GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - November 28, 2007
GOPUSA Illinois Daily Clips for November 28, 2007 includes news and commentaries on the following topics:
- Republican Party candidates, campaigns, and events
- Republican Party platform issues including limited government, abortion, homosexual activity, immigration, gambling, etc.
- Illinois, Cook County, DuPage County, and Chicago budget problems
and more . . .
ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN PARTY
-- 14th District Citizens Should Have Their Voices Heard Special election should be fair to all 6 candidates
(THE PRESS RELEASE: With Speaker Denny Hastert making his resignation official, the Illinois Republican Party agrees with Speaker Hastert that Governor Blagojevich should follow precedent and set a special primary on the date as the state's regularly scheduled primary, ensuring the citizens of the 14th Congressional District have their voices heard. "This election should be about the people, not politics," said ILGOP Chairman Andy McKenna. "We trust Rod Blagojevich believes the same and will follow precedent by calling a special election that is fair to all six candidates." A special primary will ensure voters in both parties have the ability to select their candidate while a special general election allows all voters in the district to have their voices heard. From a practical standpoint, the governor should schedule the special primary on February 5th, which would be more convenient not only for voters, but also, the county clerks who are already in preparation for a February 5th election date.)
KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE
-- County officials Cunningham, Holmes, and Mickelson frown on Hastert's timing - Paul Dailing
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Kane County Clerk Jack Cunningham is disappointed with former Republican Congressman Dennis Hastert. Hastert’s decision to step down from the 14th Congressional District seat will cost Cunningham’s office an extra $400,000 to $800,000 next year, Cunningham said. To the eight counties that fall partially or entirely in the district, the extra cost will be between $1.1 million and $2.2 million, not counting costs to municipalities that handle their own voting, Cunningham said. “I’m little disappointed Denny leaving is going to be putting another hardship on our strained budget at the county,” Cunningham said. The timing of former House Speaker Hastert’s Monday night resignation means that there will be a special primary and a special election to determine who will fill Hastert’s seat until the winner of the November 2008 regular election takes office. If Gov. Rod Blagojevich sets the special primary for Feb. 5 – as Hastert urged him to do in Monday’s resignation letter – it will fall the same day as the regular primary. The eight counties already have budgeted for the workers, machines and other election costs for that day. The special election, however, must fall on its own day, bringing all the associated costs and troubles – everything from getting the names on the ballot to finding out if the usual polling places will be available for extra election days. “I budget for two elections. I will now be running a minimum three elections, maybe as many as four,” said DeKalb County Clerk Sharon Holmes. Election officials from the eight counties held a teleconference Tuesday afternoon. They plan to draw up their concerns and present them to Blagojevich on Friday.)
COURIER NEWS
-- Get in line now to fill Hastert's 14th Dist. seat For special election: Filing period likely already has begun - Andre Salles
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Want to run in the special election to take Denny Hastert's place in Congress? You'd better already be putting together your campaign. Although no one knows yet just when the special election will be held to replace Hastert in the 14th Congressional District, it's likely already well into the pre-filing period when candidates should be getting their petitions and paperwork together, state election officials said. So far, the only concrete information anyone has about the special election is that there will be one. Hastert's resignation on Monday assured that -- his exit with one year left on his term demands a special election to replace him for the remainder of that term. This will be a completely separate election from the one on Nov. 4 next year, which will determine who will take over as the Fox Valley's congressman in January 2009, and serve until January 2011. But the special election likely will feature many of the same players, because the eight candidates vying to replace Hastert already have their campaign machinery in motion. Hastert's resignation, effective at 10:59 p.m. Monday, set in motion the process to call a special election. The first step, the one everyone's waiting on now, is a date for that election -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich has five days to call that election, from the moment the resignation landed on his desk. There's some confusion over whether that means five calendar days or five business days, but at the latest, a date should be set by Monday.)
-- Hastert's office still there to help - Heather Gillers
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Fox Valley residents who need help cutting through federal red tape still are welcome at Dennis Hastert's former office in Batavia. But those seeking a voice in Congress should plan to take their opinions elsewhere. The operations of the 14th Congressional District fell under the jurisdiction of the Clerk of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, after Hastert resigned Monday night. "Whatever services the congressman's office has been providing, they will still be able to do that, it just won't be in a partisan way," said House Clerk Lorraine C. Miller. Aides to both Republican and Democratic congressmen said Tuesday they did not believe the loss of a vote by one congressman -- especially one in the minority party -- would make or break any upcoming legislation. Pending bills in the House deal with funding for the State Children's Health Insurance program, energy policy and taxation. Congress also may appropriate funding for local projects before the end of the year, but the House already has completed its draft of the bill with Hastert's participation, said Rep. Judy Biggert of Hinsdale, who represents the neighboring 13th Congressional District. "The speaker took care of his district," she said, using the title of the Republican leadership position Hastert held for eight years.)
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Sneed reports that Bush would like to give Hastert an ambassadorship, that Hastert is devoting his time to the Hastert Center at Wheaton College, that Hastert may endorse Oberweis, that Oberweis is a "perennial" candidate, and that Giuliani will speak in Chicago on December 7
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Is a U.S. ambassadorship in the offing for former U.S. House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert? Maybe, maybe not: But Sneed hears rumbles President Bush would like to reward Hastert for his exemplary tenure in office. Meanwhile: Hastert, who submitted his official resignation Monday, is devoting his time to the Hastert Center at Wheaton College and raising money for incumbent Republican candidates facing a tough race. Example: U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk. . .The ice cream man: Sneed hears rumbles via Washington wags Hastert may endorse perennial GOP candidate Jim Oberweis to fill his vacated congressional seat. Other GOP candidates running for Hastert's seat include state Senators Chris Lauzen, Kevin Burns and Michael Dilger. . .A tale of two men: The one/two combo of GOP presidential contender Rudy Giuliani and Dem Mayor Daley will attend the Illinois Manufacturers Association luncheon Dec. 7 at the InterContinental Chicago hotel. Daley will be the keynote speaker and Giuliani the feature speaker at the event. "It will be Giuliani's last fund-raising push in Illinois before the end of the year," said a GOP source.)
