http://capitolfaxcom.disqus.com/NoneenWed, 11 Jul 2007 10:13:24 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/10/this-just-in-30/#comment-18109196<p>Maybe:</p><p>I know 16% equates to 2 million people, and I agreed that it's significant enough to have addressed (please read my previous post again).</p><p>However, it is far easier and less expensive to change the current laws we have to expand coverage to these 2 million people. If the Governor was truly serious about fixing the problem... he would be willing to compromise and get it done. But he's not... end of story.</p>unclesamWed, 11 Jul 2007 10:13:24 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/10/this-just-in-30/#comment-18109195<p>News From The GRod Bunker</p><p>EAST MOLINE, Illinois -- The Illinois governor's office fired economic development coordinator Nancy Mulcahey. She worked hard to bring new business to the Quad City area.</p><p>That move has city leaders here scratching their heads but they say the state's loss may be the Quad Cities gain. <br>A spokesperson for the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity says the agency has chosen to go in a different direction. Locally, city leaders say they were shocked.</p><p>Nancy Mulcahey worked for three and half years at the discretion of the governor. While in office, she is credited with bringing jobs and new business to the area.</p><p>Before she worked for the state she worked for Moline where she had a hand in the development of the stores on John Deere Road and John Deere Commons in downtown.</p><p>The Mayor of East Moline, John Thodos says she was instrumental in the Triumph pork plant deal and the new Fed-ex building on the old Quad City downs.</p><p>Thodos says, "I remember what it was like when she worked for Moline. She would clean our clocks. As a matter of fact, I use to tell that to the governor, we're glad she's working for you now governor because now she's working for us instead of against us."</p><p>Stan Leach, former mayor of Moline, says, "This is my opinion, this is our brilliant governor trying to get back at certain politicians in the area that have voiced negative opinions about him."</p><p>State Senator Mike Jacobs told us by phone, "When I see the governor, I will ask him directly to see if he was trying to send a message or if he was just reorganizing his staff."</p><p>Recently, both Senator Jacobs and Representative Mike Boland have not been in favor of the some of the governor's budget issues. Both told me today they do not know if Mulcahey's firing was in response to them. <br>For now, she is out of town with her family in Florida.</p><p>Mayor Thodos says he's talking with other city leaders to keep Mulcahey in economic development possibly working with the Quad City Development Group.</p>NiteCapTue, 10 Jul 2007 22:35:14 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/10/this-just-in-30/#comment-18109194<p>Did Ronen say the Democrats might pass taxes in FY09? An election year? Yes!!!!</p>TruthTue, 10 Jul 2007 21:45:21 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/10/this-just-in-30/#comment-18109193<p>Wow was the Ronen/Blaggo chorus bad....still on "Madigan is a Republican" ballad..off key, of course. Then she belched out some gibberish about taxes in FY09. Who will buy any of that and how do we get 36/71 for FY08? Good to have the Rickey/Ronen Revue back in SPI...better than the Simpsons</p>Mr. W.T. RushTue, 10 Jul 2007 20:46:54 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/10/this-just-in-30/#comment-18109192<p>as we know Rich is attempting to quash this important 1A debate....but we will fight on in the spirit of John Peter Zenger:</p><p>WMAQ-Ch. 5 reporter Amy Jacobson has negotiated her exit after video<br>surfaced showing her at a poolside gathering at the home of a man<br>whose wife's disappearance Jacobson had been covering. Updated<br>coverage:</p>GettingJonesedTue, 10 Jul 2007 20:19:02 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/10/this-just-in-30/#comment-18109191<p>Wouldn't it be funny if the House's technical problems lasted until the end of the special sessions.</p><p>For a minute, I thought the Governor's Office would drop this silly effort. But then again, we're probably talking about the goofiest governor's office in the history of Illinois.</p>NorsemanTue, 10 Jul 2007 20:04:52 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/10/this-just-in-30/#comment-18109190<p>Here's a thought on getting through to Blago.</p><p>Maybe lawmakers need to put budget realities in doggie terms, complete with bright pictures and a bold Q&amp;A ...</p><p><a href="http://firstlady.ky.gov/abby/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" title="http://firstlady.ky.gov/abby/">http://firstlady.ky.gov/abby/</a></p>DeepFriedOnAStickTue, 10 Jul 2007 19:34:36 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/10/this-just-in-30/#comment-18109189<p>Rich, per your 2:27 question: The Speaker can't call for a special session by himself. That would require an action by both the Speaker and the President.</p><p>Reader, per your question at 1:10: The motion to pick a new President would be to "re-call the chair." That is what they recently did in Texas to pick a new Senate President. I often wonder if the Senate Republicans would join together with enough Democrats to pick a new Senate President. If it works they could curry favor with him/her for a long time. But if it doesn't, President Jones would seek revenge for sure.</p>To Answer Your QuestionsTue, 10 Jul 2007 19:21:09 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/10/this-just-in-30/#comment-18109188<p>not "$2 million people"</p><p>Just "2 million people"</p>maybe?Tue, 10 Jul 2007 19:12:46 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/10/this-just-in-30/#comment-18109186<p>unclesam -</p><p>Umm... 16% of Illinois would be $2 million people.</p><p>2 million people without health insurance is a big deal.</p><p>And do a poll of people who are happy with what they pay for their health insurance - or see if it is anything more than barebones coverage?