CapitolFax.com - Latest Comments in Senate to return, but future is uncertain

Re: Senate to return, but future is uncertain

Emily Booth — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 22:30:26 -0000

As someone who grew up with the CTA and used it as her main transportation for 20 years, that was a GREAT editorial by the Sun-Times!

Re: Senate to return, but future is uncertain

NoGiftsPlease — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 21:13:45 -0000

Do you think that casinos are a good long term strategy to solve our capital program problems? Even if we took 100% as taxes, would that equal the state's capital program needs?

Re: Senate to return, but future is uncertain

Gregor Samsa — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 18:38:43 -0000

The senate memnbers are goign to feel themheat when Madgan's road show of budget horrors takes to the streets next week.Blago's given him the best kind of ammunition.

Re: Senate to return, but future is uncertain

anon — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 18:04:10 -0000

Madigan has no one to blame but himself for the vote going down in flames. The bad thing is, he wasted the members' time.

Re: Senate to return, but future is uncertain

Arthur Andersen — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 17:27:51 -0000

I'm sorry, but when anyone from OMB whines in the paper about phony numbers, my BS meter hits the peg. Oh well, at least Ginger didn't go on vacation when it was time to get the budgetary weedwhacker out.

Bill, glad you've seen the light.

Re: Senate to return, but future is uncertain

Rich Miller — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 16:46:34 -0000

This isn't the first time he's done this.

Re: Senate to return, but future is uncertain

Shallow Pharnyx — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 16:45:47 -0000

Bill,
When did you quit drinking the koolaid? I feel an ice storm coming over the state capitol.

Re: Senate to return, but future is uncertain

Anonymous — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 16:38:30 -0000

With Bill a flippin', I expect to see the earth's magnetic poles reverse soon, and the universe begin to collapse...

Re: Senate to return, but future is uncertain

Bill — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:52:39 -0000

Rich,
Yeah, pretty much, but it is not over yet. If Emil can flip a lot so can I.

Re: Senate to return, but future is uncertain

zatoichi — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:48:12 -0000

Ginger Ostro must be dipping the kool-aid. The 2.5% for the COLA for community based develpmental disability providers ($29.3M) got cut to 1.6% ($18.3). For the average $20,000 a year prson, that is a whopping $320 a year increase. At the same time the GA and Administration picked up 13%. Yeah, there is fairness and equality there. That $320 won't be squat after paying the electric bill. For the organization they work for seeing, a 15% increase to minimum wage makes the 1.6% COLA a joke. Our local DD providers are seeing 5%-6% across the board cost increases each year for the last several years with no state rate increases even though the state decisions (min wage, electric, etc.)are driving most of the increases.

Re: Senate to return, but future is uncertain

Gone but Not Forgotten — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:36:20 -0000

McCarthy is not running for re-election and efforts are being made quietly to recruit a replacement "party endorsed" candidate.

I am not sure whether it is the Speaker's party, or the Governor's party that are doing the recruiting, or perhaps both, but the prospect exists for a divisive primary, especially if the person selected is not universally acceptable to all "interested parties".

I am not sure how this plays out; or whether or not the retiring incumbent will have any influence in selecting the "party endorsed" nominee, which could also influence the prospect for a divided primary as well.The incumbent ofice holder looks to have about $85K in the jar to be potentially made available to a candidate of his choosing; or not.

No word yet as to the recruitment of a "party endorsed" challenger from the other side of the aisle, but candidate recruitment is often made easier when there is an open seat; and a heavily contested primary on the other side.

I would not automatically conclude that this district will remain in the D column; especially given the antics of all involved this year. Racial and Township politics could also come into play when seeking a successor candidate, and the ensing divisiveness could tilt the balance in a general election towards "let's go in a new direction".

This one will be an interesting one to watch.

Re: Senate to return, but future is uncertain

Rich Miller — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:26:45 -0000

Um, Garp, where have you been? This has been an issue with AllKids since Day One.

Re: Senate to return, but future is uncertain

Garp — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:26:05 -0000

Sorry if this is too far off point but how come when I look at the State of Illinois site about All Kids the logo reads Governor Blagojevich's All Kids and when I print the application his name is all over the place? Eight seperate places. I thought pols couldn't do that anymore?

Re: Senate to return, but future is uncertain

Rich Miller — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:06:30 -0000

Bill, are you totally off the Rod Reservation now?

