Mad? Has the “revolution begun”, as some single-payer fanatics are saying?

No. It seems to be typical Madigan - playing another game. We just aren’t sure which game he is playing this time. Is it:

1. Build the majority? Allow his members to vote for healthcare to help them in the fall elections.
2. Appease Rep. Mary Flowers? Is she going to jump to the Green party after endorsing their presidential candidate? Madiganneed to hold on to as many members as possible.
3. Provide cover for his members on healthcare? The House has worked for almost a year now to destroy Governor Blagojevich’s healthcare for all plans. Is this the Madigan’s way of allowing his members pretend they are for healthcare to avoid more heat?
4. Stick it to the Governor? Seems the most likely - after the Governor’s healthcare expansions ran into resistance in court yesterday.

Nine times out of ten, its going to be “Stick it to the Governor,” the Lincoln to his Lee (or is it vice versa?).
But let’s give the Speaker the benefit of the doubt here. Let’s pretend he actually cares about the policy. And let’s pretend that the man who killed single-payer in Illinois 16 years ago (and killed healthcare for all again last year) has finally grown a heart. Is HB311 the single-payer we have all been waiting for?

UPDATE: HB311 sailed out of committee with an 8-4 vote. What makes this more suspicious are all the “subs” that were put on the committee last night to vote in place of normal members. The subs who served last night:

• Rep. Jefferson
• Rep. Riley
• Rep. Ford
• Rep. Graham
• Rep. Boland

Normal committee members not attending were Rep. May, Rep. Crespo, Rep. Dugan, Rep. Golar, and Rep. Howard.

CROSS-POSTED AT WONKISH.COM

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Gov replies -- but he never answers

Carol Marin talks about the governor this morning in her Sun-Times column. In this story it starts off with the Governor attempting to have a press conference talking home mortgage relief. This was supposed to be about this "positive" story but the reporters who were there had other ideas. There were questions not about home mortgage relief but Tony Rezko.

Rogers kicked off the questioning: Governor, did that conversation happen?

Blago: “Let me answer that question with an answer. I’m not a party in that trial. I’m not following the trial. It would be inappropriate of me to comment on a trial I’m not a part in.”

Rogers tried again: Don’t the people of Illinois deserve to know whether or not those allegedly incriminating conversations took place with Stuart Levine, a person who has pled guilty to a variety of federal charges?

Blago: “I already answered your question. Those characterizations do not characterize how I operate.”

Rich Samuels of WTTW: Did Blagojevich have a conversation on an airplane with Stuart Levine?

Blago: “You know it’s a good question. I’m not a party in that trial. I’m not in a place where I think it’s appropriate to comment on a trial I’m not involved in.”

Then Carlos Hernandez-Gomez of CLTV: Was the governor’s chief of staff Lon Monk clearing decisions through Tony Rezko as Levine has testified?

Blago (taking a noisy sip of water): “Let me answer that question. I’m not a party to that trial.”

Then Phil Rogers once again: What was the governor’s relationship to Tony Rezko and Stuart Levine?

Blago (another noisy sip of water, his eyes peering over the paper cup):

“Look I’ve asked and answered that a million times. You just ought to go back and take a look at your clippings.”

I'd like to have seen that press conference. It's not wonder he's in his "bunker". He don't want to take questions about this case. I don't blame him, but there are some legitimate questions he's avoiding. Surely he can't avoid them forever, but he certainly can's assume that things are all hokey dorey. Marin continues...

All they show us is that since the feds began showering the Blagojevich’s administration with subpoenas three years ago for everything from state hiring practices, to how lucrative pension investment contracts were handed out and to whom, to the governor and his wife’s personal finances, there isn’t a single answer on a single one of those clippings that provides citizens of this state with a clear answer to any question about his conduct or his relationships.

And if the governor is referring to video clips of past news conferences, all you’ll see, time and again, is the governor running for the door. Literally.

So, budding crisis managers, the lesson here is don’t call a news conference unless you can say something that doesn’t insult the intelligence of the public.

If you were reading this column. I tried not to give too much away almost reads like a lesson for both aspiring crisis managaers and aspiring journalists. The lesson for aspiring journalist and I will include in that description citizen journalists is to never stop asking questions.

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Democratic War in Illinois: How Do We Get Rid of the Governor

Read this post over at Newsalert. Isn't it amazing that the members of the governor's own party are trying to get rid of him? So when are the Democratic members of the legislature going to impeach or place in the state constitution a recall amendment?

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In 21st Century, Does It Matter Where Gov. Works?

I guess this story is continuing to gain traction. I'm sure people are tired of it, but let's think about it for a second. It being the question at hand posed by CBS2Chicago. The same people who gave us a piece about Blagojevich's work habits.

