Prairie Politics

Dan Proft tackles Cicero

2009-11-18T17:13:00.000-08:00

I wondered when he was going to do it. Here's his letter over at Illinois Review in response to Carol Marin.

The most effective response may be over at Kass though,

All this talk of reform is exciting, except for one thing. Proft has a problem. It's the size of Cicero. That doesn't necessarily disqualify him. But when a candidate is linked to Cicero, that candidate finds himself on the defensive.

For years Proft's public relations firm has reaped hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees from governments in and around Cicero, not exactly the most reformish hamlet in the state.

My colleague at the Sun-Times, Carol Marin, has been merciless in dissecting Proft. She's made Cicero a special study for years. If Proft thought that one day he'd run for governor, he should have stayed out of the town that Al Capone built.

"I'm not here to try and convince you that Cicero is Mayberry," Proft said. "People can play that guilt-by-association game. I had a responsibility to a client, to represent their interests, just like an attorney would, just like any professional would. And that's what I did."

Proft noted he's also had contracts with Hinsdale.

"Nobody wants to talk about my negotiated contract with Hinsdale, because Hinsdale isn't sexy," Proft said.

I agree. Hinsdale is a nice town, but you wouldn't say it's sexy.

Nice...Hinsdale, and yeah Cicero ain't Mayberry, and we really wouldn't want it that way either.

So this gonna work?

I like Proft, so I hope so.

--Bill Baar

Congressman Hoekstra on Thomson Prison and Fear

2009-11-18T15:07:00.000-08:00

I asked for his assessment of the threat to Illinois by placing Gitmo detainees at Thomson. He said folks should just ask for the same information on the Gitmo detainees as is available to him and the other members of the House Intelligence Committee. Everyone can make their own threat assessments. Hoekstra thinks when the average American knows what he and the committee knows, we'll all want to keep these guys in Cuba.

So ok Congressman Bill Foster, how about telling all of us in Illinois's 14th district the full bio's on these fellows the administration proposes to haul up to Illinois?

Let us all make our own assessments on how much of a target we're making Illinois.

Illinois GOP: When Will Bill Foster End His Silence on Great Lakes Gitmo?

2009-11-18T08:24:00.001-08:00

Foster's one tight lipped Rep, that's for sure. The latest from the Illinois GOP.

When Will Bill Foster End His Silence on Great Lakes Gitmo?
Foster voted against bringing terrorists to U.S. soil last month;
Bean opposes transfer as polling shows 57% oppose in Illinois
CHICAGO – Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady today called on Congressman Bill Foster to end his silence on Governor Quinn and Senator Durbin’s plan to build a new Gitmo facility in Thomson, Illinois to house up to 215 Al Qaeda terrorists.
On October 15, 2009, Foster was one of only 25 Democrats in Congress who voted to keep Gitmo open and strip language from the Homeland Security Appropriations bill allowing terrorists to come to the United States for civilian prosecution (Roll Call 783). But when asked his view on the Quinn-Durbin plan to bring Al Qaeda terrorists to Illinois, Foster told the Daily Herald he was “still studying the issue.”
“Bill Foster was not sent to Congress to sit on the sidelines. I hope Bill Foster will have the courage to do what’s right and oppose bringing Al Qaeda terrorists to Illinois,” Brady said
According to a survey of 1,781 likely Illinois voters conducted Monday night, less than one-third of Illinois voters support a plan to move terrorists from Gitmo to Thomson, Illinois while 57 percent call it a “bad idea.” Sixty percent of women and 58 percent of independents oppose the plan. Even Democrats narrowly oppose the plan, 44.5 percent to 43 percent.
Yesterday, Democratic Congresswoman Melissa Bean told the Lake County News Sun and the Daily Herald she opposes transferring Guantanamo detainees to Illinois without substantial assurances regarding potential security threats.

Mark Kirk on Great Lakes Gitmo

2009-11-18T07:29:00.001-08:00

So much for the competition with Florence, Colo for Gitmo inmates

2009-11-16T17:37:00.000-08:00

Sounds like the deal was done on bringing Gitmo detainees to Illinois.

***BREAKING***

Associated Press: Quinn Misleads Illinois on GITMO

Despite Quinn’s claim, AP reports Colorado officials were never contacted on possible GITMO transfer

Durbin, Quinn also claimed moving GITMO would create 3,000 jobs, but Bureau of Prisons says it would only hire between 450 and 500 with no preference for immediate area

CHICAGO – Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady today expressed his disappointment in Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and Senator Dick Durbin’s deliberate attempts to mislead the public on the plan to move a terrorist detention facility from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to Illinois.

Just hours ago, the Associated Press reported that “Colorado officials have not been contacted by the federal government about housing Guantanamo Bay detainees at federal prisons in the state, despite public comments that a facility in Florence is under consideration.”

While Quinn said a federal prison in Florence, Colo., and another facility in Montana were competing with Illinois over the GITMO move, “Colorado officials said they haven't been contacted by the federal government regarding housing Guantanamo prisoners in the state.”

Quinn and Durbin have also misled Illinois citizens about the number of jobs the Thomson plan would create. The Illinois Democrats repeatedly told reporters that the plan would create roughly 3,000 new jobs. But in a press release distributed this morning, members of the Illinois congressional delegation reported that only 450 to 500 jobs would be created – with no guarantee those jobs would go to local communities:

“According to a congressional briefing from officials at the Department of Defense and the Bureau of Prisons, between 450 and 500 new employees would be hired at annual salaries of $37,000 to $47,000 at the Thomson Correctional Center. However, no hiring preference is given to residents from the surrounding area. Local residents would compete against applicants from across the country. Additionally, new hires must be under the age of 37, and must be or become law enforcement officers.”

“While downplaying the security threats posed to Illinois by moving GITMO to our state, Governor Quinn has no problem exaggerating the move’s economic impact or hyping a perceived competition,” Chairman Brady said. “Instead of looking out for our state’s best interest, Democrats will do whatever it takes to cover up their total mismanagement of the Illinois economy. Governor Quinn and Senator Durbin should stop playing politics with our security.”

