Illinois Women in Drug, Alcohol Treatment Jump 41%; Young Girls up 53%

IADDA CEO Sara Moscato Howe

(Chicago, IL) – November 5, 2009. According to a new analysis of Illinois government data, the number of women receiving state-supported treatment for drug or alcohol addiction between 1995-2007 jumped 41%, compared to 21.7% for men.

“The face of addiction is changing across Illinois—and it is increasingly a woman’s face,” said Sara Moscato Howe, CEO of the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association, who analyzed the historical data published by the Illinois Department of Human Services-Division of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse.

In the state fiscal year 1995, 30,545 adult Illinois women received drug or alcohol treatment through local community treatment providers financed primarily by state government. In FY 2007, 52,045 received services, a 41% increase.

FY 2007 is the most recent data available.

During the same period, 65,992 adult men received services in FY 1995 and 84,326 in FY 2007, a 21.7% increase.

In FY 1995, adult women comprised 31.6% of the total adult population receiving treatment services. By FY 2007, their share of the treatment population had grown to 38.1%.

Young Girls and Boys in Substance Abuse Treatment Surge

Young girls and boys in treatment are surging even more dramatically.
Female youth in treatment increased from 2,392 in FY 1995 to 5,087 in FY 2007—a 52.9% jump. Boys totaled 6,020 in 1995 and 13,188 in 2007, a 54.3% hike.

The growth in substance treatment use far outstrips the general population growth in Illinois. In 1995, Illinois had an estimated population of 11.8 million and 12.9 million in 2008, a 9.3% increase.

Illinois Budget for Treatment Declines

What troubles Moscato Howe even more is that Illinois is failing to meet the overall need for treatment services.

“The state’s own plan says they will serve 15% of the need,” said Moscato Howe, “However, using the most recent Illinois Household Survey Data from 2003, we are currently only serving about 5.25%.”

Moscato Howe noted when this year’s Illinois budget cuts are factored, that number will fall to about 4.09%, much lower than 7-9% served in previous years.

“More and more women and young girls are seeking drug and alcohol treatment and our ability to help them is diminishing with each passing year,” Moscato Howe said.

Moscata Howe noted that IADDA will be pushing Governor Pat Quinn and legislative leaders House Speaker Michael Madigan, House Minority Leader Tom Cross, Senate President John Cullerton, and Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno to address funding issues next year.

They better push hard.

Illinois 2010 Elections: David Schroeder’s State Rep Campaign against Incumbent Ken Dunkin Hit with Petition Challenge

(Chicago, IL) — November 11, 2009. A petition challenge yesterday landed on the candidacy of Illinois House 5th District Democratic state representative hopeful David Schroeder.

Schroeder is challenging incumbent State Rep. Ken Dunkin (D-Chicago) in the February 2 primary.

“Today someone filed objections to my petition signatures on behalf of my opponent Ken Dunkin,” Schroeder wrote in a statement. “Ken has repeatedly made it clear throughout his political career that he is not interested in letting the voters have their say on Election Day.”

Schroeder filed four times the number of signatures legally required for the race.

“Ken has a history of running nasty campaigns, including trying to get his opponents knocked off the ballot instead of competing with them in an honest election,” Schroeder said.

Ouch.

Drawn out petition challenges can chew up valuable campaign cash and time, undermining a challenger’s ability to knock off an incumbent.

Stay tuned.

2010 Elections: Voters Back Republicans over Democrats as 2010 Elections Approach, New Gallup Poll Says

(Princeton, NJ) — November 11, 2009. Republicans have surged passed Democrats as the 2010 congressional elections loom, according to a new Gallup poll. Not good news for national–or Illinois Democrats.

Registered voters in Gallup’s new poll on the generic congressional ballot for the 2010 House elections has Republicans besting Democrats 48% to 44%, after being down six points in July and two in October.

Uh, oh.

This voter discontent with Democrats should make both Governor Pat Quinn and Comptroller Dan Hynes nervous.

Read more of Gallup’s poll here …

Illinois 2010 Elections: Victory Fund Endorses Democratic State Senate Candidate Jim Madigan

Jim Madigan and Campaign Manager Lauren Peters wait in the rain for three hours to turn in Jim's petition on the first day for candidates to file with the State Board of Elections in Springfield, IL.

(Chicago, IL) — November 11, 2009. The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund has endorsed Illinois Democratic State Senate candidate Jim Madigan in his primary race against first-term incumbent Heather Steans (D-Chicago).

Madigan, a civil rights attorney and gay rights activist, announced the news on Friday, November 6 via Twitter.

The Victory Fund endorsement is an important boost to Madigan’s campaign.

This national group identifies, trains and helps elects gay and lesbian candidate to all levels of office across the United States. And it has an impressive track record. In the 2008 cycle, it endorsed 111 openly gay or lesbian candidates – 80 of whom won.

The national endorsement–which also will draw donations to Madigan’s campaign–will also help counterbalance the strong local gay and lesbian backing garnered by Steans in the contest for the 7th district seat on Chicago’s North Side.

In fact, Steans hosted a fund-raiser last night, Tuesday, November 10, at Hamburger Mary’s in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood which included an all-star host committee of gay and lesbian political and civic leaders, including openly gay State Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago).

State Rep. Greg Harris introduces State Senator Heather Steans during the Nov. 10 fundraiser at Hamburger Mary's.

In addition to Harris, the Steans committe included: political consultant and long-time fund-raiser Michael Bauer, activist Kelly Cassidy, Howard Brown Health Center CEO Michael Cook, former City of Chicago Gay & Lesbian Liaison Mary Morten, former Deputy Cook County Clerk Brandon Neese, Chicago House President Rev. Stan Sloan, AIDS Foundation of Chicago lobbyist John Peller, and Governor Pat Quinn’s Director of the Illinois Department of Insurance Michael McRaith.

Additionally, openly gay Alderman Tom Tunney (D-44th), openly lesbian Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Debra Shore, and Equality Illinois political director Rick Garcia have endorsed Steans.

Madigan, the former interim Executive Director of Equality Illinois a statewide gay rights group, filed his nominating petitions at the Illinois State Board of Elections in Springfield on October 26 with 3,000 signatures, three times the 1,000 necessary to secure a spot on the February 2 primary ballot.

Madigan’s petitions were photocopied by a local political operative which suggested a potential petition challenge, but no challenge emerged. Madigan followed the 3-to-1 petition “rule of thumb”, collecting three times the number of signatures that he legally needed, and he apparently hewed to the arcane ballot access law requirements which routinely torment even experienced candidates.

In fact, State Rep. Deb Mell, the legislature’s first openly lesbian lawmaker and daughter of long-term Alderman Dick Mell (D-33) is facing a stiff challenge to her petitions by her openly gay opponent Joe Laiacona.

In addition to Madigan’s endorsement, the Victory Fund has also endorsed two other openly gay Illinois candidates. Todd Connnor, a Democrat running for one of three open seats on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, and Linda Pauel, a Democrat seeking a judgeship in Illinois’ 1st judicial circuit, also have the Fund’s backing.

Let the show begin.

Illinois 2010 Elections–Democratic Primary Governor: Poll Has Pat Quinn Leading Dan Hynes 34-17, Source Says

Gov. Pat Quinn

(Chicago, IL) — November 10, 2009. A new internal poll has Pat Quinn leading Dan Hynes 34%-17%, according to a reliable source close to the Quinn campaign.

This is a good news-bad news poll.

The good news for Quinn is that he is still beating Hynes 2 to 1 as he was in early September. The bad news for Quinn–and Hynes–is that their support has cratered from the September poll that Quinn publicly released in which he led Hynes 54%-26%.

The nearly $2 million negative ad duel between the two campaigns has apparently managed only to drag each other down rather than lifting either one up.

That slippage could help explain the Quinn campaign’s recent call for an attack ad “cease fire” between he and Hynes. Hynes said no. He should probably reconsider.

It may also explain the new positive video–”Herb the Barber”–launched by Quinn’s campaign as an effort to help rebuild the Governor’s support. Herb, Quinn’s barber for at least 32 years, gives an unscripted, homey–or barber shoppy–endorsement of Quinn for, essentially, his honesty.

“Herb the Barber”–a welcome antidote to “Joe the Plumber”–gets all thumbs up. This has to be the best positive ad of the 2010 season. It’s worth a look. Of course, it needs to be seen by more than the 175 people so far on You Tube to be useful to Quinn.

Anyway.

At this moment, Quinn’s campaign communications director–the fiery and fun-deprived Elizabeth Austin–is likely ready to rocket out an e-mail to THE iLLINOIS OBSERVER at any moment. Seat-belt fastened.

One, two, three … Powering down the Blackberry.

Here’s “Herb the Barber”:

Illinois 2010 Elections–Republican Primary Governor: Jim Ryan Trounced in Milton Township Republican Straw Poll

(Chicago, IL) — November 10, 2009. DuPage County Chairman Bob Schillerstrom won the Milton Township Republican Organization 2010 Straw Poll for Governor about 10 days ago, beating DuPage County State Senator Kirk Dillard, 142-37.

And after stating at a recent GOP debate that global-warming is not man-made, Schillerstrom will also likely lock up the Flat Earth Society endorsement, too.

But the real news from the Milton GOP straw poll was that former Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan–who jumped into the Illinois 2010 Republican primary for governor a week-ago–got trounced.

Milton Township GOP Straw Poll–Candidate Vote Total:

• Bob Schillerstrom 142
• Kirk Dillard 37
• Adam Andrzejewski 36
• Bill Brady 27
• Jim Ryan 13
• Dan Proft 6
• Andy McKenna 2

Ryan got into the race virtually boasting he was going to be the 800-pound guerilla in race, releasing a poll memo that had him beating State Senator Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) by a meager 26-10, and leaving the others in the poll’s single-digit dungeon.

The Milton Township Republicans apparently didn’t get the memo.

Ryan has got some work to do.

Illinois 2010 Elections: Candidate Todd Connnor, Former SEC Chairman Arthur Levitt Bash Water District Bond Deal that Flushed $68 Million in Taxpayer Money Down the Sewer

MWRD Democratic candidate Todd Connor

(Chicago, IL) — November 9, 2009. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) of Greater Chicago Board of Commissioners last Thursday got a pasting from financial analyst Daniel Kaplan and candidate Todd Connor–who is aiming to join the board’s ranks–over a botched bond deal that cost Cook County area taxpayers $68 million.

The MWRD cleans sludge. Figures.

The AAA-rated MWRD via its elected commisioners unanimously approved and sold $600 million worth of bonds in August at a 5.72% interest rate. Nearly simultaneously, AAA-rated Johnson & Johnson had comparable bonds out there at an implied 5.33% interest rate.

“Had Chicago’s authorities borrowed at the same rate as J&J, they would have saved taxpayers $68.6 million over the lifespan of the bonds,” wrote Arthur Levitt, former Securities Exchange Commission Chairman, on Bloomberg.com on October 22.

Oops.

