Your Two Cents Less

(Naperville, IL) — Whining and bellowing to the Naperville Sun on Wednesday, DuPage County State’s Attorney Joseph Birkett said: “My son should not have been charged” for marijuana possession because his cherub was standing on the apartment balcony, not in the living room where the weed was discovered by Naperville police.

Do you believe this guy? What blazing arrogance.

Nicholas Birkett, 21, left, was arrested Sunday for possession of less than 30 grams of marijuana. He and two other chums with criminal records were arrested in an apartment at 777 Royal St. George Drive, where Naperville cops found a pipe and about four grams of Mary Jane.

Daddy Birkett said, “Because my son’s name is Birkett, he’s getting heightened scrutiny by the media.”

Wrong.

He’s getting heightened scrutiny because his old-man is a right-wing nut, family-values prattler phony. That’s why. And bellowing at a newspaper about too much news coverage is a certain ticket to, well, more coverage. Goof.

Birkett, pere, should put cork in it. And get his kid to drug treatment.

In the meantime, perhaps Birkett, pere, should yank his October 2004 press release boasting about the International Narcotic Enforcement Officers Association award–for Birkett’s performance during a drugs investigation at–get this–an apartment complex. He’s clueless about his own kid.

(Springfield, IL) — The ongoing credit crunch has crunched the Illinois housing market.

According to the 2008 first quarter report from the Illinois Association of Realtors, total home sales (which include single-family homes and condominiums) totaled 21,576, down 27.0% from 29,553 in the first quarter of 2007.

The first quarter median home sale price was $187,500, down 4.3% from $196,000 a year earlier.

In Chicago, 1st quarter condo sales were down 30.3%, compared to 9,051 condos sold in 2007. Condo median price was $233,500, up 6.6% from $219,000 in the 1st quarter of 2007.

“Extreme winter weather on top of shaky consumer confidence due to rising gas and food prices and the uncertain economy affected overall home sales activity statewide,” said Kay Wirth, president of the Illinois Association of Realtors.

“The fundamental elements of a solid housing market are in place with low interest rates and ample inventory of homes…”

Oh, yes, ample supply. Tons. Acres of empty, foreclosed, unfinished, abandoned houses.

(Springfield, IL) — The Illinois House of Representatives today voted 113-0 to create a new commission to protect the Great Lakes.

The House ok’d legislation, House Bill 5310 sponsored by State Rep. Patricia Bellock (R-Hinsdale), to establish the Task Force on the Conservation and Quality of the Great Lakes to promote the protection of the water quality of the Great Lakes (Lake Michigan right).

The proposed 10-member panel would, according to the legislation, “review and discuss”:

• Available federal funding for water improvement projects
• Water consumption and use
• Current and projected water levels
• Impact of invasive species on the ecosystem
• Current and proposed laws and regulations

In addition to the 10-members “reviewing and discussing” these topics, the task force would call upon experts, below, for more “reviewing and discussing” of lake sludge.

Once all the “reviewing and discussing” are complete, the task force would issue its first report by June 1, 2009. It will sink into oblivion on June 2, 2009.

The legislation is silent on whether the task force will undertake any “fact finding” missions (i.e. taking a collective jump in the lake) to test the waters. Hope they tote stain removers.

The bill appropriates no money for the panel’s “reviewing and discussing” activities–or for any lake protection or clean-up either.

Other well-meaning legislative sponsors include: State Reps. Harry Osterman, Dave Winters, Sid Mathias, Beth Coulson, Sandra Pihos, Paul Froehlich, Jack Franks, Mike Fortner, LaShawn Ford, Bob Biggins, Sandy Cole, Suzanne Bassi, Renée Kosel, JoAnn Osmond, Michael McAuliffe, Ron Wait, Harry Ramey, Robert Pritchard, Karen May and Patricia Reid Lindner.

The measure moves to the State Senate. Whether the plan is sent to a watery grave is uncertain. Gurgle, gurgle.

(Naperville, IL) — DuPage County State’s Attorney Joseph Birkett gets to be on the other side of his sanctimonious, right-wing, family-values prattle now that his son was arrested for marijuana possession in Naperville this past weekend.

Nicholas Birkett, 21, and two other youngsters were pinched Sunday night by Naperville cops at an apartment complex on Royal St. George Drive, according to a Chicago Tribune press report posted on its Web site.

Marijuana fumes caught the coppers’ attention from the hallway. And in the apartment they snagged a pipe and a bag with less than 4 grams of weed.

All three denied owning the pipe or marijuana. “Who, me?” Probably too stoned to fess up.

In October 2004, the International Narcotic Enforcement Officers Association honored Birkett–as his Web site boasts–with a special award for his performance during a narcotics investigation at–get this–an apartment complex.