Andy McKenna's Hair Ad

2009-11-16T17:32:00.000-08:00

McKenna sounds silly here. Illinois's economy a shambles and Quinn hands Jihadist's a target at Thomson hauling the detainees to Illinois. Please get more serious.

DAN PROFT: State Sens. Kirk Dillard, Bill Brady Voted to Give $100,000 of Illinois Taxpayer Money to ACORN‏

2009-09-22T05:16:00.000-07:00

uts...Pat Brady tells me ACORN's a criminal enterprise. That's real tough nuts. Not like it would be the only one in Illinois for sure, but what's the GOP doing handing out State funds to them? So Proft over reaching here? The funds went first to the Illinois Housing Authority which then distributed to others including ACORN. That's the way things worked. Were Dillard and Brady wrong?

September 21, 2009

http://www.proft2010.com/news-room/contentview.asp?c=189722

NUTS! State Sens. Kirk Dillard, Bill Brady Voted to Give $100,000 of Illinois Taxpayer Money to ACORN

Chicago, IL – Conservative reform candidate Dan Proft released the following statement today in response to the discovery that State Sens. Kirk Dillard and Bill Brady voted to give ACORN $100,000 of taxpayer dollars:

“On Friday, State Sen. Kirk Dillard, the self-described ‘camera-ready’ Hinsdale Republican who appeared in a campaign commercial for Barack Obama, called on Gov. Pat Quinn to immediately ban all state funds to ACORN.

“‘We should not be spending tax dollars to fund an organization like ACORN which continues to violate the public’s trust at a time when our state is in a budget crisis,’ Sen. Dillard said in a statement.

“I agree. But perhaps Sen. Dillard should stop voting to fund ACORN before he calls on others to do the same.

“In 2007, both Sens. Dillard and Brady voted for SB 1167, which appropriated state funds to the Illinois Housing Development Authority which in turn distributed a $100,000 grant to ACORN.

“Once again, Sen. Dillard has let the headlines guide his convictions. Well before the recent undercover footage was aired, nine states had charged ACORN employees with crimes totaling 30 convictions. Where were Sen. Dillard’s denunciations of the group then – a group he voted to fund with taxpayer dollars?

“Sens. Dillard and Brady like to tout their respective 15-year political careers in Springfield. How’s that working out for you? It’s working out great for ACORN.”

xp Bill Baar's West Side

Fox Chicago Sunday: Pat Brady

2009-09-22T05:09:00.001-07:00

Brady calls ACORN a Criminal Enterprise. No argument for me there but that's goning to be tough for the GOP's candidates who voted to fund ACORN in the past. My next Proft Press release to explain.

John Laesch: Linda Healy backed by Mike Madigan to challenge Kay Hatcher

2009-09-20T04:21:00.000-07:00

Calls started going out 2-3 days ago to Democratic activists in Kane and Kendall counties to notify them that Democratic Speaker of the House, Mike Madigan had chosen to support Linda Healy to run against Kay Hatcher for State Representative from the 50th District.

Linda Healy is the former director of Mutual Ground, a local shelter for abused women and men. In my opinion, Healy is an excellent pick to challenge Kay Hatcher who voted against funding for Mutual Ground earlier this year when Hatcher voted “no” for a fully-funded budget.

To learn more about Linda Healy or donate to Mutual Ground, follow this link.

Read the rest here.The Madigans see a tough 2010 for Democrats but savvy enough to spot the chinks and get behind a candidate who's just had her former organization make a pitch for funds in liberal Churches throughout the valley. She's got a base and as John notes a divided GOP in southern Kane.

Unsolved Mysteries: Where's Bill? The Bill Foster Story

2009-09-06T06:24:00.000-07:00

From a Reader... somehow I think the answer lies in Long Island.

Chairmen Madigan and Brady: show Illinois your returns

2009-09-05T05:24:00.000-07:00

Seems like a nice first step towards transparency would be for the Chairmen of Illinois's Democratic and Republican parties to post their tax returns on the web for all to see.

Too much for citizens to ask? I can't think why not.

xp Bill Baar's West Side.

Cook County Commissioner Beavers on States more corrupt than Illinois: Utah and Oregon

2009-07-09T17:08:00.000-07:00

Tony P getting under Beaver's skin. If Utah and Oregon are more corrupt, than we have to beat them on body count with 11 shot dead over the long weekend. We need more than a Peace Making Pledge for this City.

Proft, Madigan, and the Chicago Nine

2009-07-09T16:20:00.000-07:00

From Proft's press release on Madigan's

There has been some rejoicing in GOP circles to the news that Lisa Madigan will not run for Governor. This celebration is misplaced. The Madigan family name symbolizes the sclerotic, corrupt patronage politics that eats away at our prosperity—and has for three decades. We should relish the opportunity to confront it directly.

For the Illinois GOP to be successful and for our standard bearers to win elections, we need to be less concerned with whatever window-dressing the Chicago 9 will use to disguise the fixed government systems that finance dependency at the expense of the productive.

He's right. But he needs to let us know who the nine are. All the time. He needs a link on his website to the list.

Courior News: Federal inmate plan a moneymaker

2009-07-09T14:11:00.000-07:00

I like Sheriff Perez but I hope he's not going to bid on guys from Gitmo too. From the Courior News,

Kane County Sheriff Pat Perez won praise this week for moving forward with a plan to allow the U.S. Marshals Service to house female inmates in the jail here.

Members of the county's executive committee approved a proposal to allow the Marshals Service to house up to 15 women in the county jail. The county will charge the service $88 per person per day as the women await trial in Chicago, which could amount to a total of $1,320 a day assuming all 15 beds are used every day.

Kirk Dillard - Biography

2009-07-08T18:06:00.000-07:00

A stumble out of the blocks though.

Dan Proft:: "the candidate most likely to choke some people."