Levitt noted that District treasurer was “really happy” with the results of the bond sale.

“That’s like a retailer bragging about how it sold out of merchandise priced at a loss,” Levitt added.

In Chicago–that’s politics and bond deals. Taxpayers rarely win.

At Thursday’s meeting, financial consultant, Daniel Kaplan, who offered expert testimony and detailed financial analysis, said: “This was a very lucrative deal for underwriters and investors, and a very poor deal for the taxpayers of the District.”

In Chicago–that’s politics and bond deals. Taxpayers rarely win.

The water district commissioners tapped Mesirow Financial of Chicago to handle the bond deal. Mesirow was, however, apparently out of its league. Mesirow is not ranked among the top 25 firms in the Securities Data Index, and does not usually handle bond deals of this size.

Hmm.

Well, why was Mesirow selected by MRWD commissioners Barbara McGowan, Cynthia Santos  Debra Shore, Frank Avila, Gloria Alitto Majewski, Kathleen Meany, Mariyana Spyropoulos (assumed office after the bond deal vote), Patricia Horton, and Board President Terry O’Brien?

Todd Connor, a former Illinois Inspector General and a Democratic candidate for a MRWD board seat, has also been asking that question and banging away on his drum over the $68 million lost by Cook County taxpayers in the Mesirow deal.

“The problem is that these questions needed to asked before the deal was approved, not after the taxpayers money has been lost,” said Connor, frustrated at the Board’s post-game review of the bond deal on November 5.

Horse long gone. Now firmly close barn-door. Typical government response.

“We cannot afford to have elected officials who are interested in backroom business or pinstripe patronage, but rather, we need Commissioners who are able to speak up, ask the right questions and make decisions solely based on the taxpayer’s interest,” added Connor, 31, a former Navy officer.

Connor, who earned his MBA at the University of Chicago and served overseas in the Persian Gulf during Operation Iraqi Freedom as a navigator on the U.S.S. Bunker Hill, has to be one of the most impressive candidates on the 2010 Illinois campaign trail. He combines brains and campaign savvy.

If this former Illinois Inspector General–who filed nominating petitions with 22,000 signatures–snags a seat on the water district board–which manages a $1.6 billion–that’s “billion” with a “b”–budget that is larger than the CTA’s–he can follow paper trails. He can find where other bond deals are buried.

Backing Connor is an impressive list of progressive politicians: Alderman Toni Preckwinkle (D-4th), U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky, State Senator Jeff Schoenberg (D-Evanston), State Senator Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest), State Senator Heather Steans (D-Chicago), Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer (D-Chicago) State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago), Alderman Tom Tunney (D-44th), former State Senator Carol Ronen (D-Chicago), State Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago), Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin (D-Evanston), Northfield Township Committeeman Mike Kreloff, and Cook County Commissioner Roberto Moldonado (D-Chicago).

Connor can clean the water agency’s poop deck and clean up its officers’ mess. He’s got the professional qualifications and the grit. Heck, he has even his own white hat, too. But he needs the help of voters.

Otherwise, we Cook County area taxpayers risk another $68 million loss–or more–on some future bond deal sluicing down the MWRD’s own sewer.

Can we afford that?

Sign-Off…

(Chicago, IL) — November 6, 2009. Shutting down for Friday … off to Spanish lesson and gym.

Hasta pronto, folks.

David Ormsby

Illinois 2010 Elections–Republican Governor Primary: Dan Proft Wins Schaumburg Township GOP Endorsement; Bob Schillerstrom Wins Milton Township Straw Poll

Dan Proft

(Chicago, Illinois) – November 6, 2009. The Schaumburg Township Republican organization yesterday endorsed Republican Dan Proft for Governor.

Proft is polling in head-to-head match-ups in single digits at around 4%.

Despite a crowded field of seven candidates, Proft garnered the required 60% vote of Schaumburg Township GOP precinct captains to secure the endorsement on the first ballot.

He got 24 votes. He needed 23.

“This is a big win for our campaign and I personally am honored by the Schaumburg Township Republican Organization’s endorsement,” said Proft. “I want to thank Committeeman Mike Adelizzi and the entire Schaumburg Township Republican Organization.”

Big win.

Meanwhile, DuPage County Chairman Bob Schillerstrom won the Milton Township Republican Organization 2010 Straw Poll for Governor last weekend, beating DuPage County State Senator Kirk Dillard, 142-37. Schillerstrom has chalked up endorsements from 8 of the 9 DuPage County Township Republican Organization Chairmen.

And after stating this week that global-warming is not man-made, Schillerstrom will also likely lock up the Flat Earth Society endorsement, too.

Also competing in the 2010 Illinois Republican governor primary are: Andy McKenna, Bill Brady, Jim Ryan, and Adam Andrzejewski.

Illinois 2010 Elections: Pat Quinn Gets Fritchey, Lang, Silverstein Endorsements–Chicago Tribune Says “…Former Blagojevich Allies”

State Rep. Lou Lang and Gov. Pat Quinn speaking after the press conference today.

(Chicago, IL) — November 6, 2009. Illinois Democratic lawmakers State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago), Deputy House Majority Leader Lou Lang (D-Skokie), and State Senator Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago) today endorsed Governor Pat Quinn in the Illinois 2010 Democratic primary for governor over Comptroller Dan Hynes at a press conference on Chicago’s North Side.

Hynes, a constituent of Fritchey’s, had endorsed Fritchey’s opponent, State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago),  in the IL 5th congressional special election to succeed Rahm Emanuel in February. Oops.

Fritchey is also the 32nd Ward Democratic Committeeman. He is leaving the state legislature to run for the Cook County Board seated being vacated by Commissioner Forrest Claypool.

Chicago Tribune reporter Monique Garcia at today's press conference.

Lang, who is also the Niles Township Democratic Committeeman and Executive Vice President of the Cook County Democratic Party, had emerged as a critic of Quinn in the State House during the spring legislative session, but Lang has now swung firmly behind Quinn.

The Chicago Tribune’s headline writer, however, cast the Quinn endorsements, which also included 33rd Ward Alderman Dick Mell, as “Quinn gets backing from former Blagojevich allies“.

Ouch.

Monique Garcia, who covered the press conference at the Ann Sather’s restaurant in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood, wrote a more balanced story lead, referring to the Fritchey and

State Rep. John Fritchey and Gov. Pat Quinn at today's press conference.

the others as the “… Democratic leaders who once hailed and later feuded with his running mate and predecessor, Rod Blagojevich.”

The Tribune editor just provided material for a TV attack ad by the Hynes campaign or the GOP.

In fact, Fritchey, Lang, and Mell were early Blagojevich opponents long before it was politically fashionable. Fritchey and Lang led the impeachment effort against Blagojevich in the House–but get tagged as “allies”.

Oh, well.

Silverstein is also the 50th Ward Democratic Committeeman.

In addition to Hynes, Quinn faces attorney Ed Scanlan of Oak Park and William “Dock” Walls in the Democratic primary on February 2, 2010.

Illinois 2010 Elections–Democratic Primary Governor: John Fritchey, Lou Lang and Ira Silverstein to Endorse Pat Quinn

(Chicago, IL) — November 6, 2009. Illinois Democratic lawmakers John Fritchey, Lou Lang and Ira Silverstein will endorse Governor Pat Quinn in the Illinois 2010 Democratic primary for governor over Comptroller Dan Hynes at a press conference in Chicago at 9:15 a.m.

Hynes, a constitutent of Rep. Fritchey’s, had endorsed Fritchey’s opponent, State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago),  in the IL 5th CD special election to succeed Rahm Emanuel in February. Oops.

Rep. Lang had emerged as an early critic of Quinn in the State House, but the Niles Township Democratic Committeman has now swung behind Quinn.

Illinois 2010 Elections: Democrat Ed Scanlan Leads Illinois Governor Race for Web Site “Eye Balls”; Kirk Dillard Web Visitors Soar 500%, New Survey Says

Illinois 2010 Democrat Governor candidate Ed Scanlan

(Chicago, IL) — November 5, 2009. Illinois 2010 Democratic governor candidate Ed Scanlan of Oak Park is currently leading all Illinois 2010 Republican and Democratic and Green governor candidates in the Web “eyeballs” race, according to a new survey of candidate Web sites.

Utilizing Alexa Internet’s Web traffic monitoring tool, THE iLLINOIS OBSERVER submitted the Web sites of all candidates who filed petitions to run in the Illinois 2010 primary for governor to a traffic estimate survey on November 4, 2009.

The traffic estimate revealed that Scanlan’s Web site traffic ranks highest of any candidate at 912,7720, with the number “1″ rank–currently occupied by Google–being the highest possible rank on the Web. Dan Proft (R-Chicago) ranked second, followed closely Adam Andrzejewski (R-Hinsdale) in third place. Jim Ryan (R-Elmhurst) ranked the lowest. Ryan, however, entered the race on Monday.

Kirk Dillard’s Web site traffic grew the most of any candidate over the last 90 days–jumping 7,560,451 places in its global Internet rank and its site visitors zoomed up by 500%.

Governor Pat Quinn and Rich Whitney were the only candidates whose Web sites lost ground over the last 90 days, Quinn’s dropping an estimated 208,604 places in the global rankings. Quinn’s campaign recently announced that it had revamped the Governor’s site.

The Alexa survey data–which can fluctuate on a daily basis–identified the following metrics:

1. Current global Internet rank–with “1″ as the highest possible rank on the Web.
2. Change in global Internet rank–the number of “places” over the last 90 days.
3. Current U.S. rank.
4. % of global Internet visitors who visited the site change over the last 90 days.

(Note: Some data metrics were Not Available for each Web site)

1. Ed Scanlan (D-Oak Park): 1. 912,720–Global 2. N/A 3. 81,949–U.S Rank. 4. N/A
2. Dan Proft (R-Chicago): 1. 1,466,077–Global  2. Up 3,461,834–Places  3. 241,975–U.S. Rank  4.+430%–Visitors
3. Adam Andrzejewski (R-Hinsdale): 1. 1,687,930–Global  2. Up 796,432–Places  3. 299,253–U.S. Rank  4. +70%–Visitors
4. Dan Hynes (D-Chicago): 1. 2,231,962–Global  2. N/A  3. 313,621–U.S. Rank  4. N/A
5. Bill “Dock” Walls (D-Chicago): 1. 2,449,693–Global Rank  2. Up 206,137–Places  3. N/A   4. -2% Visitors
6. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale): 1. 3,787,514–Global Rank  2. Up 7,560,451–Places  3. N/A   4. +500%–Visitors
7. Bob Schillerstrom (R-Naperville): 1. 4,247,191–Global Rank  2. Up 3,271,300–Places  3. N/A  4. +130%–Visitors
8. Bill Brady (R-Bloomington): 1. 4,343,083–Global Rank.  2. Up 6,969,144–Places  3. N/A  4. +300%–Visitors
9. Pat Quinn (D-Chicago): 1. 4,758,017–Global Rank  2. Down 208,604–Places  3. 635,200–U.S. Rank  4. +20%–Visitors
10. Andy McKenna (R-Chicago): 1. 6,506,490–Global Rank 2. N/A  3. N/A  4. N/A
11. Rich Whitney (G-Carbondale):  1. 18,151,610–Global Rank  2. Down 8,936,308–Places.  3. N/A  4. -60%–Visitors
12. Jim Ryan (R-Elmhurst): 1. 18,833,816–Global Rank  2. N/A  3. N/A  4. N/A
13. Richard Mayers (G-Chicago): No Web Site Found

To put these candidate Web site rankings in context, consider the Alexa global and U.S. ranks of various news media and blog Web sites:

• The Huffington Post–254–Global; 49–U.S.
• Chicago Tribune–1,059–Global; 268–U.S.
• Chicago Sun-Times–2,194–Global; 575–U.S.
• Springfield State Journal-Register–48,924–Global; 9,947–U.S.
• WGN Radio–163,308–Global; 40,032–U.S.
• Capitol Fax Blog–247,452–Global; 59,024–U.S.
• Illinois Review–294,850–Global; 98,876–U.S.
• THE iLLINOIS OBSERVER–775,747–Global; 108,481–U.S.