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
-- 'Doomsday' budget approved DuPage officials delay layoffs until February ballot measure -
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The DuPage County Board voted Tuesday to adopt a "doomsday" budget that calls for cutting 240 jobs, but passed a moratorium that will prevent any layoffs until the results of a Feb. 5 ballot referendum to add one-quarter percent to the county sales tax. The board voted 12-6 to pass the budget as proposed by board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom after defeating a series of amendments by Board Member James Healy of Naperville to restore about $6 million in spending, which would have provided for no job losses. Healy contended that the county's actual revenue would cover all but $2.5 million of the $6 million in added spending and that the rest could be taken from other departments. However, the county's finance director has said repeatedly that Healy's revenue estimates exceed what the county will receive. The board also rejected amendments to restore funding to field traffic courts and the county historical museum. . .Because about 130 of the proposed 190 layoffs from the 2008 budget would come from public-safety jobs -- such as in the sheriff's office, probation department and state's attorney's office -- the County Board voted Nov. 17 to put a question on the Feb. 5 ballot asking for a one-quarter percentage point sales tax increase. If voters approve the measure, the sales tax increase would raise an estimated $40 million per year for spending on public safety. However, officials have said that if the tax is approved, revenue from other sources now applied to public safety would be spent on other departments. That vote came a day after the County Board delayed a vote on an annual $50 vehicle sticker tax, also proposed to stave off layoffs.)
-- 14th Congressional District: Foster on air in race to succeed Hastert - James Kimberly
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Republican state Sen. Chris Lauzen and Democratic candidates John Laesch, Jotham Stein and Joe Serra have not purchased television ads. Hastert resigned Monday, triggering a special election to pick someone to serve out the remainder of his term. Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich has five days to set dates for a potential special primary election and special general election. Hastert said he timed his departure to try to get the governor to hold the special primary election on Feb. 5, the same day as Illinois' regular primary, to save costs. Republicans worried today that Blagojevich might opt to have Republicans and Democrats hold party conventions to pick nominees for the special election instead of holding primaries. That way, the thinking went, the special general election could be held on Feb. 5 alongside the already-scheduled regular primary. The process, as you may surmise, can get quite confusing for voters. A Blagojevich spokeswoman said today the administration has yet to pick a date for any special elections in the 14th District.)
-- Legislators, learn your lesson - Editorial
(FROM THE EDITORIAL: If you had to stake the house on it, you'd probably bet the odds are better in Annapolis than in Springfield. These days, the Israelis and the Palestinians look more likely to find peace than the Illinois Democrats and. . .the Illinois Democrats. But Gov. Rod Blagojevich is going to haul them all to the capital anyway on Wednesday, for a special session called to resolve the impasse over mass transit funding in the Chicago region. We'll take it as a good sign that House Speaker Michael Madigan has offered a compromise, support for a transit funding plan that has been touted by Blagojevich. That involves shifting gasoline taxes to transit, rather than imposing a higher regional sales tax. House Democrats, to their credit, have been leading the effort for months to get the transit issue resolved. . . How should legislators proceed?Last week we listed crucial ingredients to assure the honesty and fairness of any gambling expansion: no clouting of legislators' favored groups into casino ownership; designated funds for enlarging the Gaming Board's investigative, auditing and legal staffs; tight state oversight of all vendors who do business with casinos (the better to exclude mob influence) -- and total insulation of Gaming Board members from meddlesome Statehouse politicians. These have to be non-negotiable components of any gambling expansion in Illinois. If official Springfield learns just one thing from the needless and costly Emerald debacle, let it be this: When lawmakers use casino legislation to do favors for their friends, everybody loses.)
-- Immigration stings a mayor Well-liked Colorado official suffers reversal after siding with illegals -
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Opponents of illegal immigration are elated to see Selders go. "Now it's going to change," Breuer said. "People who don't want to follow the laws will get out of here.")
SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
-- Will someone -- anyone -- lead? - Editorial
(FROM THE EDITORIAL: One thing remains clear concerning the current mess with state government. Everyone knows what they want and what the state needs — and no one really seems willing to provide the leadership to deliver. Apparently, politicians officially can no longer be honest with people when it comes to informing them there is no free lunch. That is especially true for Gov. Rod Blagojevich, but it’s not like the rest of the legislative “leaders” are showing a lot of backbone either. The circus is back in town today, but even with three rings in full action, the show is getting awfully stale. We fully expect the curtain will come down yet again without a resolution on the important issues of stabilizing the Chicago-area transit system or dealing with a badly needed infrastructure bill for the entire state.)