2009-07-08T17:57:00.000-07:00

Well he has been working in Cicero. As my step Dad told me, he read the Cicero-Berwyn Life because the only real news was Cicero news. From NRO,

Among the Republicans running for Illinois governor is Dan Proft, who NRO reader Doug, a friend of the candidate, describes as, "the candidate most likely to choke some people."

HT Illinois Review

-Bill Baar

Rep Julie Hamos on AG Madigan

2009-07-08T17:01:00.000-07:00

Hamos emails,

"Lisa Madigan has been a strong Attorney General and an excellent leader for the state of Illinois. I was pleased to learn that she will continue to provide excellent leadership to our state in these difficult times.

"Over the past few months I have met with Democratic and community leaders and listened to the concerns of voters across Illinois. In the coming days I plan to revisit those supporters and ask for their best ideas on how I can work for the people of Illinois. I look forward to hearing their ideas and input."

So maybe Gov Quinn on the Reform Commission was too much,

On Thursday, Quinn threw his Reform Commission, headed by former federal prosecutor Patrick Collins, overboard.

What passed the Senate --campaign finance reform -- was watered-down, loophole-ridden legislation. It gives House Speaker Michael Madigan -- the real governor of Illinois -- and Senate President John Cullerton even more power over passing out money to their favored candidates.

and she's going to challange Quinn in the Primaries labeling Quinn a front-man for Illinois's real Gov?

Talk about reading tea leaves.

-Bill Baar

Ill Guv Race: Adam Andrzejewski's site

2009-07-03T08:32:00.000-07:00

Here it is.

One Man like him.

Overall I was kind of impressed. I was looking to see if he came across as creditable and he did. He answered some policy questions with answers with more detail than you would expect someone to use at this point in the game.

Eventually I'll have all the Guv Race sites linked over on the right side of the blog.

Progressive Fox: Bill Foster and the Gambling Mystery

2009-07-01T01:35:00.001-07:00

The Fox writes,

Foster has signed on as a co-sponsor of Barney Frank’s Internet gambling bill.

and wonders about the impact on the Fox Valley's 2,332 gaming jobs between the Elgin and Aurora Casinos. (And I'd like to add all that revenue generated from those casinos to spruce up downtown in Aurora and Elgin.)

Foster's office is saying no public statement yet. Wonder what the attraction is to this bill for our Scientist and Businessman in Congress?

More Bill Foster Speculation

2009-06-29T16:27:00.000-07:00

Progressive Fox caused a stir for new blog on the block with their Foster Speculation. Fran picked it up here, and so did that other Miller a bit down the post.

Scientist, businessman, but does that really equip you for the beating one gets as back bencher in Rahm and Pelosi's Congress?

If Foster quits it may prove I've greatly underestimated the guy.

-Bill Baar

Bob TV: Schillerstrom's announcement

2009-06-29T04:30:00.000-07:00

I'll be setting up links on the righthand side for the Illinois Gov and Senate races and any other race that strikes me. Here is the Schillerstrom site. Not as clever as Proft's Illinois's fixed spin but maybe that's the dif between Cicero and Wheaton.

Also at the Sun Times.

Lake County Tea Parties

2009-06-29T04:26:00.000-07:00

A blog devoted to the events.

The Progressive Fox: Has anyone else been wondering whether Bill Foster is running for re-election or not?

2009-06-29T04:22:00.001-07:00

A new Political blog for the Fox Valley or folks I've just overlooked? A long post speculating on whether one term's left Foster fed up with the job.

Rep. Debbie Halvorson (IL-11) Stating She Wouldn't Bow to White House Pressure on Cap & Trade

2009-06-27T15:29:00.000-07:00

NRCC is reporting she did after one call from the Prez. Wonder if Obama called Bill Foster?

Update: Illinois Review writes Foster stood up to the pressure,

I've often heard my friends who are left of center say "don't you think _____ has done anything good?"

I've been hard on Congressman Foster. However, today, I give him praise. He did the right thing. While there were reports of heavy arm twisting from Democratic leadership, Congressman Foster, a freshman Congressman stood up to his party and voted against this boondoggle. Congressman - thank you.

City Barb: Chicago Pols and Sicilian Mob

2009-06-27T15:25:00.000-07:00

Some snark over at the Barb: Corrupt Illinois Politicians vs. the Sicilian Mafia

Dan Proft's Announcement Speech

2009-06-27T15:08:00.000-07:00

And it takes him four YouTube Views to do it.

That's ok. I haven't listened to 'em all yet but I like his slogan: Illinois isn't Broke. It's fixed.

Bill Foster at the 2009 IP Congress

2009-06-27T15:00:00.000-07:00

From a blog on patent reform (I guess..it's not totally clear to a Joe-like-me)

Final Thoughts

Another highlight made possible by my attendance to the event, but not directly related thereto, was an invitation to a breakfast with Congressman Bill Foster on Tuesday morning. I am already a fan. Foster is an entrepreneur and physicist who decided (after 22 years of building superconducting magnets to detect subatomic particles) to roll up his sleeves and try to help fix government. I'm pretty sure there's nobody else in Congress who would know what the title of this blog refers to. The discussion of the patent system and innovation at this breakfast was the best I've heard ever anywhere...

He really is a geek... the rest here.

Climate Change Bill Passes House; Kirk Yea, Foster Nay

2009-06-27T14:54:00.000-07:00

Progress Illinois (SEIU)'s coverage of the Energy Bill with a warning for Bill Foster from the tree huggers.

Scott Harper's Back

2009-06-27T14:46:00.000-07:00

Scott Harper's back for another run in Illinois's 13th District. Here's his webpage.

A little heavy on the faith stuff for my taste but maybe that works over there.

Also at The Herald. I gotta a feeling after Obama, Democrats hopping onto the values wagon may sound old.

While both candidates consider themselves moderates, Harper's revamped Web site, scottharperforcongress.com, will feature a nearly five-minute long video that focuses on traditionally Republican themes of family and religion.

