CapitolFax.com - Latest Comments in This just in…

Re: This just in…

respectful — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 14:49:27 -0000

The first two commenters and several others dismiss a convention as just as bad as the General Assembly. Yet no one would say that about the last convention ('69-70); how can cynics be so certain the next one would be a failure? I think there's a chance -- but no guarantee -- it could transcend the Springfield gridlock and adopt some overdue institutional reforms that the legislature refuses to do.

Re: This just in…

Tim — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 09:59:21 -0000

Seriously, how useless is Nix? Where the heck did Rod find her?

Re: This just in…

Bridget Dooley — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 08:56:29 -0000

Ricky Hendon rules in that video, lol.

I think the press is thinking of that movie from the 80's, "War of the Roses", with Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas.

Re: This just in…

Rob_N — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 23:57:59 -0000

Crimefighter,

We don't have a Congress for Illinois -- we have a state legislature.

And if you want to create a circus ripe for politically motivated wasting of taxpayer dollars, let us know your address so we can send you the bill every some Darrell Issa wannabe gets the brilliant idea to start a political witch-hunt ... I mean, "recall election".

As for Gray Davis, perhaps you've heard of a little company called Enron.

They don't exist anymore, in part because they were discovered to have been unethically and fraudulently manipulating California's power grid.

What was Gray Davis supposed to do? Takeover Enron's power plants as a state-run operation to keep the juice going and put a stop to Enron-induced brownouts and blackouts? From the sounds of the rest of your message I'm sure you would've loved that socialist move. (And Enron execs were pretty supportive of Ahnold, btw. Go figure.)

I could care less about Davis -- I live in Illinois, not LaLaLand. But at least I try looking up the facts before shooting my mouth off.

Re: This just in…

wndycty — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 23:01:29 -0000

On a lighter note, things haven't gotten as bad as they have in Alabama:

http://edition.cnn.com/2007...

-snip-
MONTGOMERY, Alabama (AP) -- Simmering tensions in the Alabama Senate boiled over Thursday when a Republican lawmaker punched a Democratic colleague in the head before they were pulled apart.

Republican Sen. Charles Bishop said Democratic Sen. Lowell Barron called him a "son of a [expletive]."

"I responded to his comment with my right hand," Bishop said. Alabama Public Television tape captured the punch.
-snip-

Re: This just in…

Shouldn't be this way — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 22:31:54 -0000

Craig, the smoking bill would cut off a funding source for the Gov since the GRT is dead.n The debate on the House floor today was great. The vote was even better. What bothers me so much is to hear elected officials who have submitted bills for amendments die making the peoples process die along with it. Leadership should allow discourse, a chance to talk and a chance to vote. It is very disheartening when you believe in a process and it isn't working for the people. We elected the general assembly to bring our voice to each floor. Effectively we are being disenfranchised by the Speaker and the Senate President because these amendments are not being engaged in decent debate.

Re: This just in…

Fake Bill — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 20:10:37 -0000

I liked the video of the softball game. When I heard Matt Jones was the host, I thought Emil got another relative a job. I guess I was wrong on that assumption. Did they take the cost of the uniforms and the hats out of their raises, or they were last years attire. Good to see Rich live and in motion.

Re: This just in…

Gene Parmesan — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 20:08:01 -0000

Nobody should really be surprised that Rod is bringing in Houlihan to try and expand the 7% legislation. He owes him for that sweet 1% increase he got when his neighbors received increases of 30% or more.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/...

Oh, and nevermind that pesky ol' U of I study saying 52% of residents in Cook County actually pay more in taxes as a result of 7%, or that it disproportionally helps wealthier homeowners.

Re: This just in…

muon — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 19:50:42 -0000

Some suggest that smaller scale amendments can be proposed to handle some of the desired changes that have been discussed. A check of the legislative record shows that these have indeed been proposed, often on multiple occasions. They never come up for a legislative vote, let alone go to the voters. That's the success for section 2 of Article XIV.

Section 3 of that article also provides for narrow amendments. However, these can only affect Article 4 on the Legislature.