DAILY HERALD
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD IN DUPAGE EDITION: Advocates of a $40 million DuPage County sales tax increase to tell referendum voters that if they do not vote YES, they will be personally responsible for throwing 200 off the DuPage County payroll, for eliminating programs in areas such as public health, and for closing the DuPage County Historical Museum in downtown Wheaton
(THE ARTICLE: 200 job cuts depend on DuPage Co. sales tax vote - Marni Pyke DuPage County leaders are hoping voters will save them from doomsday. A majority of board members Tuesday approved a budget that would cut about 200 jobs, eliminate programs in areas such as public health and close the DuPage County Historical Museum. But officials also agreed to delay the impact of the so-called "doomsday budget" until after the results of a Feb. 5 primary referendum on raising the sales tax by a quarter cent. Such an increase would generate more than $40 million annually. Board member Grant Eckhoff voted for postponing layoffs but warned it was "a big shot of Novocain" and officials couldn't rest and assume the sales tax request would succeed. Board member Pat O'Shea said "it was irresponsible to fire employees when we still have a revenue source." But board member Jeff Redick cautioned that not putting cuts in place would put the county at a disadvantage if the sales tax hike isn't approved. "We need to look at this and the potential hole it will put us in," he said. The board also voted to institute a hiring freeze in 2008 and restrict out-of-state travel. During a freewheeling discussion, officials toyed with the idea of slashing the health department levy by $3 million after hearing it had a cash reserve of $20 million this fall. "I don't see how you can cut 100 sheriff's deputies and have no cuts at the health department," board member Brien Sheahan said. Board member and health board chairman Linda Kurzawa said the department's funds go up and down and $20 million is not indicative of the reserves on hand consistently. "Three million is a travesty," she responded. But officials did agree to a proposal by Kurzawa to move $600,000 from the health department's revenues to fund mental health programs, emergency management and Access DuPage, an organization that helps residents without medical insurance. The proposed 2008 budget is $9.5 million less than the 2007 version in the corporate fund, which pays for most county salaries. Board member Jim Healy proposed his own fiscal plan that found extra revenues in the budget so that the gap between 2007 and 2008 was only $2.5 million. Financial staff members and some board members disputed his calculations. "There are significant differences, and I do not agree with the revenue estimates," Chief Financial Officer Fred Backfield said. Board member Paul Fichtner said, "I know the holiday season is before us because we have Santa Claus before us." Healy also tried to put a $100,000 grant back into a household hazardous waste facility in Naperville, which the county subsidizes. Chairman Robert Schillerstrom ruled him out of order, saying the board had already voted on that issue. Several residents questioned the proposed budget. Dirk Enger, co-chairman of the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans, suggested the board reduce its salaries and benefits. "I ask you tonight to lead by example," Enger said. "Leadership starts at the top. I ask you to look at yourselves." Board member Debra Olson raised the issue of reducing salaries, but board members took no action. DuPage Historical Museum Society President Veronica Porter said the institution in Wheaton was trying to raise money by renting out space, but since news of the budget cuts came out, potential clients stopped calling. "You have put us in a holding pattern," Porter said. "We need the time to put these plans in place. Putting these plans in place will save the museum.")
-- Have courage to control the DuPage County deficit - Rocky Ruggiero, Lisle
(THE LETTER: The deficit is going to ultimately sink our ship. What politician is going to be brave enough to tell us if we don't lower the deficit we are going to plummet? Who is going to be brave enough to say we shouldn't have tax cuts? Who is going to be brave enough to say the ultra-rich need a tax increase? (And, the ultra-rich know it too -- that's the funny thing.) Who is brave enough to tighten the financial belt in this country instead of spending more to curry our favor? It's simple common sense: The more we owe, the less valuable the dollar becomes. If we owe too much, the dollar becomes a mere "promise" of future worth. Other countries are starting to get their arms around this truth. If enough countries stop investing in our rising debt, inflation will go through the roof as we will have to print gobs of money to get anything accomplished. Let's get responsible now. It will be difficult to cut back, but it will be better than crashing the country altogether and dealing with utter devastation later. Who will stop the foolhardy spending before it stops us? Vote for the candidate who doesn't pander to us because they are scared they won't be elected. Vote for the candidate who has the guts and honesty to tell it like it is. From a guy who lives within his means and wants his government to do the same.)
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Naperville gives $750,000 of taxpayer's money to 40 agencies that attract people with severe financial, health, and other problems to Naperville - how much will that drive up DuPage County's budget deficit?
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Naperville council casts wide funding - Jake Griffin Naperville spread a little pre-Christmas cheer this week to several area charities looking for funding boosts. The city council took less than 30 minutes Monday to divvy up more than $500,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant funds and $250,000 from the city's Social Services Grant Fund. Of the combined 45 requests, 40 got at least partial funding. "We're all faced with choices and these are hard choices to make," said Carol Simler, executive director of DuPage PADS, which provides low-income housing opportunities and homeless shelters in the area. "I think the city council and staff are to be applauded this year for the efficient process that was much different than in years past." In the past, the council spent hours debating funding requests before settling on figures. This year, members agreed on averages compiled by polling individual councilmen prior to Monday's workshop. Simler's organization received full funding for a request to pay for an interim overnight housing program and partial funding for two other requests.)
-- VERY SAD: Kane County health stats show 2 out 3 Kane County adults overweight or obese - Lisa Smith
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Two out of every three adults in Kane County are overweight or obese, a factor that increases the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes and coronary heart disease, among other health-related problems. Kane County's statistics mirror national data, according to the Centers for Disease Control. To combat this trend, Kane County Health Department officials Tuesday unveiled a public service campaign aimed at school-age children. Called "Fit for Kids," the campaign would promote healthy eating and physical activity at home and at school. "We're raising a generation that will have a shorter life expectancy than ours," health department executive director Paul Kuehnert told the county board's public health committee. Kuehnert wants to convene a summit of city and school officials, community leaders and other interested parties from across the county to examine childhood obesity and create a multifaceted plan to reverse the trend. He called obesity "the major threat to the health of our future generations in Kane County." Michael Isaacson, the department's director of community health, said a pilot wellness program recently launched at Highland Elementary School in Elgin Area School District U-46 could be replicated at other schools in Kane County. Part of a national YMCA initiative to create healthier communities, the pilot program provided an extra serving of fresh fruit or vegetables daily as part of the school lunch program. Students enjoyed it, according to the school's lunch supervisor. They also competed to see which class could walk the most steps per day over a four-week period. The winning grade level earned a pool party. "We have seen some small victories," Isaacson said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service recently launched a kid-targeted campaign called "Eat smart. Play hard." to promote healthful eating and physical activity. Kuehnert pointed to that program as one that Kane County leaders could examine.)