"Having been born and raised in Naperville, it's that ethic of community service and religion instilled in me by my parents," he said. "When I think if my two daughters that have grown up now, I want the best for them and I want to make a difference for our community and country."

Foster Statement on Energy Legislation

2009-06-27T06:08:00.000-07:00

Good for him!

Foster Statement on Energy Legislation

Washington, Jun 26 -

Today, Congressman Bill Foster (IL-14) released the following statement after the House of Representatives voted on H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act. Foster voted against the legislation, which passed the House by a vote of 219-212.

“As a scientist, I believe that climate change is real and that action is necessary. It is also crucial that we restructure our energy systems to increase efficiency and reduce our dependence on imported sources. However, I have always believed we have a responsibility to act in a way that comes with the lowest possible cost to the economy. A more thoughtful and measured bill could have mitigated significantly more greenhouse gas per dollar of expenditure. It is my hope that the Senate will make significant improvements to this legislation.”

'Cause this attitude is going to kill us in Illinois... and America.

Blogger Call: Rep Julie Hamos on Contribution Caps

2009-05-21T17:07:00.000-07:00

A call to discuss...

Julie Hamos appeared on Fox News this morning and announced the release of a petition calling on Governor Quinn and legislative leaders to enact caps on political contributions. While some legislators are calling for reform light, the petition sets the cap at $2,400 per individual per election cycle.

...and I'm on it now.

Four bloggers on the call and maybe a few lurkers.

Hamos: We just past significant Capital Bill and things are moving fast, so what are we doing on ethics reform?

She's offered a caps plan. She believes it's essential feature. She'll be sponsoring a bill on FOI reform.

Pat Collins coming to Springfield tomorrow. They'll be a bill starting in the Senate, and she's not happy that this is the best that we can do (Not sure if her problem is that it's starting in the Senate instead).

Want's to mirror the Federal law. Cap once in the primary and once in the General. Important feature is are the limits on the total about an individual can contribute? Also limits on Leader Transfers.

Important features the Senate Bill will get tangled. She expects Pat Collins to come out against the Senate version.

Her proposal is to stays with Federal Limits: 2,000 $400 caps.

No laws are going to stop people electing crooks.

Questions?

Josh Calvin (?) How has lack of limits effected your own politics? He cited lack of progress on regulating pay-day lending outfits.

Hamos: The Industry has hired 60 lobbyists. She's tried to work with the more reputable of them, but... they do wield power with campaign contributions. They have access to a lot of money.

It's also about perception. When Blagojevich came to light it showed a politican "holding up" citizens. Some honorable people get big contributions but it still raises bad feelings with the public. Illinois is the wild west of campaign finance.

David Orsby: Have Federal limits Rep Hamos seeks to any good in Washington?

[***]

Would she vote for the current bill as it stands? No, she wouldn't support it. It's a challange but she thinks it's an attempt to undermine what they're trying to do.

Who is with you? She said that's an interesting question.... she thinks maybe forty votes. If Patrick Collins and Cindy Canary comes out against it, she is thinking more will come out, although how defeating a Caps Bill will do any larger good hard to see. Challanging and frustrating....

I'll write up more in a bit and link her cites... Live blogging a call no easy task!

[***]
Rep Hamos's Petition.

[***] I couldn't get the differences in detail between the caps proposed by Rep Hamos, and the Caps proposed by Cullerton and Madigan in the bill that's appeared in the Illinois Senate. Rep Hamos said the rules would favor the Senate, and the caps so large they would be meaningless.

Here's the trib though from a few hours on the action in Springfield,

The bills are the latest in a series of ethics measures that Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, are backing in the wake of Blagojevich's arrest and removal from office.

The proposals came after hours of testimony by a special joint committee off the House and Senate, but that testimony looked at ethics issues in general -- not the specific proposals approved Thursday.

Those measures popped up in an entirely different committee Wednesday, passed after little discussion and then were approved by the House a day later.

Cindi Canary, head of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, said she hadn't seen the legislation and couldn't comment on whether it would have much impact on government corruption. She noted that even bills meant to improve government transparency are being handled in typical legislative fashion, surfacing at the last minute with little time for review.

"If anything, this year is more mystifying than ever, and that says a lot," Canary said.

Mystifying deals between Cullerton and Madigan not a good sign. I signed Hamos's petition just to stick it to these two.

Also, Progress Illinois

Some New Local Blogs

2009-05-14T17:37:00.001-07:00

The Progressive Fox who doesn't much care for the Prarie Parkway as a stimulus project. (Forget High Speed Rail for me, I'd settle for a milk run to Dekalb on Metra.)

And the Northwest Suburban Insider covering the Fox Valley too but from a different angle.

Update: A few more...

Jim Laski is blogging

....all to be added to blogroll over the weekend

Rep Bill Foster and the Lee County Freedom Ball

2009-05-14T17:34:00.000-07:00

A comment from ILLBEAR over at the Progressive Fox,

I am convinced that Bill Foster has no intention of completing this term. His fundraisers have been cancelled twice out this way. He made two appearances here since going to Congress - one of which was a disaster of his own making at the Lee County Freedom Ball. The other appearance, when he opened the Dixon office, was a success.

So what was the disaster and how did Foster create it?

Got me intrigued.

Bill Baar

Rep Bill Foster's funny with the Gettysburg Address at Fermi Lab

2009-05-14T17:18:00.001-07:00

I look at this. I listen to my Congressman parody an Historic Speech consecrating our war dead. Does he know there is a war? That President Obama commanded another 17k troops to the battlefield. Is Foster so much a businessman and scientist he can not understand the sacrifice of warriors? A speech consecrating their lives used to commemorate stimulus projects back home?

Foster at another stimulus dedication in Minn,

Foster, who is in his first term in Congress, noted that the project has helped him understand how Washington works. The budget for the experiment had been cut, but it was partly reversed by attaching an amendment to the Iraq War supplemental budget.

“It’s a heck of a way to fund science,” he said.

Encumbering War effort with pork a heck of a way to fight a war...