*It is important to note that the Alexa data is only an estimate based on randam sampling of Internet user traffic. The Alexa Web site monitoring functions similar to a standard poll of a sampled of voters in which a margin of error exists in the estimates.

Illinois 2010 Elections: Pro-Gun Folks are All Negative Tweets over Republican Jim Ryan’s Entry into Governor’s Race

(Chicago, IL) — November 4, 2009. Pro-gun owners are all a twitter on Twitter over Jim Ryan’s entry into the 2010 Illinois Republican primary for governor–and the tweets are negative:

@GoldCountryFNRA: Gun owners beware: Jim Ryan announces run for Illinois Governor http://tinyurl.com/yz2mdee

Here’s a sample of the article the gun guys are pushing on Examiner.Com:

The last time Illinois gun owners heard from former Attorney General Jim Ryan, Illinois government was in turmoil and Ryan wanted to be Governor.  The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Yesterday, Ryan announced that he still wants to be Governor of Illinois.  Like Mark Kirk, Ryan is a Republican–and like Mark Kirk, Ryan has a history of antagonizing gun owners in order to court anti-gun “moderates” in Illinois.

Ah, not good, Jim.

Illinois 2010 Elections: Jim Ryans Joins Crowded 2010 Illinois Republican Governor Primary

(Springfield, IL) — November 4, 2009. Jim Ryan, the former two-term Illinois General who lost to Rod Governor in the 2002 governor’s election, entered the overflow 2010 Illinois Republican primary for governor yesterday.

Ryan, an Elmhurst Republican, returns after nearly seven years of teaching government and politics at Benedictine University in Lisle.

“The uncomfortable truth is that state government in Illinois has failed us despite the efforts of a lot of good men and women,” he said in front of the Abraham Lincoln statue on State Capitol grounds.

Ryan said as governor he would place a special emphasis on the plight of children, the mentally ill and others mired in poverty. He said he would “would streamline and restructure the state budget without raising taxes”.

Good luck with that.

Ryan will participate in the Illinois GOP candidates forum Thursday night in Chicago and leave on a statewide tour next week.

Ryan faces fellow Republicans Bill Brady, Andy McKenna, Dan Proft, Kirk Dillard, Bob Schillerstrom, and Adam Andrzejewski.

Illinois 2010 Elections–Republican Governor Primary: Is Senator Bill Brady a True Fiscal Conservative?

State Senator Bill Brady (R-Bloomington)

(Chicago, IL) — November 4, 2009. The news today that the State of Illinois owes the University of Illinois $317 million but has paid only $400,000, reported by Paul Wood at the Champaign News-Gazette, must graphically remind Governor Pat Quinn and the Illinois legislature that the Illinois budget is cratering under its crushing expenses and dwindling income.

In fact, the Illinois budget has $3 billion of unpaid bills on its hands. The U of I represents only 10% of that debt pile.

That got us thinking.

The Illinois budget’s basic problem–that its expenses exceed its income–highlighted by the University of Illinois’ budget plight–may bring another conservative fiscal scolding by a lawmaker angling for Quinn’s job–State Senator Bill Brady (R-Bloomington).

Brady has branded himself as an ultra fiscal conservative–the spend-only-what-you-earn type.

In March, when Quinn introduced his proposed budget that included an income tax, Brady berated Quinn, citing the families-must-balance-their-budget homily.

“Just as families do around their kitchen tables, state government needs to take full stock of its cash availability and make the necessary cuts to bring that budget into balance,” Brady said on March 18, 2009.  “The people of Illinois today are making do with less.  State government should be no different.”

The funny thing about Brady’s fiscal conservatism is that he–when he had the chance–failed to practice budget-balancing himself.

When Brady for governor in 2006, he so overspent his campaign income that three years later his campaign is still saddled with a whopping $652,762.91 debt. When his campaign expenses exceeded campaign income–Brady borrowed. Just like the State of Illinois has done to pay its bills.

What the difference?

Rather than “… make the necessary cuts to bring that budget into balance” Brady whipped out his credit card to pay the bills. Sound familiar?

To his credit, Brady left no vendors in the lurch. He paid those bills. He owes the money to himself and three banks.

From Brady’s campaign finance statement filed with the Illinois Board of Elections:

• $351,750-Owed to Bill Brady
• $41,047.91–Owed to Commerce Bank, Bloomington, IL–Debt incurred 3/14/2006
• $200,000.00–First Bank, Saint Louis, MO–Debt incurred 3/2/2006
• $59,965.00–Owed to Heartland Bank and Trust, Bloomington, IL–Debt incurred 3/10/2006

If the ‘fiscal conservative’ Brady is, however, willing to ignore his “balanced budget” philosophy on his own campaign and drive it deeply in debt, why should Illinois voters have any confidence he won’t do the same further with the Illinois budget as Governor?

Why believe Brady’s “balanced budget” drivel when he refuses to practice what he preaches?

It’s a question Brady’s opponents–Jim Ryan, Andy McKenna, Dan Proft, Kirk Dillard, Bob Schillerstrom, and Adam Andrzejewski should ask.

And if Brady emerges victorious from the 2010 Republican governor primary, Pat Quinn and Dan Hynes must ask him that question.

Someone should.

Pro-Life-Cherry-Picker “Investigates” State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz’s Receipt of Community Service Award in Cathoic School Basement

State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz

(Chicago, IL) — November 4, 2009. From the Department of Kid-You-Not, a Pro-Life Cherry-Picker has launched an “investigation” to determine how State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) received a community service award in the school basement of St. Clement’s Church in Chicago.

“Catholic columnist” Matt C. Abbott revealed in a blog post at Renew America on October 30 the emerging “investigation” of the “scandal” from the e-mail of some self-appointed snoop with a knot-in-their knickers.

The black-helicopter conspirator crowd can only froth at the following:

“The Lakeview Action Coalition, reportedly a grant recipient of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, on Oct. 22 gave an award to pro-abortion Illinois State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz at the school associated with the notoriously leftist St. Clement Church.

A source active in the pro-life movement said in an e-mail:

‘After three weeks of phone calls to various archdiocesan offices before the event, the $65.00 per plate fundraiser for the Lakeview Action Coalition took place at St. Clement in Chicago. This is where Sara Feigenholtz received her award [named after the Rev. Gregory Dell, incidentally], despite the recent commitment from Cardinal George to support a ban on big-name pro-abort honors at Catholic churches.

‘I am now in the investigation phase of this matter and getting the big run-around of excuses from bishops, pastors and others of how the matter got missed. So far, it sounds like Jimmy Lago [the chancellor] made the final call to go ahead with the event as he felt it would be a greater scandal to cancel the event soon before it happened. When I originally called St. Clement to verify the event taking place, no one knew anything and it did not show up on their schedule (of course)!’

Frankly, the “It’s too late to cancel the event now” and “We didn’t know anything about it” excuses are getting very old. But, hey, this is the type of thing that occurs when we have spineless, heterodox, politically-connected bureaucrats running the show in some of the dioceses.

Sadly, a pro-abortion politician being honored on parish grounds is apparently no big deal to the powers that be. And, of course, the leftist “mainstream” media don’t give a damn — that goes without saying…”

Feigenholtz received an “affordable housing award.” She got it for her efforts to help secure $144 million for affordable housing construction money during the spring legislative session, money that will create homes for the poor, homeless, and downtrodden served by groups, such as, well–Catholic Charities of Illinois.

That’s worth “three weeks of phone calls”?  “Investigation”? Has this person all their light-bulbs screwed in tightly? Sheesh.

Anyway.

The anonymous Pro-Life Cherry-Picker is picking on Feigenholtz because she is a pro-choice–or “pro-abort” per the picker. Why Cherry-Picker?

Because opposition to the death penalty is the other key plank of the Catholic pro-life agenda.

“We cannot overcome crime by simply executing criminals, nor can we restore the lives of the innocent by ending the lives of those convicted of their murders. The death penalty offers the tragic illusion than we can defend life by taking life.”
-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, A Good Friday Appeal to End the Death Penalty (Washington, DC: USCCB, 1999)

Feigenholtz opposes the death penalty. The veteran-lawmaker and Chair of the House Human Services Appropriations Committee supports an important Catholic life position.

No matter.

For the Pro-Life Cherry Picker, the life glass is half-empty, not half-full. Rather than embrace and cheer a supporter of a key Catholic life agenda item, they berate and “investigate” Feigenholtz and church officials–but for a community service award granted by a secular community group in a school basement?

Uh, huh.

No wonder why Chancellor Jimmy Lago is ducking that call. Smart guy.

Illinois 2010 Elections: 2010 Illinois Candidate Petition Filings Jump 17.3% over 2006

(Chicago, IL) — November 3, 2009. From the Department of Minor Statistics, the number of 2010 candidates who filed primary nominating petitions with the Illinois State Board of Elections jumped 17.3% over 2006.

In 2006, 710 candidates filed, and 859 filed this year.

Well, there is a recession under way. People need jobs. Heck, in what other industry can you look for work and claim you have no experience and still stand a reasonable chance of getting hired? None. Just government.

It’s qualification proof.

Illinois 2010 Elections-Blogger Stardom: Dan Hynes Uses Capitol Fax’s Rich Miller as Fund-Raising Magnet

(Chicago, IL) — November 3, 2009. The Capitol Fax Blog’s Rich Miller has become such an “Illinois political institution” that the campaign of Illinois 2010 Democratic Governor candidate Dan Hynes thinks it can even raise campaign off his name.

Rich is being “monetized”. Cool.

In a fund-raising e-mail sent to supporters today, Hynes campaign manager Mike Redina wrote:

Dear Friend,

It was only a matter of time.

Pat Quinn took to the airwaves with an ad so misleading and absurd, it drew catcalls from neutral observers. In the ad, Quinn attacks Dan for …

…

Help us fight back.