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: George Ryan and past, present, and future murders are overjoyed: Elliot Slosar argues against the death penalty
(FROM THE LETTER: Next big step is to end death penalty - Elliot Slosar, St. Charles, Law clerk, Appellate Defenders Office, Death Penalty Trial Assistance Founder, DePaul Students Against the Death Penalty Some economists have reawakened a debate with controversial studies that claim the death penalty deters murder, an argument long since dismissed by experts. Statistics in Illinois show that the penalty of death does not deter crime. Indeed, capital punishment in Illinois can actually serve as an incentive to those who contemplate murder.)
-- Cook County official Beavers says opponents are racist; one beat up black children Fellow board members call allegations 'outrageous' - Joseph Ryan
(FROM THE ARTICLE: With the push for a major sales tax hike stalled, one Cook County board member is blasting white opponents as racist and accusing a Republican commissioner of once beating up black children. "He hates everybody that is black," County Commissioner William Beavers said of Tony Peraica, who is running for county state's attorney. "And the rest of them follow suit. I knew him when he was a young man, when he was over there in Bridgeport beating up black folks." About the stalled tax hike plans, Beavers said: "It is all about race. . .If this was a white man in power, they wouldn't be fighting like this." The comments came during a long recess of an unproductive budget haggling session this afternoon. White commissioners immediately denounced the statements as a desperate move by commissioners who are frustrated by stalled budgeted negotiations. Cook County Board Chairman Todd Stroger has not yet commented. Peraica called Beavers' allegations "outrageous." "I was appalled by his comments," he said, noting that he married a Muslim woman from Pakistan. "I think it is really an affront to all rational human beings.")
-- Gas tax swap merely latest sleight of hand - Editorial
(FROM THE EDITORIAL: "This is not our preferred solution," said Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan in a letter to lawmakers giving tepid support to the latest Springfield shell game. Not only is the plan to take suburban gas taxes and give it to public transit agencies not preferred, but it is no solution at all. It's but another Band-Aid masquerading as public policy. And it's a plan guaranteed to cause budget problems elsewhere, probably at the expense of highway and bridge projects that would serve far more suburban residents than does public transit. The plan to be discussed by the General Assembly when it returns today calls for the $385 million now generated by gas taxes in the six-county metro area to be given to the CTA and RTA, which have threatened rate hikes and route cuts if they don't get some financial help. No, residents wouldn't pay more than they're now paying at the pump under this plan. So no, legislators wouldn't have to defend a tax hike during an election season. That apparently makes it semi-acceptable to many, including House Republican leader Tom Cross, who has given his approval.)
NAPERVILLE SUN
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: DuPage County Board shoots down Jim Healy's budget proposal 11-7; Mike McMahon says Healy's proposal sends referendum voters false message; Paul Fichtner says Healy is a "liberal Santa Claus" - Paige Winfield
(THE ARTICLE: A 2008 budget proposal from one of Naperville's representatives on the DuPage County Board was rejected Tuesday night in an 11-7 vote. Board member Jim Healy proposed a $138 million corporate budget for next year - exceeding by $5 million the budget proposed by County Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom. Healy said county officials underestimated revenues by $3.6 million, including funds from personal property tax payments and state's attorney fees. Under that assumption, Healy's proposal left only a $2.5 million gap in funding, well below Schillerstrom's estimated $9.5 million deficit. Opposing board members questioned Healy's revenue estimates and said passing his budget could undermine an effort to get approved a quarter-cent sales tax. Voters will be asked in the Feb. 5 primary whether they support a sales tax that would bail the county out of its budget crisis by bringing in an extra $25 million next year. Board member Mike McMahon said showing voters the county's budget crisis right now is crucial to exciting public sentiment toward the sales tax. "I think (Healy's budget) sends the message to voters that the Feb. 5 referendum isn't something we really need," he said. If Healy's higher revenue estimates failed to hold true, funding to support his budget proposal would have come from the county's cash reserves. Board member Paul Fichtner also said he was skeptical of Healy's budget. "We have a liberal Santa Claus right behind us," he said. But Healy predicts the County Board will reconsider his budget's changes if the sales tax referendum fails. "I think we'll be back in February looking at these changes but then we'll be back another $2.5 million," Healy said. Schillerstrom's 2008 budget hits nearly every county department with cuts of 12 percent below 2007 funding levels and calls for 235 employee layoffs. Board members discussed an amendment that would delay cuts and layoffs until Feb. 15, with the hope that the sales tax will be approved. The board had not yet voted on the budget when The Sun went to press Tuesday night. It must approve the budget by Friday before the next fiscal year begins Saturday.)