Bill Baar

2009 Illinois Blogger Conference

2009-05-02T12:13:00.001-07:00

See you there....

2009 Illinois Blogger meet-up & SamSphere

2009-04-25T03:43:00.001-07:00

Illinois Blogger Meet-up & SamSphere

A Free! New Media and Blogging Workshop

SPONSORED BY:

The Sam Adams Alliance & Illinois Review

May 8^th from 10:00am-4:00pm

Carlucci Restaurant

1801 Butterfield Rd
Downers Grove, IL 60515
(630) 512-0990

Register Here! (Free for Bloggers)

New media technology is becoming increasingly important to our jobs as responsible citizens. The work bloggers, wiki editors, and social media participants are doing is important to promote government transparency and to draw in more liberty-minded activists and citizen leaders.

In an effort to build relationships, the above mentioned sponsors have partnered with the Sam Adams Alliance to present Illinois Blogger Meetup & SamSphere- a one-day event aimed at helping selected political bloggers network with each other and build a stronger community.

This event is designed to bring activists of all sorts together to find out where their missions and goals align and create a community of liberty-oriented activists who will work together to amplify the pro-liberty message online and offline.

The conference will take place next month on Friday, May 8^th at the Carlucci Restaurant in Downers Grove, IL.

For questions, please contact Emily Zanotti, Director of Web Strategies at the Sam Adams Alliance.

Phone: 312-920-0080 or Email: emzanotti@samadamsall

Follow the Money in State Politics

2009-04-12T06:49:00.000-07:00

A useful site: Follow the Money dot org

Roeser: Defeat of Pro-Abortion HB 2354 a Non-Event in Chicago’s Pravda.

2009-04-10T03:44:00.000-07:00

Tom's column over at CDO.

More on this later. Events have over taken blogging for me lately, but the silence on HB 2354 is curious.

When Alderman Attack

2009-03-09T19:16:00.001-07:00

HT Chicago Daily Observer,

Clout Street: Fritchey gets campaign cash from Blagojevich fundraiser, wife in Emanuel race

2009-03-02T04:32:00.000-08:00

From Clout Street,

Milan Petrovic, who was listed as Gov. Rod Blagojevich's top campaign fundraiser at a political corruption trial last year, recently gave $2,400 to the congressional fund of state Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago), according to federal campaign finance reports filed today.

Fritchey also reported receiving another $2,400 from Petrovic's wife, Anne.
[***]
Last week, Clout Street reported Fritchey got a campaign donation from another Blagojevich ally, state Sen. James DeLeo (D-Chicago).

Why am I not surprized? The comments at Clout Street should be fun to watch.

CDOB: Our Increasingly Irrelevant Incumbent Newspapers and The Chicago Tea Party

2009-03-01T05:44:00.000-08:00

Chicago Daily Observer covers The Chicago Tea Party. Other coverage, at Backyard Conservative, Marathon Pundit, Rogers Park Bench, and a Chicago Blog.

Phil Hare on Pork and Warren County Illinois

2009-02-28T06:20:00.000-08:00

Hare not afraid to ask for earmarks from Daily Review Atlas

"I don't shy away from the term earmark. I have community colleges, police that need equipment ... we want to fix levees and highways — if that's pork, give me the knife and fork," he said. "If you don't ask, you don't get it."

In his opinion, Congress had three options. They could do nothing and let the market correct itself. They could focus on tax breaks and hope the money trickled down — which he contented was the policy for the last eight years that helped create the financial mess. Or, they could pass a stimulus bill that, while not perfect, would put people back to work and help prevent the foreclosure of 2 million homes.

"It won't fix all the problems ... but it will get people working again," Hare said.

He said the number of unemployed people in the country is now equal to a city the size of Chicago.

"I will make some mistakes, but I'd rather err on the side of doing something," he said.

He said for every dollar invested in infrastructure, the area gets five dollars back. Hare predicted the biggest boon for the Warren County area would be the money set aside for alternative energy, such as biodiesel, ethanol, solar and wind energy.

A FICA tax cut or holiday would have flooded income into the hands of working people. Let's watch what Hare's investment in technology in Warren county brings us. If those investments go sour and if maybe we had been better off turning that trickle of a tax cut into a real cut.

Bill Brady in 2010

2009-02-28T05:43:00.001-08:00

It starts... an email from Brady.

Dear Bill,

On Monday, I will formally launch my campaign for Governor in 2010 with formal announcements of my candidacy in Chicago, Springfield, Marion and Bloomington.

I am committed to doing everything I can to make a difference for the citizens of Illinois, to bringing jobs and economic prosperity back to our state, to restoring integrity and honesty to state government and to making the tough decisions that will return fiscal responsibility and accountability to our budget.

I will need your help, and I invite you to join our campaign as we move forward to build a better Illinois. Together, we can make a difference as we work to bring back promise and prosperity for the people of Illinois.

Following is the schedule:

MONDAY, MARCH 2
10 a.m.
Chicago
Renaissance Chicago Hotel
1 West Wacker Drive

1 p.m.
Springfield
Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport
Knotts Conference Room (main terminal, second floor)

3 p.m.
Marion
Williamson County Airport
Main Terminal

6 p.m.
Bloomington
Challenger Learning Center
2901 E. Empire Street

I invite you to join us at any one of these events.

Solar Incentives From The New Stimulus Bill

2009-02-27T14:53:00.000-08:00

The fine print over at the Illinois Solar Energy Association. It's a summary with 1,624 words without a paragraph break. Call the StimBill the consultant's retirement act.

Americans and hard times

2009-02-27T14:48:00.000-08:00

This is how we respond,

Christine J. Sobek, president of Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove, said the economy has been a boon for the college.

Enrollment per credit hour is up 11 percent. About 11,000 students are enrolled at Waubonsee.

We'll be stronger Nation and economy for it.

HB976/SB1407: Would Allow Post Surgical Recovery Centers to Become Hospitals

2009-02-27T14:40:00.000-08:00

Illinois Hospital Association's against it.