Anyway here's the current article at hand...

In the capital, bureaucrats connect by text message and cell phone and video conference. With that kind of technology available, does the governor's physical location really matter?

Yes, say government veterans.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich can summon his cabinet by video or call the National Guard from Chicago, they said, but running a government well also involves handshakes, smiles and pats on the back.

"A governor has to be present to move things along," said Larry Bomke, a Republican senator from Springfield. "You can't do that by teleconference."

Blagojevich, a second-term Democrat, and his wife chose to live in Chicago rather than the state capital, saying they thought that would be best for their two daughters. Even when it comes to business, Blagojevich prefers Chicago to Springfield.

His visits to the capitol are rare. When he does visit, he often flies back to Chicago at the end of the day so he can spend the night at home. A spokeswoman said last week that Blagojevich considers Chicago his base of operations.

Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson, D-Crete, said the governor seems proud that he has not built a strong relationship with legislators in Springfield.

"You need relationships," she said. "My constituents believe he needs to be there when we're there."

This write-up puts things in perspective. I know there are people who had a problem with the fact that he chose not to live in Springfield, the state capital. Of course it seems plenty of people say this only because Springfield is that state's seat of government. But what some of these people might miss the building relationships aspect of the job. That's about as important as anything.

People say he's unwilling to govern. Well he's unwilling to as this article says give "handshakes, smiles and pats on the back". Hmm after looking at his performance this year as he attempts to push thru his healthcare programs, gross receipts tax, and even CTA funding. That aspect of his lack of performance in that regards might for most of us be showing. I would wonder if the Governor sees it that way.

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Hear the news? Illinois has a wonderfully honest state government

It must have been more than a decade ago. I was watching the "Tonight Show," and Johnny Carson's guest was a nice old lady whose hobby was to collect hardened bird droppings and polish them into jewelry. The finished products did, I must admit, look pretty in a sort of cheap trinket sort of way. But I thought to myself at the time: 'It doesn't matter how hard she polishes this stuff, it's still bird sh*t.'

In today's Journal Star, reporter Karen McDonald turns in this less-than-stellar article about a survey that gave Illinois high marks for campaign finance disclosure and other laws that supposedly keep the public informed about their candidates.

A survey that evaluates campaign disclosure laws, electronic filing programs, public access to campaign finance information and Web site usability ranked Illinois among the top 10 states in the nation in disclosure with an overall score of "B." Thirty-six states earned passing grades for disclosure programs (the state of Washington ranked first), while 14 failed.

"People are either proud - as Illinois should be - in most categories,or say 'we need to do better.' It gives everybody a benchmark and lets them know how they compare to other states," said Bob Stern, president of the Los Angeles-based Center for Governmental Studies, which collaborated on the project with the California Voter Foundation and UCLA School of Law.

McDonald might not have been given much time to report and write this article. If so forgive me, but topic screams out for additional reporting. There are too many questions left unanswered.

Right off the bat, I've gotta know if this survey even bothered to address the issue of whether or not existence of campaign disclosure laws, electronic filing programs and the available of information on the Web has has done any good at all.

Illinois gets a high "B" in the survey, but I don't think anyone who lives and pays attention would give this state a passing grade for honest and open government. We have a ton of laws on the books here, but we somehow keep electing politicians who use the public dime to enrich themselves, their pals, their campaign contributors and their relatives. Our previous governor is headed to the federal pen for doing exactly that, and our current governor is under investigation as well.

The trouble with Illinois is not that we don't know how corrupt our government is. We know. These sorts of laws let us now exactly who puts money into our politicians hands. The problem is that We. Do. Not. Care. All we want to know is "Where's mine?" All we care about is whether the politicians are going to continue the gravy train and keep sending pork to our communities, keep those tax breaks for our businesses, keep sending "free money" to local governments, keep hiking pensions for teachers (at least in Chicago) and police and firefighters, and on and on.

Even when we complain about the leadership of the state House and Senate, we keep re-electing the state senators and representatives who put those leaders in place, because we know that's how it's done in Illinois if you want the gravy train to stop in your community.

So spare me the praise from out-of-state brainiacs who think our laws are wonderful examples of good government. Our actions demonstrate otherwise.

Feh.

Crossposted to Peoria Pundit

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Gov. Tom Cross

If people can run for president two years ahead of time, why not for Illinois governor three years before the election?

Look at this tid-bit in Sneed’s Friday Sun-Time column, obviously placed by a source friendly to Illinois House Minority Leader Tom Cross.

You can regale others with his liberal voting record in the comment section.

My soul is so aflutter I can’t.

Of course there is more on McHenry County Blog this weekend.

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