-- DuPage forest district chopping tax rate - Kathy Cichon
(THE ARTICLE: WHEATON -- Homeowners will see a slight decrease in the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County's tax rate next year. Forest commissioners on Tuesday approved the district's 2007 levy of $22.4 million, up $889,615 from last year. "It projects enough revenue to continue the services we're providing," said President D. "Dewey" Pierotti Jr. The levy for operations will decrease by 3.5 percent, and the total levy rate will decrease by 9.6 percent. Although the total levy amount reflects an increase, the rate will decline because of the increased value of property within the district. "What we're projecting as being lower is the tax rate," said Carole Hofmann, director of the office of finance for the forest district. "We'll still gain some additional dollars in the operations fund." In preparing the levy, the district had to prepare a projected budget for the 2008-09 fiscal year. The district's fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30. "We're following Carole's recommendation," Pierotti said. "We've never put ourselves in a precarious or potential deficit situation." Based on the projected data, a home valued at $270,000 in 2006 will pay $106.02 in 2007 taxes for the forest preserve district - a reduction of $11.25 from 2006's tax bill of $117.27.)
BEACON NEWS
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: OUTSTANDING: Oberweis speaks in favor of parental notification resolution at Aurora City Council meeting, resolution passes, hopefully Naperville will now pass a similar resolution
(FROM THE ARTICLE: "I honestly cannot think of a single legitimate reason why you would not pass this resolution tonight," said Wanda Geist of Aurora. "This law upholds family values, parental responsibility and child safety." Those who spoke -- all but one in favor of the resolution -- took a variety of approaches to the issue, ranging from simple stories of their children to harsh, descriptive accounts of what occurs during an abortion. Many read from prepared statements and most made reference to the state law that remains in limbo. Some chose to cite statistics, while other spoke from their hearts about Planned Parenthood's arrival in Aurora some months ago and the dangers they feel it has brought with it. A handful of others talked of the vote's religious implications. Perhaps the most recognizable speaker was Jim Oberweis, the Aurora dairy magnate who is running for the Republican nomination in the 14th Congressional District. Oberweis noted that minors are not allowed to vote, or enter into a binding contract, because their decision-making skills "have not fully developed." "It is logical that we would not allow anyone age 17 and younger to enter into an abortion, a life-changing experience, without at least giving their parents the opportunity to discuss that with them," he said.)
DEKALB MIDWEEK NEWS
-- Oberweis gets right to business - Diane Strand
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Jim Oberweis, R-Sugar Grove, is one of several candidates who is vying for the 14th Congressional seat, which recently was left vacant by J. Dennis Hastert in the near future. Oberweis is running for the congressional seat along with fellow Republicans Chris Lauzen, Kevin Burns and Mike Dilger and Democrats Bill Foster, John Laesch, Jotham Stein and Joe Serra. The primary election for the congressional seat will be held on Feb. 5, 2008. The 14th Congressional District includes DeKalb, Kane, Kendall, Henry, Lee, Whiteside and DuPage counties. Oberweis recently visited the DeKalb County area. Oberweis said he has been busy campaigning and informing residents of his candidacy during the past few months. “It's seven days a week. I probably work 12 hours a day at it,” Oberweis said. “It's very much like starting a new business, which I'm quite familiar with doing.”)
ABC7
-- Cook County: Stroger on county budget deadlock: 'We are stuck' - Andy Shaw
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=politics&id=5788131 (Includes video clip)
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The Cook County Board is in another deadlock over the budget. President Todd Stroger admits he doesn't have enough votes to pass his proposal for a massive county sales tax increase. So county commissioners are now considering cuts in programs and services. And, with tempers short, some of the rhetoric is getting nasty. The county board, according to Todd Stroger, is stuck, without enough votes to raise taxes or balance the budget by cutting $240 million in jobs, programs and services. That is raising the frustration level to the point where one of Stroger's top allies is saying, to the chagrin of his colleagues, that this is only happening because Stroger is black. "It ain't playing the race card. You know it and I know it. Everybody knows that. If Todd was a white man, he wouldn't have half of these problems. You just don't want to commit it," said Commissioner Bill Beavers, (D) Stroger's floor leader. Commissioner Beavers, who is Todd Stroger's floor leader and a former Chicago alderman, says the county budget battle reminds him of "council wars," when Ed Vrdolyak organized the white aldermen from the old Democratic machine to oppose a minority bloc aligned with Chicago's first black mayor, Harold Washington. "Who's going to control the county?" said Beavers. "White or black? That's all it is." Beavers is also accusing Republican Tony Peraica of "hating black people," which according to Peraica, is deplorable, totally untrue and a mischaracterization of what the budget battle is all about. "To insert the element of race when the logic has failed, when they cannot get the votes together to pass this billion dollar tax increase, then it's a racial issue. This has nothing to do with race," said Commissioner Tony Peraica, (R) Riverside. "I've never played the race card. I think it's wrong for anyone to play the race card," said Commissioner John Daley, (D) finance chairman.)
NBC5
-- Commissioner Beavers At Meeting: Peraica Hates Black People Proposed Tax Hike Causing Unrest At County Board
http://www.nbc5.com/politics/14708229/detail.html?dl=mainclick (Includes video clip)
(THE ARTICLE: Tax hikes, proposed clinic closings and claims of racism plagued a Cook County Board meeting on Tuesday. Commissioner William Beavers charges white members of the board are ganging up on president Todd Stroger to block his agenda. "If this was a white man in power right now, they wouldn't be fighting (Stroger) like this," Beavers said, raising his racial conspiracy theory at a seemingly pointless county finance committee meeting where commissioners grew testy and interrupted each other. Beavers claimed that Tony Peraica hates all black people, saying, "All black elected officials he hates -- he don't like 'em." Peraica said he was appalled by those comments. "This is not personal -- this is about doing what is best for the taxpayers of Cook County," Peraica said. Beavers suggested commissioners Peraica and Forrest Claypool are just holding out to take Stroger's job. "They're never going to be president of the County Board because they don't have the votes," said Beavers. But attendees at the meeting conceded the votes aren't there for Stroger's massive plan to raise millions of dollars through new taxes. "Commissioners are afraid to ask the voters for more money but government runs on money," Stroger said. Republican commissioners have a plan of their own, suggesting 7 percent cuts in every department and closing the county's 15 community-based health clinics, contending those closings alone would save some $32 million. "If we're not going to cut these types of costs, what are we going to cut? Are we going to close the jail?" said Republican Commissioner Peter Silvestri. Stroger contends the county faces a $239 million shortfall, but Peraica said he doesn't believe that number. The County Board is supposed to meet on Friday but it doesn't look like they'll have an agreement anytime soon.)