That leaves section 1, the ConCon, clearly intended as an infrequent but useful mechanism. The delegates are not selected by the GA as has been suggested, but must be elected 2 per Senate district. The ConCon need not produce a constitution, but may create ballot questions that can be as narrow as the ConCon approves by a majority. Those questions, if any, then have to go back to voters. This seems far harder to manipulate than the process of the GA.

Re: This just in…

Peoria Pete — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 19:47:16 -0000

Someone has to point out that "War of the Roses" was a movie with Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner about the ultimate nasty divorce. I assume that's what was being referred to in the much discussed quote today.

Re: This just in…

Craig — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 19:17:05 -0000

Rich, is the Gov. ever going to sign the smoking ban into law???

Re: This just in…

Big Al — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 19:16:01 -0000

It doesn't matter how much you shuffle the cards if you keep the same deck.

Re: This just in…

Dan Johnson-Weinberger — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 18:53:17 -0000

A little late getting back to the blog, but to Yellow Dog Democrat: as a proponent of 750 and a potential recall amendment, both of which would likely generate more enthusiasm with a con-con than with the current General Assembly, why do you insist on working to close off the option that citizens enjoy to advance those two proposals you hold dear?

Re: This just in…

47th Ward — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 18:38:27 -0000

Iâ€™m not afraid of an update to the State Constitution. Sure, things could get worse after a ConCon. But I think itâ€™s also possible certain fundamental and fair changes could be made. Canâ€™t we who read this blog and spend so much time arguing over these issues suggest ways to tweak the constitution to fix some of the problems? There's a QOTD Rich.

Who knows, maybe we could finally answer the school funding question? And address the looming income/property tax questions too. Maybe merit selection of judges? Maybe township and county government reform or modernization? Could we undo the Cutback Amendment, to be specific, by creating a 177 seat unicameral house? Could we really propose fundamental changes like that?

A ConCon can do something to fix some problems that the current entrenched interests have proven they cannot. The status quo isnâ€™t getting it done for me. Yes on ConCon.

Re: This just in…

Sango Dem — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 18:36:27 -0000

More money for CTA but no action on the Ameren rate freeze...I guess the Democratic leadership isn't interested in electing any downstate Democrats anytime in the near future.

Re: This just in…

just wondering? — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 17:18:31 -0000

What about just getting things done here in Illinois and not worrying about attending meetings out side the state?
ConCon should limit the days the general assembly has to do their work.

Re: This just in…

Rich Miller — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 16:49:32 -0000

That's probably closer to the truth.

Re: This just in…

anon — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 16:47:48 -0000

council of state governments in puerto rico

Re: This just in…

Potty Mouth — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 16:39:25 -0000

reason Emil's caucus is coming back Thursday is their is a Latino national event out of state at the beginning of next week. So the reporter's theory is in error.

Re: This just in…

So Ill — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 16:37:10 -0000

My mistake, thanks. I'm in support of a ConCon just to clear up all the different types of sessions (lol)

Re: This just in…

Rich Miller — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 16:34:34 -0000

No. You can switch back and forth between special and "normal" sessions.

Re: This just in…

So Ill — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 16:27:29 -0000

Rich --

But in a special session, ALL lawmakers could consider would be the budget, right?

That'd really drive downstaters waiting for rate relief insane.

Re: This just in…

Southern Ilinois Democrat — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 16:27:03 -0000

When can we dump Emil for a leader that can think for himself? He has been an embarrassment to the Democrats this session and needs a demotion. Can't the other Senators see that?

Re: This just in…

Chicago Federales — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 15:40:39 -0000

Guess Milo won't be going to Richie's backyard barbeque this weekend. To busy circling the skies of that big state called Illinois. That's one place Fitz can't serve him with da papers.

Re: This just in…

Just Saying — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 15:23:59 -0000

Huh. Here I thought the "War of the Roses" referred to the English civil war between different factions of the same family. http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

Leave it to the press to mess up on the rare occasion when Daley makes an apt cultural comparison. :)