…

We’re going to make sure Illinois Democrats have a candidate who reflects the best our party has to offer, with the leadership and competence to see it through.

It’s inevitable.

Thank you for all you do.

All the best,

Michael Rendina
Campaign Manager
Dan Hynes for Governor

PS: Illinois political institution Rich Miller called Pat Quinn’s new spot “the most misleading ad of the season” and said it was “deliberately designed to insult our intelligence.” Help us counter these preposterous attacks by contributing today.

Three cheers, Rich–that’s the sweet mark of a blogger’s success.

Illinois Politics: New Survey: Top 10 Independent Political Blogs in Illinois

(Chicago, IL) — November 2, 2009. A new survey released today by THE iLLINOIS OBSERVER ranked 52 independent Illinois-based blogs that cover Illinois politics and government–blogs that are not embedded in or sponsored by major media Web sites such as the Chicago Tribune or the Chicago Sun-Times–and found the Chicagoist headed up the top 10 list.

The survey, which used Alexa’s Web site ranking tool, excluded the blogs on the Chicago Tribune’s blog Web site Chicago Now because no independent ranking of many formerly independently-sited blogs was available. The Chicago Now site ranks 2,488 rank in the United States, with the number “1″ being the highest Web site rank possible.

The Alexa web ranking tool estimates both the global Web site rank and home country rank–ranks that can fluctuate daily. In this survey, all ranks are based on the site’s U.S. rank with the exception when a U.S. ranking was not given. This occurred mostly with blogs with a global ranking in the millions.

THE iLLINOIS OBSERVER attempted diligently to identify as many Illinois blogs as possible that provide Illinois political news and commentary that represent some semblance of ideological and geographic balance. Inevitably, we probably overlooked someone. Our apologies.

If there is some gaping omission or quibble with a selection–quibble away. Let us know and we will consider the quibbles and other sites in our next survey.

According to the Alexa U.S. Traffic Rank on November 2, 2009, the top 10 independent Illinois blogs that provide news & commentary on Illinois politics and government are:

• 1. Chicagoist 9,871
• 2. Windy Citizen 18,983
• 3. Progress Illinois 26,981
• 4. Gapers Block 30,159
• 5. Capitol Fax/Rich Miller 49,942
• 6. Beachwood Reporter 86,798
• 7. Illinois Review 89,845
• 8. The Illinois Observer/David Ormsby 95,974
• 9. Chicago Daily Observer 147,031
• 10. Marathon Pundit 162,282

(Note: The Top 10 List Updated on November 11, 2009)

Here are how the other 42 Illinois blogs stack up:

• 11. McHenry County Blog 151,027
• 12. Illini Pundit 175,939
• 13. Publius Forum 205,452
• 14. District 299: Chicago Schools Blog 217,921
• 15. Quincy Pundit 227,442
• 16. Cao’s Blog 231,396
• 17. Prairie State Blue 279,162
• 18. Tom Roeser 330,654
• 19. Illinois Policy Institute Blog 510,260
• 20.Backyard Conservative 519,985
• 21. Peoria Pundit 554,288
• 22. Chicago News Bench 618,295
• 23. Lake Effect News 681,890
• 24. 600 Words/Esther Cepeda 764,724
• 25. OpenlineBlog.Com 903,762
• 26. Arch Pundit 930,010
• 27. Illinois Issues Blog 987,725
• 28. Respublica 996,814
• 29. Hyde Park Progress 1,097,044
• 30. First Electric Newspaper 1,190,615
• 31. Community Media Workshop 1,425,854
• 32. Broken Heart Rogers Park 2,668,346
• 33. Illinois GOP Net 3,125,192
• 34. Chicago Justice Blog 3,770,603
• 35. Illinois Campaign Political Reform 3,807,072
• 36. Jan Schakowsky 4,149,289
• 37. Public Affairs/Jeff Berkowitz 4,614,858
• 38. Civic Federation/Illinois Institute for Fiscal Sustainability 4,711,920
• 39. Chicago Argus/Greg Tejeda 4,789,639
• 40. Washington Report/Laura Washington 6,005,080
• 41. The Mobilizer 6,994,331
• 42. Bill Baar’s West Side 7,212,053
• 43. Scotts Big Mouth 7,847,335
• 44. Paul Simon Public Policy Institute Blog 7,880,363
• 45. Progressive Advocacy/Dan Johnson-Weinberger 8,675,704
• 46. The Sixth Ward 9,027,196
• 47. Radio Chicagoland News & Views/Ray Hanania 9,824,604
• 48. Illinois Democratic Network 9,870,667
• 49. Suburban Chicagoland News 13,502,144
• 50. John Fritchey Open House 14,062,100
• 51. One for the Record/Edward Mazikowski 19,817,191
• 52. Russ Stewart 29,913,010

To provide a context for these rankings, here are the Alexa U.S. Web site rankings for some familiar Illinois media outlets:

• Chicago Tribune 206
• Chicago Sun-Times 562
• Springfield Journal-Register 10,039
• WGN Radio 39,934

Additionally, the Community Media Workshop earlier this year released a far more sophisticated and thorough analysis of Illinois blogs and online media, including the blogs of mainstream media, in a their report “The New News”.

Finally, a blog’s political news value is tested by more than it’s Alexa or Compete or Google Page rank. For example, Rich Miller’s Capitol Fax, which focuses exclusively on state politics, is ablaze every day with hundreds of posted comments on the day’s political news, comments that can extend more than 9 hours on a single post. It’s a political water-cooler on the Net.

Other sites, such as the top-ranked Chicagoist, provide other news, including culture and entertainment. The inclusion of state political news, however, landed these sites on THE iLLINOIS OBSERVER survey list.

Again, if you think we overlooked an important independent political news blog–which is possible–or want to be included in the next survey, let us know: davidormsby@davidormsby.com

Illinois 2010 Elections: 7 Candidates in Scramble to Succeed Rep. Art Turner, Including Turner’s Son–Who Filed Petitions Twice

(Chicago, IL) — November 3, 2009. There are seven candidates–all Chicago Democrats–who filed nominating petitions to capture Illinois House Deputy Majority Leader Art Turner’s 7th district House seat, including Turner’s son, Art–who filed petitions twice.

Rep. Turner is running for Lt. Governor.

The candidates are:

• John Burros (W. Erie Street)
• Keith Jackson (W. Adams Street)
• Arthur Turner (S. Avers Avenue)
• Dorothy Walton (S. Troy Street)
• Jerry Patton (S. Harding Avenue)
• Bruce Jackson (S. Kedize )
• Matthew Harrington (N. Jefferson)

Illinois 2010 Elections–Lt. Governor: Mike Boland Files Last at 4:51 P.M.; 13-Men, 0-Women File

(Springfield, IL) — November 2, 2009. In the 2010 Illinois Lt. Govenor race, like the governor’s race,  13 candidates filed nominating petitions, and of those 13 men and 0 women filed to become the state’s second banana.

In 2002, 10 candidates filed, 8-men and 2-women.

And, unlike the governor’s race where there are only 2 candidates from downstate Illinois, in the Lite Gov’s race there are 6 downstaters. There are 5 from Cook County, 3 of which are from Chicago. There is 1 from DuPage and 1 from Lake County.

Here they are–6 Republicans, 6 Democrats, and 1 Green:

Republicans:

• Brad Cole (Carbondale)
• Jason Plummer (Edwardsville)
• Don Tracy (Springfield)
• Randy White (Hamilton)
• Matt Murphy (Palatine)
• Dennis Cook (Orland Park)

Democrats:

• Rickey Hendon (Chicago)
• Terry Link (Waukegan)
• Arthur Turner (Chicago)
• Scott Cohen (Chicago)
• Thomas Castillo (Elmhurst)
• Mike Boland (East Moline)

Green:

• Don Crawford (St. Elmo)

Illinois 2010 Elections-Governor: Each Party-GOP, Dems and Greens Have a Primary; 13-Men, 0-Women File

(Springfield, IL) — November 3, 2009. There are 13 candidates who filed petitions to run for Illinois governor in 2010. Each party–the Republicans, the Democrats and the Greens have a primary.

• There are 13 men, 0 women candidates.

• There are 7 Republicans, 4 Democrats, and 2 Greens

• There are 6 candidates from Chicago–3 Democrats, 2 Republicans, and 1 one Green.

• There are 4 candidates from DuPage County–all Republicans and 2 from Hinsdale.

• There are 2 candidates from downstate Illinois–Bloomington and Cardbondale.

Here they are:

Republicans:

• Adam Andrzejewski (Hinsdale)
• Bill Brady (Bloomington)
• Kirk Dillard (Hinsdale)
• Bob Schillerstrom (Naperville)
• Dan Proft (Chicago)
• Jim Ryan (Elmhurst)
• Andy McKenna (Chicago)

Democrats:

• Dan Hynes (Chicago)
• Pat Quinn (Chicago)
• William “Dock” Walls (Chicago)
• Ed Scanlan (Oak Park)

Greens:

• Rich Whitney (Carbondale)
• Richard Mayers (Chicago)

Illinois 2010 Elections: Of Statewide Candidates Only 10% are Women, Down from 19.6% in 2002

(Springfield, IL) — November 3, 2009. For the 2010 Illinois elections, 60 candidates filed nominating petitions for the offices of U.S. Senate, Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer, and Comptroller and only 6, or 10 %, of those are women, down from 19.6% in 2002.

In 2002, for the same offices, there were 41 statewide candidates who filed–46% fewer candidates than in 2010–but 19.6% of those 2002 candidates, or 10, were women.

In 2010, the 6 lonely gals are:

• Lisa Madigan, Attorney General (D-Chicag0)
• Judy Baar Topinka, Comptroller (R-Riverside)
• R. Erika Schafer, Comptroller (G-Chicago)
• Robin Kelly, Treasurer (D-Matteson)
• Cheryle Jackson, U.S. Senate (D-Chicago)
• Kathleen Thomas, U.S. Senate (R-Springfield)

What’s up with that?

Pat Quinn Appoints Alexander Rorke, John Spring Co-Chairs of New Illinois Economic Recovery Commission

Governor Pat Quinn

(Chicago, IL) – October 31, 2009. Governor Pat Quinn today named  35 Illinois professionals to the newly-formed Economic Recovery Commission, a panel charged with providing  guidance to Quinn to address the Illinois economic crisis.

“The Economic Recovery Commission will help develop strategies to improve the state’s economic climate,” said Quinn in a press release.

The Economic Recovery Commission consists of Illinois citizens with experience in business, academia, finance, non-profit administration and government.

Quinn named Alexander I. Rorke and John A. Spring as co-chairs of the Commission.

Rorke, of Evanston, is an investment banker with experience working with state and local governments, start up companies and civic organizations. Spring is the Mayor of Quincy. A longtime community activist, Spring was also a school administrator.