NORTHWEST HERALD & CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS & DAILY HERALD
-- Blagojevich took transit money from other programs - John O'Connor
(FROM THE ARTICLE: When he announced emergency funding for Chicago area mass transit systems earlier this month, Gov. Rod Blagojevich said he simply was using money already set aside in the budget for transportation projects. But that was true only because his administration had taken funds from other construction programs and put them in a transportation account before revealing his bailout proposal, state records show. Of the $27 million Blagojevich provided to keep trains and buses running in the Chicago area, $22.4 million originally was going to pay for bricks-and-mortar construction, highways and energy projects around the state. Blagojevich announced the grant Nov. 2. Aides said it was “existing” money borrowed by selling bonds for rail and mass transit projects.)
BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
-- State Auditor General William Holland should dig out duplication - Editorial
(THE EDITORIAL: Navigating the bureaucratic spaghetti bowl of state government is difficult for most taxpayers. But when our state's auditor general gets stuck in the maze while trying to see how money is being spent, we are in bigger trouble than originally thought. Auditor General William Holland found out there is no master list of programs operated by state agencies. Holland sought such a list at the request of the Legislative Audit Commission, which wanted to see whether services were being duplicated by more than one agency or program. But before Holland could get to that stage, he had to ask each agency for a list of their programs; there was no master list. His request turned up about 1,750 programs - and Holland suspects the list is incomplete. If programs were regularly reviewed to discover which could be eliminated or consolidated, maybe we wouldn't have 1,750 different programs, some of which are probably performing similar functions. And maybe the auditor general wouldn't have to be looking into the matter. And maybe the state wouldn't be in the financial mess it is in. Holland should keep pushing for a complete list. And the Legislature as well as the governor should look for ways the state can operate more efficiently so money can go where it's needed most, rather than to pay bureaucrats duplicating the tasks of other bureaucrats.)
-- Transit compromise sought in Chicago - Kurt Erickson
(FROM THE ARTICLE: But, earlier attempts to recoup money by closing those loopholes have gone nowhere. Patty Schuh, spokeswoman for Senate Republican Leader Frank Watson, R-Greenville, said the proposal Madigan now supports is flawed. “It’s not a plan. It’s a mirage,” said Schuh. “All of this is just more political drama.” Not all downstate lawmakers were dismissive. “I’m willing to look at this,” state Sen. Dan Rutherford, R-Chenoa, said. “I want to see all of the marbles on the table before I make a decision.”)
-- No quick finish predicted for Springfield lawmakers - Kurt Erickson
(THE ARTICLE: SPRINGFIELD -- State Rep. Chapin Rose drew chuckles last spring when he said the legislative session would not end until September. Now, as the Illinois General Assembly heads into the Christmas shopping season with major issues still unresolved, Rose has adjusted his prediction: “I could easily see this thing go on for an eternity,” the Mahomet Republican said. As the General Assembly returns to action Wednesday to deal with a financial bailout of Chicago-area public transit systems, observers say the lack of agreement on other top issues makes it a virtual certainty that the already record-setting overtime session will drag into December, and perhaps beyond. Along with the mass transit funding, lawmakers are pressing for passage of a statewide construction program. But, there remains no consensus on how to pay for either of those proposals. On Monday, House Speaker Michael Madigan signaled his support for a compromise mass transit funding package that would use gasoline tax revenues generated in Chicago and its suburbs. The plan has the backing of Gov. Rod Blagojevich and House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego. But, its prospects in the Senate remain dim, with a bloc of downstate lawmakers pledging to reject the bailout if a separate statewide construction program isn’t put on the table. “I refuse to support one without the other. We need jobs. We need to fix our crumbling schools and bridges,” said Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson, D-Crete, who is running for a seat in Congress. “With all due respect, I understand the importance of mass transit and I support it, but not without a capital bill,” said Halvorson. Despite the pessimism that both mass transit and a construction plan could be quickly dealt with, the governor’s office suggested an end could be nearer than anyone expects. “We are hopeful we can get both accomplished,” said Blagojevich spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch.)
CHICAGO SUBURBAN NEWS
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: DuPage County Board Member and Board of Health President Linda Kurzawa argues that people with mental health problems are more likely to commit crimes, and therefore, cutting mental health spending would drive up public safety spending -- how will the hundreds of organizations that attract destitute mentally ill people to DuPage County respond to that?