House Bill 976/Senate Bill 1407 would allow postsurgical recovery centers to become licensed hospitals under the Hospital Licensing Act without a Certificate of Need permit. Postsurgical recovery centers are currently part of a demonstration program to allow overnight stays for relatively healthy patients having planned elective ambulatory surgical procedures. These centers are not hospitals.

HB976, sponsored by Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia (D-83, Aurora) and Rep. Tim Schmitz (R-49, Geneva), could come up for a hearing in the House Health Care Availability and Accessibility Committee as soon as Tuesday, March 3.

ACTION REQUESTED: Please call, visit, fax, or e-mail your state representatives as soon as possible and ask them to oppose HB976, and ask your Senators to oppose SB1407. It is especially critical that hospitals whose local state representatives are members of the Health Care Availability and Accessibility Committee contact their representatives.

Health facilities planning has been at the root of so much Illinois Political corruption I just wish the Facilties Plannings Commission would just stand down, the Politicans get out of planning, and let the Hospital pro's do their thing.

St Charles Mayor's Race

2009-02-27T14:26:00.000-08:00

Looks like just one debate says DeWitte: Mayor declines challenger’s debate invitation; and he's not happy with Stein's webpage,

DeWitte’s letter goes on to say that Stein’s Web site contains misleading allegations directed at the mayor.

“This kind of ‘low road’ campaign is always regrettable,” the letter states

Stein's not taking the high road for sure.

McHenry County Township Races

2009-02-20T03:26:00.000-08:00

Murf covers 'em over at Heretic, Rebel...

Democrats caucus and the GOP votes in the township primaries. I participated in a caucus in Iowa in 1972. I really hate them. It's an awful way to select candidates.

Illinois GOP fights back

2009-02-20T03:14:00.000-08:00

John Powers over at CDO has a round up on the GOP's responses including this petition drive.

xp Bill Baar's West Side

Quinn hires aide who worked for Rezko, Blagojevich

2009-02-19T03:37:00.000-08:00

From the Trib: Quinn hires aide who worked for Rezko, Blagojevich

Gov. Pat Quinn on Wednesday installed as his chief operating officer an appointee of ousted predecessor Rod Blagojevich who also has close ties to convicted fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko.

The decision to name longtime friend Jack Lavin as one of his top aides raised eyebrows with some who said it might send a message of politics as usual in Illinois.

"Certainly he comes with some baggage that we have to be very sensitive about at this moment in our state's history, but personally I want to work with everyone right now to make sure we get through the very serious problems we're facing," said Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno of Lemont. "I can only hope the governor has fully vetted his association and knows full well that they won't in any way, shape or form interfere."

We don't need anymore baggage on the sinking ship Illinois.

This is a foolish move plain and simple and Ms Radogno should say so.

Franks and Babes

2009-02-19T03:22:00.000-08:00

No wonder Illinois is a mess: Mistress hiring probe withdrawn amid partisan furor

Suburban state Rep. Jack Franks riled Republicans Wednesday by trying to win support for an investigation into whether a state lawmaker colluded with then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich to allegedly hire a secretary the lawmaker was having an affair with because the lawmaker's wife wanted the secretary fired.

Franks, a Marengo Democrat, wanted a vote that would urge the local state's attorney to investigate the claim, made recently by the disgraced former governor.

Deal with the budget first guys.

Beacon News: Live Aurora mayoral forum coverage tonight

2009-02-18T04:25:00.000-08:00

From the Beacon News,

Join The Beacon News tonight for its live blog coverage of the first Aurora mayoral candidate forum. Beginning at 5:15 p.m., reporter and host Dan Campana will take questions and offer analysis as Mayor Tom Weisner, Alderman Richard Irvin and Alderman Stephanie Kifowit take the Copley Theater stage in an event sponsored by area chambers of commerce.

Illinois Reform Commission's first Town Hall

2009-02-18T03:46:00.000-08:00

It's tonight,

The topic of Burris' recent questionable testimony will likely be brought up by the public tonight when Collins' Illinois Reform Commission hosts its first town hall meeting at Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire.

"I think if it comes up, it's a fair question," said Collins, a Lisle native. "I think it's important in the context of what standards should we hold public officials (to). Should we hold them to a perjury standard or something higher?"

I'd ask Burris, if unlike Rangel and Geitner, he's at least paid all of his income taxes. I figured Burris owed Blagojevich anyways. If Burris still owes me and you might be a worthy question.

St Charles Mayor's Race - Elgin City Council's Race

2009-02-18T03:36:00.001-08:00

They're both about development: Downtown Elgin and a new center for Geneva.

See how much stimulus money ends up in these kinds of projects.

*****

Post Script from SJ-R.com: Area leaders await OK for stimulus bill projects

The question is which projects will be selected for approval.

In Chatham, Gray said replacement of a water main and construction of a new water tower are immediate needs that would be considered “shovel-ready” projects.

Rochester Village Manager Dale Laningham said gave the office of U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., a shovel-ready list of three projects: expanding sanitary sewer capacity on the village’s east side, developing the new North Park and resurfacing Katie Lane.

“Those are the jobs that we could get them ready in a short period of time,” Laningham said.

“We’ve got all kinds of lists floating everywhere,” he added. “We don’t know if a project has been accepted or if it’s been approved.”

Sherman Village President Trevor Clatfelter said his staff put together a list of 29 projects totaling about $16 million.

“Since then, IDOT (the Illinois Department of Transportation) has asked us to prioritize our projects and cap it at $2 million, and they need to be shovel-ready and ready to go,” Clatfelter said.

Maybe call this bill the Auditor's Retirement Act?

****
Aurora's Weisner too: Weisner, Quinn to meet on funding

Weisner said he understands the governor cannot grant wishes overnight. But he said Aurora is ready to get bids on certain projects immediately.

"I just want to be one of the first ones to talk to him," Weisner said.

Tell me there'll be no quids pro quo midst all of this.