This Commission–among the blizzard of new state boards, commissions, panels, task forces, advisory councils empaneled by Quinn during his 10-month tenure–will provide independent, non-partisan information and economic advice to Quinn.

Topic areas include:

• Infrastructure
• Innovation Sustainability
• Global markets
• Education
• Government.

The Commission with submit a report outlining its findings and recommendations to Governor Quinn on or before March 31, 2010.

The first meeting of the Commission will be Monday, November 2, 2009, at 2 p.m. in room 2-025 at the James R. Thompson Center and in the lobby theater at the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity at 620 East Adams Street in Springfield.

Among the avalanche and maze of newly-created advisory groups, the economic recovery panel–if it works as intended and produces independent recommendations that may be at odds with Quinn’s political imperatives–is one of Quinn’s better inventions.

However, Quinn may soon need to appoint a new panel–The Commission on Keeping Track of New Commissions.

Carol Adams Declines Pat Quinn’s Offer of South Africa Trade Post after AP Reports “No Work Product” from Ex-Chauffeur

Ex-DHS Secretary Carol Adams

(Chicago, IL) — October 31, 2009. Former Illinois Department Human Services Secretary Carol Adams has reversed gears on the Illinois trade representative job in South Africa offered to her by Governor Pat Quinn. She quit.

The Chicago Tribune’s Monique Garcia reports today.

Carol Adams, a former Illinois Department of Human Services secretary, sent Quinn’s office a letter Friday saying she could not accept the job, explaining, “Pressing family medical issues make my relocation to South Africa prohibitive.

Adams’ tenure at DHS came under renewed fire just this week when her former agency revealed that the her state chauffeur performed no other state work, contradicting Adams’ earlier assertions.

The AP’s political reporter, John O’Connor, broke the story–and apparently broke Adams’ chances to hang on to the $110,000 per year trade post:

The Illinois Department of Human Services says it has no evidence that two highly paid ex-employees did any work other than acting as chauffeurs, a position that contradicts earlier statements by former Secretary Carol Adams.

Adams, recently appointed by Gov. Pat Quinn to an international trade post, claimed the two men did more than drive her and her chief of staff when lawmakers questioned her about the matter two years ago. However, she refused to prove it by releasing examples of the men’s other work.

Now, after another request from The Associated Press, Adams’ agency said there’s nothing to release. No work products exist.

Ah, huh.

Either no one at DHS reported that itsy-bitsy nugget to Quinn before he tapped Adams to the high-profile, cushy trade post or Quinn knew and appointed her anyway under pressure from key lawmakers. Either way, it’s a botched, mishandled mess.

Adams claims she has a new job lined up.

Illinois 2010 Elections: Greg Hinz Zaps Terry O’Brian on Water Business Conflcits–Andy Shaw, Todd Connor Pounce

(Chicago, IL) — October 30, 2009. Crain’s political columnist Greg Hinz today zinged Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) President Terry O’Brian on his blog over a perceived whopper of a conflict of interest which is likely to draw blood–O’Brian’s.

From Hinz’s column:

… Terry O’Brien’s job is to maintain the safety of the region’s drinking water by reining in big polluters and making sure their waste is properly treated.

As 50% owner of an environmental consulting firm, the same Mr. O’Brien’s job is to make life as easy as possible for his dozens of corporate clients, some of them heavy polluters. As his corporate Web site puts it in bold-face type, “Our first priority is to our clients.”

Bam.

Hinz drew in Better Government Association Executive Director Andy Shaw for the skewering:

“It’s an outrageous conflict of interest and a dereliction of duty for the head of an agency responsible for ensuring that we have clean water to drink and play in, to work for a company that protects the polluters,” Mr. Shaw said.  “It’s ‘dirty’ politics, literally and figuratively.”

Hinz’s column has already prompted a reform MWRD commissioner candidate Todd Connor to pounce on O’Brian’s business dealings.

“As an agency that spends more money than the CTA, $1.6 billion, represents 5-10% of our property taxes, and has our public health and environment at stake, we need leaders that are solely focused on the public’s interest,” said Connor.

Translation: O’Brian should not be focused on his personal financial interests.

O’Brian is a candidate in the 2010 Democratic primary for Cook County Board President to replace Todd Stroger.

The sludge just flows in all sorts of directions.

Illinois 2010 Elections: Julie Hamos Votes “No” on New Campaign Contribution Limits Bill–Says “Not campaign finance reform… Campaign Finance Redistribution”

State Rep. Julie Hamos

(Springfield, IL) — October 30, 2009. U.S. 10th CD Democratic candidate and State Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston) yesterday voted against state legislation, Senate Bill 1466, to cap campaign contributions to Illinois political candidates.

In a statement Hamos said:

“I am a staunch supporter of campaign finance reform and I have fought for it my entire career in the General Assembly.  Sadly, Senate Bill 1466 that passed last night is not campaign finance reform. This is campaign finance redistribution – more money, power, and control into the hands of political leaders in Springfield. Our state laws should mirror federal laws that limit contributions and require full disclosure from donors. Anything else is just business as usual.”

Ouch.

Most Illinois House Democrats voted for the bill.

For the first time Illinois–one of only five state without contribution limits–would have limits on the amount of money contributed to political campaigns.

“Setting limits on contributions to political campaigns will be an important step in bringing meaningful reform to Illinois,” said George Ranney, a co-chair of CHANGE Illinois! and President & CEO of Chicago Metropolis 2020.

The bill is not perfect. It imposes no caps on party contributions during general elections. That’s the likely rub for Hamos. And the vote–a “yes” or “no”–could cause her some grief in her battle for the Democratic nomination against Dan Seals for the U.S. House seat being vacated by Mark Kirk.

No one said it would be easy.

Jeff Schoenberg Gives Final Legislative Push to Capture $1 Billion for Illinois Hospitals, Overdue Health Bills

State Senator Jeff Schoenberg

(Springfield, IL) — October 30, 2009. State Senator Jeff Schoenberg (D-Evanston) is on the verge of successfully pushing legislation through the Illinois Senate today that could draw $1.15 billion in new federal Medicaid dollars to Illinois to help local hospitals and provide relief to the state’s beleaguered budget.

The legislation, House Bill 542, was approved this morning, Friday, by the full Senate 59-0, according to Schoenberg, who is hopeful the measure will land on the Governor Pat Quinn’s desk by day’s end.

“After a week of manic shuttle diplomacy [at] the State Capitol, my legislation which will snag Illinois an additional $1.15 billion in new federal Medicaid funds to play off outstanding healthcare bills and inject new resources into the state’s hospitals is queued up to land on the Governor’s desk,” wrote Schoenberg on his Facebook page, “by the time I ‘m home for dinner tonight.”

In addition to Schoenberg, sponsors include State Senators: Mattie Hunter, Susan Garrett, and Jacqueline Collins.

The bill heads back to the House for a final vote expected today.

The Illinois House had approved the bill 61-55-01 earlier this year on March 11. State Reps. Dan Reitz and Lou Lang were the House sponsors.

Illinois Politics: “This will create omnipotent leaders, caucus leaders and party bosses in … Illinois,” Rep. Michael Tryon–Really?

State Rep. Michael Tryon

(Chicago, IL) — October 30, 2009. You gotta love the irony of Illinois politics.

“This will create omnipotent leaders, caucus leaders and party bosses in the state of Illinois,” said Rep. Michael Tryon, (R-Crystal Lake).

“Create” omnipotent leaders?  Ah, Earth to Rep. Tyryon–the legislature already has omnipotent leaders. And you’re serving under one of them.

Tryon was denouncing legislation, Senate Bill 1466, capping campaign contributions to Illinois politicians–which House Republicans voted against in mass–at the best of his “omnipotent, caucus leader, and party boss” — House Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Owsego).

Do you think the irony of Tryon’s tirade and “no” vote against bossism–at the request of his boss–crossed his mind for one, shining, split-pea second? Nah.

The campaign finance bill caps donations from political parties and legislative leaders during primary election campaigns and imposes no party caps for general elections.

Leader Cross will, of course, be sending House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago), who sponsored the bill, a thank you note.

The House voted 66-49 mostly along partisan lines.  The Senate will likely vote today, Friday.

Under the bill, individual campaign contributions to a candidate’s political committee would be capped at $5,000, corporations, labor unions or associations would be limited to $10,000a, candidate political committee would be sealed at $50,000.

This is progress. There are no shortage of individual contributions at $10,000, $20,000 and $50,000. Now–under this bill–those super-sized donations are history. Poof.

In addition to Madigan, House sponsors included State Reps: Kevin McCarthy, Eddie Jackson., Linda Chapa LaVia, Jack McGuire, Mary Flowers, Al Riley, Edward Acevedo, Toni Berrios, Elizabeth Hernandez, newly-appointed Carol Sente and Eddie Washington.

If the measure passes the Senate, Governor Pat Quinn is expected to sign the legislation.

The Chicago Tribune, as if on cue and as expected, denounced the bill. Oh, well.

Video of Speaker Madigan on the bill, courtesy of Rich Miller’s Capitol Fax:

New Pew Poll: Fox News Most Ideological Network and 14% Say It Is “Mostly Liberal”

(Chicago, IL) — October 30, 2009. From the Department of No Big Surprise, Fox News is viewed as the most ideological of the news networks, according to a new Pew Research Center poll.

Gosh, really? They paid money for that bit of a priori bit of information?

But Pew needed its poll for this a posteriori nugget:  14% of Americans think Fox is “mostly liberal”. Under which rock did they find those people?

Anywho. Here’s a snap shot of the Pew poll:

The Fox News Channel is viewed by Americans in more ideological terms than other television news networks. And while the public is evenly divided in its view of hosts of cable news programs having strong political opinions, more Fox News viewers see this as a good thing than as a bad thing.

Nearly half of Americans (47%) say they think of Fox News as “mostly conservative,” 14% say it is “mostly liberal,” and 24% say it is “neither in particular.” Opinion about the ideological orientation of other TV news outlets is more mixed: while many view CNN and the three broadcast networks as mostly liberal, about the same percentages say they are neither in particular.

However, somewhat more say MSNBC is mostly liberal than say it is neither in particular, by 36% to 27%.

Illinois 2010 Elections: Water Reclamation District Candidate Todd Connor Files 22,000 Petition Signatures

Todd Connor

(Chicago, IL) — October 29, 2009. Democratic Metropolitan Water Reclamation District candidate Todd Connor filed his nominating petitions on Monday with a whopping 22,000 signatures–a move that will undoubtedly grab the attention of Cook County political insiders.

Candidates for this under-the-radar office need 7,981 signatures–more than required for a gubernatorial candidacy.

Connor, 31, a Progressive Democrat and first-time candidate, was unable to secure official backing from the Cook County Democrat Party regulars but pulled-off an impressive party-like petition drive that will put the slated candidates on notice.

“This grass roots effort highlights the hardworking, energized nature of my campaign.  We are educating voters and talking about new ideas … ,” said Connor, a former Navy officer and Illinois Inspector General.