(THE ARTICLE: Health Department possible target in county budget cuts - Dan Petrella DuPage County, IL - With Friday’s deadline to pass a budget on the horizon, DuPage County Board members are looking for extra money anywhere they can to prevent drastic budget cuts and layoffs. At a special meeting Monday afternoon, some board members inquired about the County Board’s authority over the budget of the Health Department. Some have suggested money could be taken from the Health Department to help fund the sheriff’s and state’s attorney’s offices and the county judicial system. Those areas will face significant layoffs if the board approves the budget proposed by Chairman Robert Schillerstrom, including about 100 employees from the sheriff’s office alone. But board member Linda Kurzawa, R-6th District, of Winfield, who also serves as president of the Board of Health, said opinions issued by past DuPage County state’s attorneys say the County Board does not have that authority. “We’re your partner. We’re not trying to drain you dry,” Kurzawa said. “You can’t get out of this mess by going over there.” Board members asked the state’s attorney’s office to issue a new written opinion on the County Board’s budget authority over the Health Department. Schillerstrom has proposed reducing the department’s property tax levy by $600,000. Board member Jim Healy, R-5th District, of Naperville questioned the Health Department’s spending on services for the mentally ill and whether the department is required to offer those services. “I understand the need, because of the state of Illinois dropping the ball so terribly in the issue of mental health over all these last six years, and how this county has picked it up out of the goodness of its heart,” Healy said, adding that he can also understand the argument that the money could be better spent on public safety. Health Department Executive Director Maureen McHugh said cutting those services, many of which are mandated by the state, would create a hole in the care available to chronically mentally ill patients in the county. “DuPage made the decision that we were the provider years ago,” McHugh said. She added that money spent on treating the mentally ill has an effect on the sheriff’s office and the courts. “There is a direct link in terms of your costs if we reduce our services to the mentally ill,” she said, “because the individuals we serve will probably increase your costs in your jail and probably will increase your costs in your court system.” Schillerstrom’s proposed budget reduces overall county spending by $52 million in 2008 and would lay off about 200 county employees. The plan originally called for 235 layoffs, but some employees have retired or taken other jobs since it was announced in October. The County Board must pass a budget before Saturday, when its 2008 fiscal year begins. The board met at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, but the outcome of that meeting was not known at press time.)
CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS
-- Ex-U.S. Senate majority leader Bill Frist joins new Chicago private-equity firm Cressey & Company L.P. as a partner
DAILY ILLINI
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Outrageously, the Daily Illini argues that a Democrat like Obama who has used illegal drugs including cocaine but admits it would be a better role model for America than a Republican like Romney who believes in the rule of law and never used illegal drugs
REAL CLEAR POLITICS
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats and RINOs hope for a "nasty" primary between Lauzen and Oberweis
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Speaking of resignations, by the way, little-noticed late last night, thanks to Lott's big day, was Dennis Hastert's decision to step down a minute before midnight. Hastert officially submitted his resignation letters to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, allowing Blagojevich, Hastert wrote, sufficient time to schedule a primary election to compete for the seat on the same day as his state's presidential primary. That's good news for Republicans, as a general election on February 5 -- when a certain favorite son is on the ballot for president in Illinois -- would have brought out a massive Democratic turnout that might have swung the seat blue. Democrats are still hopeful that scientist Bill Foster can snatch the seat, especially after a nasty GOP primary between businessman Jim Oberweis and State Sen. Chris Lauzen. The IL-14 race could get ugly, but not as grisly as the Republican presidential race, which spent the weekend devolving into little more than name-calling between the national front-runners. Despite pledging to obey the 11th Commandment earlier this Fall, Rudy Giuliani has been engaged in a full-throated back-and-forth with Mitt Romney, as Dick Polman lays out. One aspect of the campaign we have yet to fully comprehend: Why Giuliani and McCain people and Romney folks feel such vitriol toward each other. At least some aspect of the race is staying polite, though: Mike Huckabee is just about the only candidate left not to have gone after Rudy Giuliani, the New York Sun reports. What do you suppose a veep nomination smells like? Still, we can bet that a Giuliani-Huckabee ticket would have some fiscal conservatives in Washington going through the roof, and not in a good way.)
WASHINGTON POST
-- Record Fundraising for 2008 Cycle
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The top-giving industries and interests during the last presidential election season have increased their total donations to congressional and presidential candidates, as well as to national party committees, by a whopping 46 percent, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. "A power shift in Congress and a wide-open race for the White House add up to record-breaking contributions from the nation's biggest givers," said Sheila Krumholz, the center's executive director. "There is an intensity to the fundraising for 2008 that we've never seen before.")
GOPUSA
-- Speaking English on the Job is Common Sense. . .Right? - Bobby Eberle
FAMILY TAXPAYERS NETWORK
-- Cook County GOP Chair Liz Gorman stands up to thug tactics
(FROM THE ARTICLE: It’s time to say enough is enough. We’ve had it with the clueless commentators who sit around fretting about the so-called “Peraica vs. Gorman feud” within the Cook County Republican Party. Of course typically as they’re sniffling back the crocodile tears and whining “can’t we all just get along” – they’re also viciously shoving a knife in a good person’s back. In order to have a “feud” you have to have two people fighting. That’s not an accurate depiction of what’s going on in Cook County. Instead what we have is Tony Peraica as a textbook case of the immature, school-yard bully. Either Tony himself, one of his goons, or one of his stooges attacks Cook County Republican Chairman Liz Gorman in a disturbing way. Periodically the harassment and the lies get bad enough and Liz has to stand up for herself. Most others just cowardly sit by and watch from the sidelines. It’s a familiar theme that every Republican with a spine in Illinois can relate to. That’s not a “feud” as any normal person understands the term. Rather that’s called a decent woman having to deal with a man who clearly has some serious issues.)