Re: Senate to return, but future is uncertain

Bill — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 13:54:58 -0000

Who's in charge,
Hoffman hasn't been in the Dem caucus for a long time and McCarthy apparently has joined him in the third caucus, the Rod caucus, which usually has about 5 or 6 members in the House.After this vote and his unbelievable vote on the budget, watch for Kevin to get a nice fat place at the governor's trough real soon! He's got no chance to get re-elected even if he was stupid enough to try.

Re: Senate to return, but future is uncertain

Anonymous — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 13:09:34 -0000

Question Rich ? Why are we lowering flags on all state buildings for a OHIO Congressman ? No need to post this. Just wondering ?

Re: Senate to return, but future is uncertain

Nort'sider — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 12:01:13 -0000

Who,

You're right in that the Democrats, "led" by Gov. 22 percent, have many of us pining for the Silly Party of Monty Python fame. But this isn't just, or even primarily a CTA problem, despite what lazy headline-writing copy editors have led people to believe. Pace has been dipping into its capital funds to cover operating expenses for years, and is going to raise fares on the 16th and start slashing service on the 29th without the RTA bill. Metra is the healthiest of the three services, but it, too, will start raising fares and cutting service starting next year.

This is a regional crisis. SB 572 is a regional solution that also offers more money for downstate transit systems. It provides for the reform and oversight that many legislators have said was necessary. Who cares if Gov. 22 percent is threatening a veto? Who are voters going to remember more "fondly" after all is said and done: the governor who said "My way or the highway" as transit crashed and burned, or the legislators who grew up and grew some stones to get this system fixed?

Re: Senate to return, but future is uncertain

CaseyJones — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 11:15:01 -0000

So if Superstar Forby can vote for the CTA package that must mean Jay MaGoo and the KinFolk votes (Phelps,Granberg & Reitz) can back the Hamos bill too. Add them to the vacationers and the honeymooner and we are about over the top.
TrainWreck Tom Cross does not have to swallow anything. (tee hee)

P.S. has anyone kept a list of Ginger's budget positions. there are lots and they are varied, but hey she is new

Re: Senate to return, but future is uncertain

cermak_rd — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 11:06:28 -0000

Why do some legislators object to casinos? I mean, they're just businesses that people voluntarily enter. I don't see the objection, as long as it's a transparent process who gets the license. So, it can be construed as immoral, that's noone's business but the patron; so, it's addictive to some people, so's booze, but we sell it on every street corner; so, it's something poor people do and they can't afford it, this is patronizing pure and simple--most of the poor folk I know have the judgement to decide what they can and cannot afford.

Re: Senate to return, but future is uncertain

Rich Miller — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 10:59:43 -0000

Notice at the bottom of the Ostro op-ed that the Sun-Times stood by its original editorial.

Re: Senate to return, but future is uncertain

BLAH — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 10:55:08 -0000

Issue with Ginger's Statement:
Either way you look at it, the Governor vetoed $50 million from long term care and $40 million from ambulatory care.

If he would not have vetoed that funding the additional $90 million would be there as set by the GA.

It doesn't matter if the FY 08 appropriation remains level to FY 07 - the FY 07 appropriation was increased in the GA budget for those two line items and then VETOED by the Governor.

Why is health care the only issue the Gov's office is responding to? Why isn't he saying anything about all the human service programs he cut?

Re: Senate to return, but future is uncertain

Ginger Ostro Letter — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 10:45:17 -0000

I have to take issue with Ginger Ostro's letter in the Sun Times. She claims the GA overestimated the cost of the COLA for community DD providers, and uses some word smithing to confuse the hell out of you. DHS will tell you every 1% increase for a CODB/COLA for DD providers costs 11.5 M. The budget allocated $29.3 million for a 2.5% CODB. Do the quick math. It basically undermines her argument....

Re: Senate to return, but future is uncertain

Who is in charge? — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 10:35:52 -0000

Last I checked the democrats are in charge, Hamos is a Democrat, therefore it is a democrate bill. The main problems are in Chicago, i.e. CTA. I beleive there are 66 democrats in the house. 5 Republicans voted for the bill. Whether you are using new math or old math that comes up with a veto proof majority if Madigan could hold his caucus together. Clearly he is trying to shift the blame afawy from democrats in general and him in particular.

The reality is the democrats were given a golden opportunity by the citizens of Illinois to shape government the way they wanted. They failed on all levels.