The Cook County Democrats slated incumbent commissioners Barbara McGowan and Mariyana Spyropoulus and newcomer Michael Alvarez.

Backing Connor is an impressive list of progressive politicians: Alderman Toni Preckwinkle (D-4th), U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky, State Senator Jeff Schoenberg (D-Evanston), State Senator Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest), State Senator Heather Steans (D-Chicago), Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer (D-Chicago) State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago), Alderman Tom Tunney (D-44th), former State Senator Carol Ronen (D-Chicago), State Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago), Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin (D-Evanston), Northfield Township Committeeman Mike Kreloff, Cook County Commissioner Roberto Moldonado (D-Chicago).

Ditto the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund.

Keep both eyes on Connor.

Illinois Elections 2010: Pat Quinn’s Poll Numbers Sink; Dan Hynes Endorsements, Ad Buys Grow–and Questions that Hynes May Drop Out Drop Off

Comptroller Dan Hynes

(Chicago, IL) — October 28, 2009. Oh, how a few weeks can rewrite the political narrative.

Governor Pat Quinn’s job disapproval ratings have hit 53% and his approval ratings have skidded to 45%, according to a new Rasmussen poll in the Illinois 2010 governor’s race.

Meanwhile, Quinn’s primary opponent, Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes, upped his TV ad buys to more than $1 million, got endorsed on Monday by the state council of electrical union workers, and on Tuesday snagged the pipe trades unions.

Voilà. A new political day.

A few weeks ago, questions began to bubble on whether Hynes would or should drop out of the race against Quinn. The Governor was on a roll. He was piling up key endorsements, such as the Cook County Democratic Party, the union-heavy weight Teamsters and SEIU, and high profile progressives, like U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky.

No more. The “will Hynes drop out?” questions have dropped off. Gone.

Quinn’s poll numbers have dived while Hynes’ ad buys have increased and endorsements grown. Hynes has no incentive to bug out. Droplets of Quinn’s blood are in the water. And by splurging on his recently retooled ads, Hynes is clearly signaling he’s in the race to stay.

And Hynes’ union allies are drawing more blood from Quinn.

Governor Pat Quinn

Ken Lambert, the chairman of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers state conference, said in a statement on Monday: “When Gov. Quinn had the opportunity to create jobs, he showed he’d rather play politics, and people’s livelihoods suffered for it.”

Ouch.

But Quinn has shown more political deftness in this campaign than many long-time insiders were willing to concede. And it shows. The Governor has been raising oodles of campaign cash, pinching key endorsements, dashing higgledy-piggledy across the state to both official and campaign events, and nearly matching Hynes’ TV buys. Not too shabby.

It’s still Quinn’s race to lose.

He has the incumbency. He has a personal charm that oozes every-man-on-street. He’ll have the money.

But he also has a death-spiral Illinois budget on his hands. In fact, yesterday, he told House Speaker Michael Madigan, House Minority Leader Tom Cross, Senate President John Cullerton, and Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno that he plans to borrow $1 billion more to pay the aging, unwanted, and unpaid stack of bills to vendors. Quinn also borrowed $1 billion in the summer. And the $2 billion borrowed has to be repaid by summer 2010. Good luck on that.

Moreover he has an income tax proposal–raising Illinois’ regressive flat income tax from 3% to 4.5%–lashed to his back that 65% of Illinois voters dislike, according to a recent poll by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University.

Quinn can win the primary–but Hynes will make him pay for it. And Hynes will stay in the race. Bet on it.

Meanwhile, fire up the popcorn, campers.

AFSCME Council 31 Helps Debunk the “Bloated Waste” of Illinois Government Claim; New Census Data Points to State-Employee Head Count Drop

(Chicago, IL) — October 28, 2009. The claim–usually bellowing from Illinois Republicans–that Illinois state government suffers from bloat–R.I.P.

The U.S. Census Bureau’s annual survey of state government employment shows that Illinois has the nation’s fewest state employees per capita—54 state employees per 10,000 residents, a figure 36 percent below the national average of 85 state employees per 10,000 residents.

As recently as 2002, Illinois maintained a ratio of 70 state workers per 10,000 population.

Not anymore.

Compared to every other state Illinois and the Illinois budget is bare bones operation–and it shows. The bones are protruding from the corpse, er, body.

“Fixing the state’s broken budget is the only way to restore essential state services like public safety, child protection and care for the disabled,” AFSCME Council 31 executive director Henry Bayer said in a press release yesterday.

“We need comprehensive tax reform like House Bill 174 to raise adequate revenue and rebuild these vital services.”

All following figures expressed as full-time equivalent non-education state employees per 10,000 residents, except where noted

All states average, 2008 – 85

Illinois – 54

Ten Least-Staffed Nationwide, 2008

• Illinois – 54
• Indiana – 54
• Wisconsin – 60
• Ohio – 62
• Arizona – 63
• Colorado – 63
• California – 65
• Nevada – 68
• Florida – 70
• Michigan – 70
• Texas – 70

Ten Least-Staffed, 2002

• Indiana – 60
• Ohio – 60
• Colorado – 63
• Wisconsin – 65
• California – 68
• Arizona – 69
• Illinois – 70
• Michigan – 72
• Nevada – 72
• Minnesota – 76

Sharpest Cut, 2002-2008 [Percentage]

• Illinois – (-22.8%)
• Idaho – (-12.8%)
• South Carolina – (-12.5%)
• Indiana – (-11.2%)
• Texas – (-10.3%)
• Kentucky – (-9.8%)
• Florida – (-9.3%)
• Nebraska – (-8.5%)
• Georgia – (-8.4%)
• Maryland – (-8.3%)

2008 State Employment, Illinois and Neighboring States

• Illinois – 54
• Indiana – 54
• Wisconsin – 60
• Michigan – 70
• Minnesota – 75
• Iowa – 94
• Missouri – 101
• Kentucky – 102

Underlying analysis available by request to alindall@afscme31.org. Comparisons derived from US Census data by government function for each state government.  Figures for 2008 released 10-26-09 at http://www2.census.gov/govs/apes/08stall.xls. Figures for previous years accessed via http://harvester.census.gov/datadissem/. US Census population estimates at http://www.census.gov/popest/states/tables/NST-EST2008-01.xls.

Next time you hear an Illinois politician claim that state government has to cut the fat ask him–or her–to step out of the buffet line and politely say–liar.

Pat Quinn Tells Madigan, Cross, Cullerton and Radogno He’s Borrowing $1 Billion More to Bail Out Illinois Budget

(Springfield, IL) — October 29, 2009. Governor Pat Quinn today told House Speaker Michael Madigan, House Minority Tom Cross, Senate President John Cullerton, and Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno that he plans to borrow another $1 billion to help pay the state bills, the State Journal-Register’s Ryan Keith reports.

With budget problems climbing, Gov. Pat Quinn says he’ll need to borrow another $1 billion soon to keep state government running this winter.

Quinn emerged from a meeting today with legislative leaders saying he’s looking at another short-term borrowing plan to keep up government’s liquidity – having enough money to pay its bills – between November and February, when tax revenues are traditionally slowest.

Quinn borrowed $1 billion during summer to keep the lights on. The $2 billion must be paid back to banks by the end of the state fiscal year on June 30. Good luck with that.

Watch. Illinois will need a loan to pay the loan, because the probability that the legislature will raise the income tax this spring to prop up the Illinois budget are close to zippo.

Illinois 2010 Elections–1st Illinois Gay vs. Lesbian Democratic Primary Contest: Joe Laiacona Files Petitions to Challenge State Rep. Deb Mell

Joe Laiacona

(Chicago, IL) — October 27, 2009. It’s gotta be first in Illinois politics.

If his nominating petitions survive a potential challenge, openly gay state representative candidate Joe Laiacona will take on Illinois’ first openly lesbian lawmaker State Rep. Deb Mell (D-Chicago) in February 2, 2010 Democratic primary.

This would be the first Illinois primary election in which two openly gay candidates squared-off against each other exclusively in an Illinois state legislative race–or in any other Illinois race for that matter.

Both candidates filed their petitions in Springfield on Monday at 8:00 a.m. By 3:59 p.m., Laiacona’s petitions had already been examined and copied for a potential challenge.

Laiacona, a father of two daughters and a former Catholic Seminarian, is a part-time instructor at Columbia College. He also is facing an uphill struggle.

Mell, who is currently serving her first term, has the advantage of incumbency; she has made no job-threatening gaffes in her tenure; and she has carefully looked-out for her constituent interests in Springfield. And she’s no slouch on the campaign trail. Additionally, Mell has her father–Alderman Richard Mell (D-33)–and his formidable political operation behind her.

Mell will be extremely tough to beat.

But it will be fun to watch.

Illinois 2010 Elections–Money Trail: Julie Hamos Hauls in a Bundle–of New Friends; Mell, Biss, and Smith

(Chicago, IL) — October 26, 2009. From the Illinois 2010 elections money trail …

… State Representative Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) co-hosted a Democratic fund-raising brunch for IL 10th CD candidate Julie Hamos with Charles Stanford and Bob Messerly at their sprawling, swank home in Chicago’s East Lakeview neighborhood on Sunday, October 25.

The early head count was for 18-20 people–and nearly 70 Prada-heeled swells showed with checks in hand for Hamos.

Also mixing in the room were State Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago), State Rep. Deb Mell (D-Chicago), Water Reclamation District Commissioner Debra Shore, former Deputy Cook County Clerk Brandon Neese, and State Rep. candidate Ed Mullen who’s seeking the departing State Rep. John Fritchey’s seat on Chicago’s north side.

Meanwhile, Hamos has a new health care video out …

… Deb Mell raked-in some campaign cash at Chief O’Neill’s restaurant in Chicago on Thursday night, October 22.

… Democratic State Rep. candidate Daniel Biss, who is seeking the seat being vacated by Beth Coulson (R-Glenview) in Chicago’s north suburbs, is looking to scoop up some dough at Hackney’s on Lake in Glenview on Sunday, November 1. U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky is the special guest.

… Evanston Alderman Mark Tendam and attorney Neil Moglin are hosting private event in their Evanston home on Friday, October 30 for State Rep. candidate Jeff Smith who seeking Hamos’ state House seat.

Illinois 2010 Elections–Hamos Successor: Gabel, Keenan-Devlin, Kelly, Moran and Smith File Petitions for Illinois House

(Chicago, IL) — October 26, 2009. In the race to succeed State Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston), who is giving up her state house seat on Chicago’s north shore to run for the Congressional seat being vacated by Mark Kirk, five Democrats filed nominating petitions early this morning.

Diving head-first into the race are: Robyn Gabel, Patrick Keenan-Devlin, Eamon Kelly, Edmund Moran, and Jeff Smith. All candidates are from Evanston.

Stay tuned.

Illinois 2010 Elections–Fritchey Successor: Dan Farley, Ed Mullen File Petitions for IL House

(Chicago, IL) — October 26, 2009. In the race to succeed State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago), who is giving up his seat on Chicago’s north side to run for the Cook County Board, two Democrats filed nominating petitions early this morning, Dan Farley and Ed Mullen.