Frugal Campton Hills

2009-02-18T03:25:00.001-08:00

Couldn't stay for all of last night's Village Board meeting but it was nice to hear the treasurer report the Village was well within budget at fourth quarter. A nice rebuttal to those a few months ago saying the Village was profligate with our dollars.

...and Oswego manages their's too.

To keep the budget balanced, the village is not giving employees a cost-of-living adjustment in their salaries.

The village also cut the amount of money allocated to travel and training, and it is leaving some vacant positions unfilled.

Laughter rippled through the board when Trustee Lori West asked about the $250,000 budgeted for snow removal. This is $50,000 more than was allocated in the current budget.

Salting icy streets has been a sensitive subject for Oswego and its neighbors this winter, as the municipalities struggle to cope with higher than average snowfall and salt prices that nearly tripled this year.

Elgin Politics goes online

2009-02-17T03:38:00.000-08:00

Elginite notes change,

This is the first Elgin city council election where significant discussion is happening online, whether on this site, other blogs, forums or on the websites of the Courier and the Herald. It’s also the first city council election where most candidates have campaign websites. This means progress, and I’m glad that this blog, The Elginite, is functioning as a forum for civil debate and dialogue between candidates and the public.

and change brings new sets of problems,

There has been, however, some abuse of our system of commenting and it’s important that we bring this up now before we get to the primary and as we go into the general election.

I never had an explicit comment policy, because I thought it was obvious. And in the history of this blog, I have removed I think all of two comments that I thought were abusive. My general inclination is to not enforce any kind of censorship, because I don’t want to discourage dialogue.

Elginite lists some examples of potentially offensive comments and asks for advice.

Daily Herald: Cullerton open to all sorts of tax hikes

2009-02-16T16:48:00.000-08:00

Illinois Senate Prez John Cullerton says,

"Everyone wants to go to heaven, but no one wants to die," he said about government services people want but no one wants to pay for.

Democrats will need a better framer for this one than that. Most Illinoisians feel we already pay for those services and get a bad deal on them.

Elgin's U46

2009-02-16T06:23:00.000-08:00

Daily Herald: Rapid changes are just the first step in an overhaul of U-46

Jose Torres brought an axe,

Torres came out swinging after taking the district's helm in July. The two biggest punches came at the end of January, when he informed seven of the district's most powerful administrators, in charge of staffing, curriculum and students services, that their positions would be eliminated by June. The next day he told Larkin High School's principal and 12 department heads, along with Canton Middle School's principal and vice principal, that they'd be out at the end of the school year.

"I would have liked to make even more changes, but this is all I can handle at this time," Torres said.

Durkin calls for Burris to resign

2009-02-16T06:15:00.000-08:00

Video of Durkin over at ABC News also Pat Hickey's post on Durkin and this from Mark Brown's column today, Perjury or not, Burris shows he is at least a liar

It's true Republicans on the impeachment panel didn't ask the best follow-up questions that day, but contrary to what Burris said Sunday, they came back to the topic of Blagojevich contacts twice more without him offering the relevant details.

At least Republicans were asking tough questions. Democrats on the committee made it their business that day to protect Burris. A certain Chicago Democrat who would like to be a congressman and was a leader in the effort to impeach Blagojevich made it plain that day he didn't want the impeachment panel investigating Burris, raising numerous objections to the Republican line of questioning.

From here on out, Democrats might want to try assisting in the search for the truth instead of protecting one of their own.

Truth was the casuality in the Rush to impeach Blagojevich. A lot of people didn't want Illinois hearing the whole story.

Sunday Shorts: Elgin's Green Consultant

2009-02-15T07:04:00.000-08:00

Expect more of this in the coming months: How can Elgin spend $100K on a green consultant?

How can Elgin leaders justify shelling out $100,000 for a consultant to help the city become "greener" and more sustainable when the economy is in tatters and 16 city workers were laid off last year?

Illinois Hospital Association: Oppose Mandatory Nurse Staffing Ratios: Contact Your State Legislators

Once again, mandatory nurse staffing ratio bills (SB224 and HB485) have been introduced in the Illinois General Assembly. The proposals are nearly identical to ratio bills that have been introduced over the past several years. House Bill 485 has been posted to the Health Care Availability & Accessibility Committee for a hearing at 4:00p.m. on Wednesday, February 18. The chair of the House committee, Representative Mary Flowers (D-31, Chicago) is also the sponsor of HB485.

Elginite on the SEIU candidates

Dundee Blog getting the story complete on Dundee's Supervisor race: Dissecting A Don Rage Campaign Half-Truth

Whacking it to smokers,

H.B. 1196 (Rep. Karen Yarbrough, D- Broadview) seeks to increase the wholesale tax from the current 18 percent to 40 percent.

S.B. 44 (Sen. Jeffrey Schoenberg, D- Evanston)H.B. 454 (Rep. LaShawn Ford, D- Chicago) proposes increasing the State cigarette tax by $1.00 per pack from the current .98-cents to $1.98 per pack of $11.98 per carton.

HT Illinois Retail Merchants Association.

Pat Quinn's tax hike

2009-02-15T06:44:00.000-08:00

Scott Reeder on Pat Quinn's coming flip on a tax hike,

Gov. Pat Quinn said Thursday he no longer is bound by a 2006 campaign pledge made by his ticket to not raise the income or sales tax.

That promise was the central theme of the Blagojevich/Quinn campaign, although Blagojevich was far more vocal on the matter than Quinn.

Also Reeder on Web exclusive: Pension tax mulled by legislators

Illinois politicians are brooding over raising taxes and blaming Rod Blagojevich for the state’s staggering fiscal woes.

Less than a week after Blagojevich was removed from the governorship, Comptroller Dan Hynes issued a report that the state faces a $9 billion shortfall next year.

“It looks to me like the foundation is being laid for a tax increase. Folks are blaming Blagojevich, but the legislature helped him get the state in this mess,” said state Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline. “How can we even think about raising taxes when we are in the middle of a recession?”