CHICAGO DAILY OBSERVER
-- The Strangely Ecumenical Liz Gorman - Bill Dwyer
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The term “ecumenical,” defined as “tending to support and encourage unity between the various types of the Christian religion,” has often been applied to governance. After all, government tends to work best when ecumenical principles at least season its processes. Cook County Republican Party Chairman Elizabeth “Liz” Gorman appears more than willing to routinely accommodate Democrats. If only she would spare some of that ecumenical fervor for her own political party. It certainly could use more unity. With the debacle in the Democratic controlled state house and Governor’s mansion, the exposure of gross mismanagement of the CTA and other agencies under Mayor Richard Daley, and Todd Stroger exhibiting a stunning amalgam of ineptness and arrogance as he shafts taxpayers for the benefit of his inner circle at the Cook County building, you’d think that county Republicans would see a chance to finally begin breaking the hammerlock Democrats have developed on Illinois governance. And some have. “This is our chance to educate the public on what is wrong with Cook County and build toward future domination of Cook County. Yes, it is possible,” McLean County Recorder of Deeds Lee Newcom wrote last February in the Illinois Review. But Newcom, who’s also a former President of the United Republican Fund, doesn’t direct the affairs of the Cook County GOP. Gorman does, at least for now.)
REPUBLICANS FOR FAIR MEDIA
-- Perhaps Atheist Rob Sherman Needs Pity and Prayer, Instead of Condemnation - Daniel T. Zanoza
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Shortly after atheist Rob Sherman obtained a court order which excluded his daughter's high school from observing the Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act, I interviewed the Buffalo Grove, Illinois resident and came away with some troubling conclusions about what motivates the man. Recently, the Illinois General Assembly passed SB1463 that would require public school teachers to enforce a moment of silence before each school day begins.)
WURFWHILE
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Illegal immigration: Democrat Hiram Wurf praises Democrat Foster, rejects Democrat Foster's biometric ID proposal, charges Republican Oberweis with using "fear mongering," gives Democrat Laesch advice
(THE ARTICLE: John Laesch Press Conference On Jim Oberweis Immigration ID Card - Hiram Wurf Democratic Congressional Candidate John Laesch held a press conference on November 19th (video below). The press conference was mostly about 14th District Republican Candidate Jim Oberweis’ mailing promoting the use of biometric ID cards for employment as a way to combat illegal immigration - a topic picked up by the Daily Herald last Wednesday. Laesch also criticized fellow Democrat Bill Foster for supporting biometric IDs. While Bill Foster has my support in the race, I am not a supporter of biometric IDs. I’m concerned about them along civil liberty lines, as an invasion of privacy and a move towards mass surveillance. I am also skeptical that people who will risk their lives walking miles of desert for work will be stopped by biometric ID cards - or that it is the best, or most humane, policy to achieve the result. That doesn’t mean that addressing immigration issues, given the hyped up climate of fear, is easy. Unlike Jim Oberweis’ fear mongering on the issue, I believe Bill Foster’s approach comes from a humane pro-American, pro-worker and pro-business perspective - as his website puts it: “It is unfair to ask businesses that are playing by the rules to compete against companies that employ workers who are here illegally. Fence or no fence, illegal immigrants will continue to flood our borders as long as there are jobs being illegally offered to them. . .[With biometric IDs employers] will be able to quickly verify the legal immigration status of a job applicant by swiping a card on a device similar to those you see when dropping off a rental-car. With such an easy-to-use system in place, employers will be all out of excuses if they are caught employing illegal aliens. ” John Laesch makes a number of immigration-related arguments below, but even where I agree with him, I think John’s argument needs work. The prepared text wanders and loses coherence. Everything may be connected, but more focus is more effective.)
"County officials Cunningham, Holmes, and Mickelson frown on Hastert's timing "
Like Hastert cares. He didn't care in congress, why would he care now.
"If voters approve the measure, the sales tax increase would raise an estimated $40 million per year for spending on public safety. However, officials have said that if the tax is approved, revenue from other sources now applied to public safety would be spent on other departments."
So, it's not a so called public safety tax. It's just a tax increase. I was voting no anyway because public safety (read more road blocks, radar traps, etc.) is b.s. Also, if this passes, I bet they spend all $40M (I believe the so called deficit is $25M). So, instead of spending what they need, they'll put us in an even bigger whole for next time. I'm voting republican, why again?
Posted by: rightwinger | Wednesday, November 28, 2007 at 09:33 AM
Dear Friends,
State Representative Scully, running for the fifth term, seems to have come to a realization that this time he has a viable opponent in the General Election 2008. He actually seems to be running pretty scared, since he had a person who does not know her own address (the objector stated in several places, including the official State Board of Elections documents, that her address was “Holbrook Drive in Chicago Heights” file the objection.. Review of public documents established her address to be Holbrook Circle, Chicago Heights. According to Cook County records, the objector is not a registered voter at her real address. The objector stated in her petition “I have read the above and foregoing OBJECTOR’S PETITION..”. Representative Scully notarized the objector’s petition fully aware, as a licensed attorney, that it was fraudulent. (See attached), The objector is represented by the firm of Hinshaw and Culbertson. I am going pro se.
He is challenging my nominating petitions on the grounds that the addresses are fictitious, petition signers not genuine, etc. I obtained the 80th Representative District Map from the State Board of Elections. I, my family and a couple of friends, collected the petition signatures in person, going door-to-door and talking with constituents. Voters from various socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds added their name to the petition because they like my platform. I am issuing an invitation to Representative Scully to go personally to each signer’s address and check, in person, the authenticity of same.
It is time to change the status quo maintained by Representative Scully and revive the real American values on which this country was founded; it is time to move this District into the 21st Century. I am certain that if I stay on the ballot I will win back this seat. I ask for your support.
Thank you and God bless,
Miriam Shabo, MPM
Lincoln Fellow
Candidate for 80 Representative District
708-798-3258
mshabo@sbcglobal.net
Posted by: Miriam | Friday, November 30, 2007 at 10:10 AM