Farley is the son of former State Senator Bruce Farley (D-Chicago) and is backed by Chicago Alderman Gene Schulter (D-47). Mullen, an attorney and an openly gay candidate, filed 1,500 signatures, three times the minimum to access the ballot.

Lobbyist Ann Williams, a former staffer to House Speaker Michael Madigan and Attorney General Lisa Madigan, is also expected to join the race.

Illinois 2010 Elections-Lt. Governor: Cole, Plummer, Tracy, White, Hendon, Link and Turner

(Springfield, IL) — October 26, 2009. Today seven candidates filed nominating petitions to run for Illinois Lt. Governor in 2010:

Brad Cole, (R-Carbondale).

Jason Plummer, (R-Edwardsville)

Don Tracy, (R-Springfield)

Randy White, (R-Hamilton)

Rickey Hendon (D-Chicago)

Terry Link, (D-Waukegan)

Arthur Turner (D-Chicago)

State Rep. Turner’s son filed petitions for his dad’s House seat and Hendon filed to run for Danny Davis’ Congressional seat. Hendon is unlikely to remain in the Lite Guv race.

Stay tuned.

Pat Quinn, Michelle Saddler Roll-Out New $74 Million Child Care Policy

Governor Pat Quinn

(Chicago, IL) — October 21, 2009. Governor Pat Quinn and Michelle Saddler, Secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services, yesterday rolled-out a new $74 million child care policy to help low-income working parents, expanding child care to more than 3,000 kids.

The new policy, which was unveiled at El Valor in Pilsen Little Village, is being implemented with $74 million in one-time child care funding through President Barack Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

The Quinn Administration will use the new federal money to:

• Reduce the share of their co-payment by 15 percent. Families are required to share the cost and are assessed a co-payment based on family size, income and number of children in care.

• Extend time allowed for job search from 30 to 90 days for currently enrolled families.

• Maintain enrollment in the Illinois Child Care Assistance Program open for families needing child care to help avoid a waiting list.

• Help to improve quality of programs caring for children from birth to the age of three by enabling the state to create a statewide network of Infant Toddler Specialists.

“These ARRA funds will help parents keep their jobs and continue to provide for their families during these tough economic times,” said Secretary Saddler.

According to Quinn’s press release, the new money will allow the state to serve more families despite the tight state budget, totaling approximately 1,500 families.

The federal money will be received as a supplemental allocation to Saddler’s agency and will run through September of 2011. After September 2011?

It’s hard to imagine that the Quinn Administration–or a subsequent administration–withdrawing the child care benefits after the federal dough runs out. Cue “budget crisis” for the program on October 1, 2011.

The state Child Care Assistance Program provides help to more than 90,000 low-income, working families.

Illinois 2010 Elections: New Poll Says Dan Hynes Beating “Someone Else” by 2% points; Quinn, Jackson, Giannoulias, Hoffman, Obama, Schoenberg, Schroeder, Dunkin, Proft, Dillard, Brady, Schillerstrom, Andrzejewski, and Preckwinkle

Comptroller Dan Hynes

(Chicago, IL) — October 21, 2009. From the Illinois 2010 candidate and cow-pie trail…

… Yesterday Comptroller Dan Hynes‘ campaign manager, Michael Rendina, sent an e-mail yesterday regarding a new poll in the Illinois 2010 Democratic primary for Governor: “Just last week the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute released an independent poll that showed … Dan had the highest job approval rating among all Illinois elected officials at 82 percent.”

What Rendina left unmentioned was what the Institute’s press release noted, “However, that rating masks Hynes’ low name recognition’ 41% of those surveyed were unable to offer a job approval rating.”

The Simon Institute poll did reveal Hynes is beating “Someone Else” 16.5% to 14.2%. However, Pat Quinn is leading both Hynes and “Someone Else” with 33.9%. And “Don’t Know” is beating ‘em all with 35.4%.

… Hynes released a testimonial TV ad on Sunday, which included former U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson. Unlike Hynes’ first ad release, this one well done and gyrates with some energy. Take a look:

… Another candidate promoting a poll in which said candidate is losing the race is U.S. Senate hopeful Cheryle Jackson. Like Hynes, Jackson’s campaign manager, Rodney Shelton, also yesterday e-mailed supporters with the “good news”.

According to a new Rasmussen Reports poll in Illinois, Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) is tied with Alexi Giannoulias (D), 41% to 41%.The poll also shows Cheryle Robinson Jackson (D) in a competitive race with Kirk (R) 39% to 43%, and he tops David Hoffman (D), 43% to 33%.

Giannoulias should consider the Jackson e-mail as an “in-kind contribution” to his. Hoffman released last week his own poll which showed him losing the race–so he won’t mind Jackson’s communication.

… A new poll on Illinois’ most famous pol–Barack Obama–reveals that his job performance rating has fallen to 49% in the most recent Zogby Interactive survey, slipping below the 52% he scored late last month.

… State Senator Jeff Schoenberg (D-Evanston) is hosting pizza fundraising dinner at Union Pizzeria tonight, Wednesday, October 21st at 6pm in Evanston. Yum.

… Shaking the campaign money-tree last night was Illinois 5th District Democratic State Representative candidate Dave Schroeder, an attorney with Tribler, Orpett & Meyer, who hosted a fund-raiser at the popular gay bar Sidetrack on Chicago’s North Side. Schroeder is challenging incumbent Ken Dunkin in the Democrtic primary. The “uniquely-shaped lake-front district” starts in the 42nd Ward and runs south and runs very, very, very long …

… Union League Club Public Affairs Committee today is hosting a debate with five of 1,789 Illinois 2010 Republican candidates for Governor–Dan Proft, Kirk Dillard, Bill Brady, Bob Schillerstrom, and Adam Andrzejewski.

… Candidate for Cook County Board President, Alderman Toni Preckwinkle issued a press statement yesterday on Todd Stroger’s finger wagging at the County Hospital Board and the statement ran on and on and on and on for 309 words–about 279 words too many.

Greg Harris Pushes Public Hearing on Neurologic and Orthopedic Hospital of Chicago Closure

State Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago)

(Chicago, IL) — October 16, 2009. The impending of the closure of the Neurologic and Orthopedic Hospital of Chicago, located in the Ravenswood neighbor, prompted State Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) to request a public hearing from the Illinois Health Facilities Services and Review Board, which was held at the Sulzer Regional Library on October 9.

“This action, which occurred rather suddenly, would result in a great loss of specialized medical care to the community, the loss of around 300 jobs in a difficult economy,” Harris wrote in a recent e-mail, “and would leave a key structure vacant and deserted on the hospital campus.”

The facility wants to move its operations to the north suburban Evanston North Shore Hospital.

“At this hearing I, along with Alderman Gene Schulter (D-47th) and Senator Heather Steans (D-Chicago), voiced the opposition of the community to the closing,” said Harris.

“This sale and resulting closing is going to have a disastrous impact on our community,” Schulter said in a previous press release, reported by Lorraine Swanson at Lake Effect News.

Harris noted that residents can still submit written testimony to the state panel by 9:00 am on Nov. 12, 2009 to:

Mike Constantino, Supervisor, Project Review Section
Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board
Illinois Department of Public Health
525 W. Jefferson St., Second Floor
Springfield, IL 62761

Refer to Application 09-045

You can view the information on the application for closure here: http://www.idph.state.il.us/about/hfpb/pubhear.htm#09-045

Illinois Media Round’em Up: Dan Seals Raises $303k; Hinz, Kavlen, Conaty, McDermott, Mastony, McKinney, and Jay

Dan Seals

(Chicago, IL) — October 16, 2009. Here are some Illinois stories from the week that kept both old media and new media journalists banging away on the keys and yammering into microphones…

… Team America 10th C.D. Blog reports that Democratic 10th C.D. candidate Dans Seals has raised $303,391 in the 3rd quarter to Julie Hamos‘ $547,000. And Team America are happy campers.

… Crain’s Greg Hinz reported yesterday that Democratic U.S. Senate candidate David Hoffman released his federal income tax returns for the past five years, and they revealed reported annual adjusted gross income of $247,000 to $630,000 between 2004 and 2007. The former Inspector General of Chicago is, well, loaded — with a net worth of $2.8 to $6 million.

… Progress Illinois‘ Josh Kavlen bent his laser-like gaze on the fundamental political question in the Illinois income tax plan duel between Governor Pat Quin and Comptroller Dan Hynes that is now TV airborne.

Objectively speaking, both proposals have their merits.  The real question is: Which of these candidates can actually convince the legislature to go along? … While this debate appears on the surface to be about who has the better, fairer proposal, it’s really be about who has the ability to move their plan through the Springfield morass.  On this point, Hynes has more to prove than Quinn.

Keep in mind, Josh’s sponsor SEIU is backing Quinn, but that in no way diminishes the powerful point he’s making.

… Fox-TV Chicago’s political reporter Jack Conaty snagged a rare interview with House Speaker Michael Madigan in Springfield and Madigan sliced, diced and curried Illinois Republican legislative leaders Tom Cross and Christine Radogno for their “do nothing” approach to legislating. Ouch.

… The St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Kevin McDermott had this tale of former Missouri Governor Matt Blunt speaking in Springfield yesterday about how Illinois might increase government transparency. “Every citizen has a right to know where and how their tax money is being spent,” said Blunt.

McDermott dug out this bit of Blunt hypocrisy:

Unmentioned in the speech was an arguably related topic: The controversy over the Blunt administration’s alleged foot-dragging on providing official information contained in governmental emails.

Go home Mr. Blunt.

… Chicago Tribune reporter Colleen Mastony had a Sunday front-page story on surging alcoholism among women. It is worth a read–but with the lights on.

Her story — of a nightly glass of wine that turned into a nightly bottle and eventually four bottles a day — reflects a growing national trend: Alcoholism, once largely considered a man’s disease, has become increasingly common among women.

At her most desperate, Heather — who asked the Tribune to withhold her last name because of the stigma associated with alcoholism — was drinking around the clock, waking in the middle of the night to pour herself a glass of white wine and regularly driving her son to school while drunk. A doctor told her that she was killing herself with alcohol. She had gone to that appointment drunk; a blood test confirmed that she was over the legal limit by 8:45 a.m. And for weeks afterward, she kept drinking.

Strong stuff.

Jerry Stermer (left) and with his old friend, Pat Quinn.

… Illinois Issues’ Maureen Foertsch McKinney profiles Pat Quinn’s Chief-of-Staff Jerry Stermer in the magazine’s October 2009 issue and zeroes in on Stermer’s key challenge up-front as he walked through the office door:

After 22 years as the state’s top advocate for children, Jerry Stermer became the chief administrator in Illinois government. So instead of advocating for the expansion of child care, he was explaining why such services were in danger of being cut. As his son Dan tells it, “You’re fighting against the man, and then you get a job where you are the man, and it’s like, wait, what are you going to do?”