</p><p>That number gets higher very quickly.</p>maybe?Tue, 10 Jul 2007 19:12:08 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/10/this-just-in-30/#comment-18109185<p>I know Rod. I have been in many private meetings with the governor. He doesn's care about the issues. He cares about the press and winning. Anyone close to him will say the same thing. Rod Blagojevich is a master at deception. He is a politicans. Bill, that is the truth. Trust me. I know the man.</p>I know the manTue, 10 Jul 2007 19:10:31 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/10/this-just-in-30/#comment-18109184<p>Bill,</p><p>Are you aware of the latest study, published in the July 2 Crain's Chicago Business, that found only 16% of Illinoisans do not have health insurance?</p><p>16%!!! That is a far cry from a "crisis" on healthcare. Yes, it needs to be addressed, but not in some eggregious manner that the Governor is proposing.</p><p>If he truly cared about the increasing health insurance for those 16% of Illinoisans, he would work with the leaders to find a way to expand existing programs... and a much lower cost.</p><p>I truly don't believe that the Governor cares about those 16%. If he did, if he truly did, he would be working together with the leaders to find a way to get it done... not regurgitating his failed proposal.</p><p>The primary reason the Governor needs $7 billion dollars is to pay off the skyrocketing state debt (Medicaid, pensions, short-term borrowing, etc.) that is getting out of control.</p>unclesamTue, 10 Jul 2007 18:48:39 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/10/this-just-in-30/#comment-18109183<p>What the heck is a "punkinhaid"? Did I miss something here?</p>Team SleepTue, 10 Jul 2007 17:42:44 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/10/this-just-in-30/#comment-18109182<p>The revenge has started against Mike Jacobs.</p><p>The Governor fired Nancy Mulcahey. Lets start keeping track....</p>45Tue, 10 Jul 2007 17:36:12 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/10/this-just-in-30/#comment-18109181<p>I might be coming a little late to the game, but I am really starting to like and respect Giannoulias. Everything he has done since getting elected has been first class and this latest release is no different. He commends Fritchey and Hynes for their leadership. It has been a long time since any constitutional officer or leader has commended another without trying to take all the credit. Now I know he and Fritchey are close, and that is probably the reason for all the kind words, but the bottom line is he did it. Keep up the good work kid.</p>JadedTue, 10 Jul 2007 16:43:43 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/10/this-just-in-30/#comment-18109180<p>Bet now the Gov wishes Fritchey was still on vacation :) The anonymous flier stuff is pathetic.</p>AnonymousTue, 10 Jul 2007 16:05:52 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/10/this-just-in-30/#comment-18109179<p>Commonsense,<br>I agree.</p>BillTue, 10 Jul 2007 15:56:15 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/10/this-just-in-30/#comment-18109178<p>Punkinhaid is the preferred term.</p>Rich MillerTue, 10 Jul 2007 15:47:11 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/10/this-just-in-30/#comment-18109177<p>Bill: "iknow that he is very committed to adreessing the health care crisis and has offered several different options for funding that." He's offered one proposal and one funding scheme; a gross receipts tax and a three percent payroll tax...both of which were fairly soundly defeated. If you're talking about the $5 billion scheme the Governor and President Jones cooked up to tax businesses, that idea, like SB 1 and SB 5 are still in the Senate where President Jones needs to call each for a vote. Frustration is everywhere and I know you're frustrated too, Bill. But somebody has to get off the dime and move a bill or a resolution or something that says this is the current state of mind in the legislature that requires the governor to either change his plan drastically or drop it altogether for this year; pass a budget and go back to work on a developing a plan that maybe can get some support next year.</p>Commonsense in IllinoisTue, 10 Jul 2007 15:42:20 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/10/this-just-in-30/#comment-18109176<p>Ok Rich. But can we still all refer to Hoffman as Pumpkinhead?</p>JadedTue, 10 Jul 2007 15:41:45 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/10/this-just-in-30/#comment-18109175<p>Bill:<br>The "win" is what happens when the other guy loses. When we count the hundreds of votes cast again various Blaggo agenda items. <br>When it walks like a duck....<br>Rich:<br>Special Sessiom Amy seems like a super duper idea<br>Maybe we could have whole review of journalism ethics, which like military intelligence, is a complete paradox. Let's not suppress our 1A rights</p>Mr/ W.T. RushTue, 10 Jul 2007 15:39:20 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/10/this-just-in-30/#comment-18109174<p>Jaded, the answer is no.</p><p>GJ, why not ask the Speaker to convene a SS?</p>Rich MillerTue, 10 Jul 2007 15:27:26 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/10/this-just-in-30/#comment-18109173<p>Hey about a little chatter on the Fritchey idea...let's have a special session on HB1 the ethics bill that passed the House with a zillion votes and got buried in the GettingJonesed vortex.</p>GettingJonesedTue, 10 Jul 2007 15:25:16 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/10/this-just-in-30/#comment-18109172<p>Rich, Bill's comments raise a good point. If a legislator publicly refers to the governor as "insane" a "madman" or a "blithering idiot", do those become OK nicknames for him on your blog?</p>JadedTue, 10 Jul 2007 15:23:53 -0000http://capitolfax.com/2007/07/10/this-just-in-30/#comment-18109171<p>Bill,<br>What a martyr. He was mildly insulted by an old woman. It's like a crossing guard or lunchlady calling you a knucklehead. So glad we have a gladiator like Rod in the arena braving those ferocious attacks on our behalf.</p>PingbackTue, 10 Jul 2007 15:22:27 -0000