Wonder if they’ll yank the award since Birkett–the former GOP Lt. Governor candidate in 2002–seems unable to detect alleged illegal drug activity among the chicks under his own roost. Sure won’t be getting any parenting honors in the near future.

(SPRINGFIELD, IL)— State Senator Susan Garrett (D – Lake Forest) filed a resolution on May 8 that would reject the state Compensation Review Board’s 2008 recommended salary hikes for the Governor, other constitutional officers, and the Illinois General Assembly.

Garrett’s measure rejects a 2008 report of the Compensation Review Board recommending a 3.8% raise for Fiscal Year 2009. In addition, the report recommends the state legislature accepts two previously rejected raises which would boost salaries big time for Illinois public officials.

“This state can’t pay its own bills… And those who are employed are not being offered raises. I don’t believe there is any justification for a pay increase for state legislators,” Garrett.

Essentially, Garrett is saying that Governor Rod Blagojevich and Illinois General Assembly haven’t earned the raise. Which is true.

The General Assembly has 30 session days after the House and Senate next convene following the filing of the Report to reject the raises. Using the current session calendar, May 29th would be the 25th day leaving only 5 additional session days–which means overtime in June–within which the legislature could tube the raises.

The Illinois House has already rejected the salary hikes. Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago) supports the raise. He says he needs the dough. Oh.

(SPRINGFIELD, IL) — On May 2, the Illinois House of Representatives voted unanimously to prevent utilities, like Commonwealth Edison, from shutting off service for air conditioners if the temperature is forecasted to reach 95 degrees or above.

House Bill 5086, sponsored by State Rep. Bob Flider (D-Decatur), now moves to the State Senate under the sponsorship of Sen. Mike Jacobs (D-Moline).

The legislation prevents cooling disconnection for non payment of bills. It also prevents disconnection on any day preceding a holiday or weekend when the forecast indicates 95 degrees or above.

No word if the bill will be amended to require utility companies to also provide ice for customers’ lemonade or to remove granny’s trench-coat, too.

(Washington, D.C.) — Exit polls from Indiana and North Carolina are good news–for John McCain.

A solid majority of U.S. Senator Barack Obama and U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton’s supporters said they would unsatisfied if the other candidate wins the Democratic nomination, reports Calvin Woodward, an Associated Press writer.

Fully one-third of Mrs. Clinton’s backers in Indiana and North Carolina say they would vote for Republican U.S. Senator John McCain instead of Mr. Obama if he is the Democratic nominee in the fall, according to today’s A.P. story.

Well, the Democrats got it now. A shiny, new split within the Party. “Look Ma, no unity!”

(Springfield, IL) — Governor Rod Blagojevich today announced that the Illinois State Police and local law enforcement agencies will conduct the largest Click It or Ticket operation in the state’s history during the month of May.

The aim of the new campaign is to push the current 90% compliance rate to 100%.

The announcement comes at the 5th anniversary of Gov. Blagojevich’s signing the primary safety belt law in 2003. Statewide safety belt compliance has increased 14% from 76.2% in 2003 to 90.1% in 2007.

“When worn correctly, safety belts reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent – and by 60 percent – in pickup trucks, SUVs and mini-vans,” said Secretary of Transportation Milton Sees.

Illinois presently has the lowest fatality numbers since 1924.

The operation will include 500 local, state and county law enforcement agencies will dedicate over 15,000 hours between May 1 and June 1, 2008. Additionally, an $800,000 advertising campaign will aim to persuade motorists to buckle up while driving both day and night.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates safety belt compliance drops by approximately 10% at night. Even though only 25% of travel occurs at night, the fatality rate per vehicle mile of travel is about three times higher at night than during the day.

Put on the damn belt. Sheesh.

(Springfield, IL) — Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s administration has halted enrollment in its controversial opposed by state lawmakers.

Rockford Register Star reporter Aaron Chambers reports today that a Blagojevich administration memo dated April 22, has ordered an end to the enrollment of adults earning more than $13,832 annually. Pregnant women may earn up to $20,800 and still enroll.

The enrollment halt complies with a Cook County judge’s April 15 order stopping the Gov. Blagojevich’s plan.

It is unclear whether the new enrollees coverage will continue or whether the state will pay their bills.

Administrations officials claims the program’s cost totals less than $20 million this year. The Illinois General Assembly has, however, appropriated no money for the health plan.

Who knows.

(Chicago, IL) — It’s official. A majority of Democrats are fed up with the primaries that never end.

A new Pew poll says a majority, 51%, of Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters now says the undecided nomination contest is bad for the party, up from 27% in late February. Slightly more than a third, 35%, still see it as a good thing.

The poll sampled of 1,502 adults, 18 years of age or older, from April 23-27, 2008; it had a + or - 5% margin of error.

Would someone please fold their tent, scoop up their marbles and go home. Please. Perhaps after tonight, the tent folding and marble scooping will begin.