This is must read piece. You get a sense of the guy who is managing the circus and the tightropes on which he himself is walking while doing it.

… WSIL-TV’s Dana Jay “fact checks” the TV-ad war between Quinn and Hynes over their competing plans to increase the Illinois income tax and concludes both are fibbers by omission. Big surprise.

New Survey: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn Flop with Small Businesses

(New York, NY) — October 16, 2009. Reuters’ Ellen Wulfhorst reported on Thursday that small business owners in the U.S. have have mostly avoided social media site such as Facebook and Twitter to promote their business, according to a new survey released Thursday.

Three-quarters of small businesses say they have not found sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn helpful for generating business leads or expanding business in the past year, according to a survey conducted for Citibank Small Business of 500 U.S. businesses with fewer than 100 employees.

Also, 86 percent said they have not used social networking sites for information or business advice. Ten percent said they have sought business advice and information on expert blogs.

You then gotta wonder what Facebook and Twitter and the rest are delivering to Illinois political candidates who are signing up online every gadget imaginable? Volunteers? Votes? Cash?

Paychecks to social media consultsants?

Illinois 2010 Governor Race: Dan Hynes’ Tax Plan Would Shield Illinois Legislature, Governor from Tax Hike

Comptroller Dan Hynes

(Chicago, IL) — October 15, 2009. Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes‘ Democratic primary campaign for governor has a new income tax attack ad on Quinn airborne.

Hynes contrasts his tax plan with Governor Pat Quinn’s by noting he’ll raise taxes on Illinois incomes only over $200,000. Hynes claims that his plan will protect the middle class incomes–but that plan will also exempt the next governor and all Illinois lawmakers income from a tax hike, too.

The governor’s salary is $177,000 and lawmakers’ base salary is $67,836.

In addition, the lt. governor, treasurer, comptroller, attorney general, secretary of state, speaker of the House and president of the Senate would all be shielded from an income tax increase, too.

If Hynes ultimately were to win the governor’s office and enacts his plan, the entire Illinois governing class would be exempt from an Illinois income tax increase. Oops.

Meanwhile, Quinn’s plan, however, boosts the tax on the governor’s salary and on all constitutional officers. Quinn’s campaign spokesperson, Elizabeth Austin, notes that incomes above $60,000 would witness a “modest” increase. That includes legislators.  Phew.

Under Quinn’s plan of “shared sacrifice”, the people–lawmakers and the Governor–responsible for raising incomes taxes would feel the tax bite like everyone else. Under Hynes plan, they are exempt.

Seems a wee bit unfair, no?

You gotta imagine the quintessential populist Quinn will sooner or later point out this “contrast” between the two plans.

Meanwhile, here’s the Hynes ad.

Illinois 2010 Elections-Round’em UP: Robin Kelly Snags Halvorson; Hamos, Feigenholtz, Malkin, Hoffman, Giannoulias, Jackson, Steans, Quinn, and Hynes

Illinois Democratic Treasurer candidate Robin Kelly

(Chicago, IL) — October 15, 2009. From the Illinois 2010 candidate and cow-pie trail …

… Robin Kelly, current chief of staff to Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, added U.S. Representative Debbie Halvorson to her bulging list of endorsements to succeed Giannoulias.

… U.S. 10th CD candidate Julie Hamos and volunteers knocked on more than 1,000 doors in Mark Kirk’s congressional district during the weekend. A lot of cold, sore knuckles followed.

… State Representative Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) is co-hosting a fund-raising brunch for Hamos with Charles Stanford and Bob Messerly at their sprawling home in East Lakeview on October 25. GPS devices are recommended to find the dining room.

… Conservative columnist Michelle Malkin will be headlining the United Republican Fund’s 75th Anniversary dinner gala at the Chicago Hilton and Towers on October 22. Vegitarians beware. The menu will feature only uncooked, raw, red meat. Yum.

… Illinois U.S. Senate candidate David Hoffman’s campaign manager Michael Powell circulated a new e-mail on the results of a new poll without actually revealing the horse race results–unless you follow the trail of tears to the multiple links to a memo–which says: Alexi Giannoulias gets 26%, Cheryle Jackson 12%, Hoffman 5% and Nobody leading–55%

Why share the fact that Hoffman is dead last?

The Hoffman memo argues if–and it’s big, fat tubby if–voters hear his message then he leads: Hoffman 36%, Giannoulias 27%, Jackson 11%, and Nobody 26%. But they aren’t, and he isn’t.

State Senator Heather Steans

… State Senator Heather Steans (D-Chicago) is throwing a fund-raiser at Hamburger Mary’s in Chicago on November 10. Steans, who is facing gay activist Jim Madigan in the Democratic primary, has snagged prominent gay political types for the event’s host committee:

Political consultant and long-time fund-raiser Michael Bauer, State Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago), activist Kelly Cassidy, Howard Brown Health Center CEO Michael Cook, former City of Chicago Gay & Lesbian Liaison Mary Morten, former Deputy Cook County Clerk Brandon Neese, Chicago House President Rev. Stan Sloan, AIDS Foundation of Chicago lobbyist John Peller, and Governor Pat Quinn’s Director of the Illinois Department of Insurance Michael McRaith. Phew.

… Quinn has cleverly planned no campaign events today. Lawmakers are in Springfield today for veto session. Gotta govern.

… Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes‘ Democratic primary campaign  for governor has a new income tax attack ad on Quinn airborne. Hynes contrasts his tax plan with Quinn’s by noting he’ll raise taxes on incomes only over $200,000. Hyne’s plan will protect the middle class–and the next governor.

The governor’s salary is $177,000. If Hynes wins and enacts his plan, he’ll escape his own tax hike. Oops. Convenient. Quinn’s plan, however, boosts the tax on the governor’s salary.

Here’s the ad.

Uh, Oh–Illinois Budget has a New $900 Million Hole

(Springfield, IL) — October 14, 2009. The Associated Press is reporting that Illinois government is staring at a gaping $900 million budget hole. Yikes.

A new problem for Governor Pat Quinn and state lawmakers.

In an interview Wednesday with the Associated Press, Quinn budget director David Vaught said fixing the deficit will require more spending cuts, additional borrowing and quick action to raise income taxes early next year. Vaught said he now expects income tax revenue to be $850 million lower than projected, largely because unemployment has continued to climb.

The Illinois legislature will be back to searching between the sofa cushions for money to fix this newly sprung leak.

Mark Walker Pushes Illinois House to Strip Todd Stroger of 4/5th Veto Override Power

State Rep. Mark Walker

(Springfield, IL) — October 14, 2009. The Illinois House today voted 95-18-2 to strip Cook County President Todd Stroger–and future board presidents–of the 4/5th of commissioners veto override and reduce it to a more normal 3/5th.

State Rep. Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights) spearheaded the legislation, House Bill 4625, as a response to Stroger’s repeated–and successful–veto of a repeal of his increased 1% sales tax in Cook County which has infuriated tax payers–and many of those tax payers live in Walker’s suburban Cook legislative district.

Under a 4/5th rule, Stroger has been able to sustain his vetoes with a handful of loyalist commissioners.

Good job, Rep. Walker.

The legislation now moves to the Senate. Expect the bill to sprout wings in the Senate.

Illinois 2010 Elections-Round’em Up: Pat Quinn Working on CTA Crisis; Gainer, Hoffman, Connor, Proft, Smith, Stroger, Jackson, Preckwinkle, and Giannoulias

Jay Paul Deratany (left), Greg Jarvis, Governor Pat Quinn, other guests.

(Chicago, IL) — October 13, 2009. From the Illinois 2010 candidate and cow-pie trail …

… The latest installment of a CTA-threatened “doomsday” has already wormed its way onto Governor Pat Quinn’s schedule.

Before arriving at a private fund-raiser, Quinn met last night with anxious CTA bus drivers–many of whom whose routes have been targeted for reduction as part of CTA Chairman Terry Peterson’s plan to close a $300 million budget deficit–and the Governor noted it was a l-o-n-g meeting.

Mayor Richard Daley is looking to Springfield for help, but folks should expect no legislative action during the Illinois General Assembly’s fall veto session that begins today. The curtain on CTA “doomsday” skits falls the moment just before bus drivers are cleaning out their lockers and after the fat lady has passed out–and not a millisecond sooner.

Anyway, Quinn said funding college grant assistance for 138,000 students during the Spring semester–the Illinois Monetary Award Program or MAP–is his veto session priority.

… Quinn was feted by a Gucci-heeled crowd at at the Lincoln Park mansion of Chicago attorney Jay Paul Deratany, who ran for a seat on the Cook County Board of Review in 2008–a seat once held by Quinn himself.

Todd Connor

… Other candidates circulating among the progressive swells included Cook County Board Commissioner Bridget Gainer; U.S. Senate-hopeful David Hoffman, Chicago’s former Inspector General; Jeff Smith who’s angling for Julie Hamos‘ Evanston State House seat; and Todd Connor, 31, a former Navy officer and a former Illinois Inspector General, who’s looking to grab a seat on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.

Hoffman worked the crowd and left no guest’s hand unshaken and Connor left no guest unimpressed.

… Speaking of David Hoffman, he has a new poll out that says he’s losing his U.S. Senate race–but that he will win if–and a big fat, tubby if–if enough Illinois voters hear that message he’s crafted. Hope he lifted a few wallets at Quinn’s event.

… Illinois 2010 Republican Governor candidate Dan Proft yesterday blasted an email out to folks to provide “a sample of my media appearances” – and to prove his campaign–slumbering in single-digit polling purgatory–still has a pulse.

… Yesterday, a group of African-American ministers answered Todd Stroger’ prayer and endorsed him for Cook County Board President. Now if Stroger can attach a wing to that prayer–he may have a holy ghost of a chance.

Afterward, primary opponent Alderman Toni Preckwinkle issued a statement saying: “The County includes African-Americans, Latinos, Asians, people of European descent … This isn’t an African-American primary, this is a Democratic primary.” True. But a candidate needs to build a coalition among these groups, Alderman.

… Illinois 2010 U.S. Senate-hopeful Cheryle Jackson reports raising $355,000 for her late-start bid to capture Barack Obama’s former Senate seat. That’s some serious scratch. A couple million more and–bingo–she’s in the hunt.

… Jackson’s Illinois U.S. Senate opponent in the Democratic primary Alexi Giannoulias appeared on CNBC to discuss his plan to rein in debt settlement companies, those good samaritans with the late-night commercials that promise to clean credit problems and really only clean your wallet.

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Illinois 2010 Republican Primary-Governor: Jim Edgar Endorses Kirk Dillard

(Chicago, IL) — October 12, 2009. As expected, the wildly popular and mildly successful former Republican Governor Jim Edgar today endorsed his former chief-of-staff, State Senator Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale), in the Illinois 2010 Republican primary for governor.

Good news for Dillard.

The Illini Pundit–a Dillard booster–has the details …