And so much for the senior's free "L" ride,

IGPA economists Richard Dye and Daniel McMillen recommended that state government tax pensions to help raise revenue and account for an aging population. Illinois is one of three states that does not tax retirement benefits.

“I think I could support something that would tax the higher-level pensions,” said state Rep. Shane Cultra, R-Onarga. “It’s not going to be real popular in a lot of areas in my district, because you have a lot of retired employees of the state, but I think you have to be realistic when you have the hole that we’ve got.”
The state needs to look at more fundamental changes in how it taxes, said Ralph Martire, executive director for the Chicago-based Center for Tax and Budget Accountability. His recommendations include a sales tax on services and an increase in the income tax.

“We rank 45th in the nation in the tax burden placed on our residents and our economy is worse than any of our surrounding states,” he said.

Burris and the Rush to Impeachment

2009-02-15T06:22:00.000-08:00

The injustice around Blagojevich's impeachment wasn't to Blagojevich rather it was an injustice to the people of Illinois. The House and Senate with lopsided Democratic majorities rushed Rod out the door and the full story's yet to be told. SEIU's Progress Illinois try's to hang fault on Rep Durkin but it's really Tom Balanoff who should have been alongside Burris talking about negotiations with the Gov.

There's plenty we still don't know.

Video of Burris testifying HT Progress Illinois

xp Bill Baar's West Side

Gov Quinn it's time for a special election for Obama's Senate Seat

2009-02-14T15:19:00.000-08:00

Dennis Byrne in the Chicago Daily Observer: Now Can We Have Our Senate Election?

Roland Burris has made an ass out himself and us, in no particular order.

The junior U.S. senator from Illinois, a Democrat let it be noted, now admits that he was deeper into conversations with representatives of the disgraced former governor, Rod Blagojevich, about his possible appointment to seat than he first said, under oath.

The admission was made in an affidavit that he had quietly filed with an Illinois House committee on Feb. 5, the same committee that he swore to that no Blagojevich emissary solicited him, at least not more than once, for cash (a $10,000 figure was mentioned) in exchange for his seat. His honest testimony to the committee was a condition demanded by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and others for their approval of his appointment.

A special elections the only way. It's time to call for one Governor Quinn.

xp Bill Baar's West Side

Paul Vallas

2009-02-08T09:21:00.000-08:00

Pat Hickey on Paul Vallas. I've got high hopes for Vallas too.

Paul Vallas is not an educator, he is a budget and policy professional who was first brought into the Public Eye by Illinois Senator Phil Rock, a man of talent and integrity. Paul Vallas is needed in Cook County, for openers, and in the State of Illinois.

I used to go to Phil Rock fund raisers over at the Marlac House in Oak Park.

More Vallas...

Vallas grounds concerns about Vallas

Vallas wants to run Cook County as a Republican 73 comments on this one at The Daily Herald

Elginite: Questions for candidates

2009-02-08T07:35:00.000-08:00

Eginite writes,

I spent some time today thinking of questions to ask Elgin City Council candidates. These questions can be asked by anybody at the upcoming candidate forums, and I encourage you to do so. I’d also like to put together a questionnaire to pass along to the candidates in order to get their written responses. If you have questions of your own that you would like to ask, please post them in the comments section, and I will consider adding them to the questionnaire.

Go read them here. With a little tweaking they're well worth ask candidates in other communities too. I'd especially like to here responses on these on development,

Would you support the annexation of Villa Olivia for the purposes of redevelopment?

Has the development of the Far West Side in recent years been beneficial to Elgin? If so, in what respects? If not, in what respects?

Does the city have an appropriate mix of industrial, commercial and office space? If not, what mix would be appropriate, and how do you propose to establish it?

In what respects, if any, can development of the Far West Side be improved?

What are your views on Traditional Neighborhood Design or New Urbanism?

St Charles Mayor's Race

2009-02-08T07:25:00.000-08:00

It's getting nasty...from The Republican: Mayor, challenger spar over potential layoffs

The race for St. Charles mayor is only a little more than a week old, but Mayor Donald DeWitte and challenger Jotham Stein already are exchanging heated words about the city’s ongoing budget discussions.

...with Stein hurling bricks,

“Don DeWitte has mismanaged our city’s finances and, as a result of his actions, he is planning to cut Police and Fire department services at a time when our population has increased,” Stein said in his statement.

DeWitte said the city sent letters to the firefighters union and two other unions representing city employees informing them of potential layoffs. The city is contractually obligated to do so, he said.

Sunday Shorts

2009-02-08T05:52:00.000-08:00

Aurora Township...our mini Minnesota... from OpenLine Blog: Election 2009 | Kane Judge Flip-Flops on Aurora Township Democrats Controversy; Eventual Shift to Aurora Election Commission

Elburn Elections: Neal Anderson enters the Mayor's Race.

Average Joes at the Aurora Roundhouse talk implementing Obama's plans. Hate to be a cynic but I'm guessing names on a mailing list the goal here.

Group blasts Foster's vote on $819 billion 'boondoggle' Our Businessman on the Hill from Illinois's 14th cd is going to have to explain the sense in this one. Especially when his patron to the east refuses to disclose what he'll been doing with his share: So, mayor, when do we get to see the list?

Another online Check Register Citizen activist promps online check registry for Geneva schools and a comment,

"It is an encouraging start. DuPage County now has all their information online. Now Kane County can do the same. It is so much smaller than DuPage. They should also put the transportation department and all other expenditures and contracts on the web for review. Where do the few county employees that are allowed this information stand on this since only a few (and most of them not even elected) have access to all this information? "

Imagine Cook County's register.

Elgin Candidate Websites.

Saturday Shorts

2009-02-07T07:09:00.000-08:00

Guess this explains Burris's fancy grave: Burris lobbied Hynes to discuss funeral trust fund in 2007

Faced with pressure from state regulators and a multimillion-dollar deficit in a funeral trust fund, the Illinois Funeral Directors Association two years ago turned to Roland Burris for help.