Archive for August, 2009
August 31st, 2009
I won’t comment about the contents of the book because I haven’t read it yet, but I was trying to figure out the cover. I’m guessing that’s suppose to be tear, but I thought it might be a rope as in they tried to hang the guy. If it’s a tear, I don’t understand why Blago would want it to look as if the cover was torn.
Maybe it’s a noodle. Maybe it’s a spine as in “I have the backbone to tell the truth.” Maybe someone out there can enlighten me.
And why only three-quarters of his face? Is it because the book is only three-quarters true? And what’s with the title? “The Governor” seems pretty bland. There are 50 folks who could use that title, including the man who replaced Blago, Pat Quinn.
You can read a little about the book HERE.
August 26th, 2009
Rockford’s library budget problems are not unique. I just read this story on the Peoria Journal-Star’s Web site about the financial challenges the Peoria library faces. Peoria library folks aren’t cutting as much as Rockford, but it’s still a pretty good chunk of money.
At least things aren’t as bad as they are in Seattle, where the libraries will be closed for a week to deal with money matters. Read about that HERE.
Other communities also are stuggling with library finances. I found this story from ConnPost.com interesting.
August 26th, 2009
Would you be willing to pay to get certain items from the public library? Does everything have to be free? I’m not advocating fees, I’m just looking for your thoughts as the library struggles with its finances.
Would you be willing to pay 50 cents to rent a video? Would you be willing to pay $1 to check out the latest book? That’s pretty cheap entertainment when you consider how much it costs to rent/buy a movie from a video store or how much it costs to buy books.
All of us in the library taxing district pay for those videos and movies whether we check them out or not, so wouldn’t it make sense for the actual users to chip in a few bucks more?
My wife and I use the library a lot and I think we’ve gotten our money’s worth with the taxes we pay, but I wouldn’t object to paying a bit extra so that the library has the money to continue all the wonderful programs it has.
Again, I’m not advocating a fee structure at this time, I just want to get your thoughts.
August 24th, 2009
I found this in my inbox this morning:
Hynes Calls on Quinn to Fire EPA Director Scott
Governor’s lack of leadership, embrace of Blagojevich cronies hurts IL families
CHICAGO – Responding to today’s Chicago Tribune article highlighting the political feuds that forestalled environmental damage investigations and prosecutions, Illinois Comptroller and Democratic candidate for Governor Dan Hynes today called on Pat Quinn to exercise real leadership and move immediately to remove state EPA Director Doug Scott.
“Today’s article reminds us all that the Blagojevich culture of politically-driven decisions still has a foothold in Pat Quinn’s administration, and Illinois families are the clear victim,” Hynes said. “I am calling on the Governor immediately to dismiss Doug Scott.
Noting that Quinn told reporters today that Scott was doing “a good job” and “good work,” Hynes said:
“It is troubling enough that Governor Quinn has failed to act on this matter. I am appalled, however, that even in light of the facts revealed in the Tribune that Governor Quinn would praise Scott’s tenure in office.”
“The Governor’s inexplicable delay in removing Blagojevich appointees, from Director Scott to his budget team, prevents our state from moving forward. Governor Quinn likes to talk about making tough choices. This is not a tough choice – it’s a no-brainer,” Hynes said.
Hynes pointed out that the Governor’s missteps and shaky leadership have also left Illinois without a clear budget plan, and the University of Illinois in chaos as school is about to start.
“As with his approach to the budget, and the crisis at the University of Illinois, this is a clear example of Governor Quinn failing to lead. Public relations is not a substitute for real leadership.”
August 21st, 2009
I had a post about this on Monday, but Thursday night the Champaign County Board made the decision. Read coverage in the News-Gazette, one of my former newspapers, HERE.
August 20th, 2009
Asian carp are closer to getting into Lake Michigan than thought, this article in the Sun-Times SAYS.
I love the outdoors and have been worried about the effect these fish will have on our waters. I was on the Illinois River three years ago to see first hand how these fish can take over. In some stretches, I thought my boat was floating in a koi pond the fish were so abundant. If you revved your motor high enough, fish would clear the water and put on an acrobatic display.
These fish get big in a hurry by consuming about 40 percent of their body weight in plankton in a day. Their voracious appetites limit food supplies for other fish and wind up driving out native species. China once had more than 400 diverse species of fish. Asian carp have driven out more than 150 species and made an additional 150 species rare. The same could happen in the U.S. if the carp are not controlled.
They have no natural predators. They grow so fast, they quickly become too large to be eaten by any other fish. They are so hearty that chemicals and shocking affect them less than other fish. They reproduce in such great numbers — one female may lay 1 million to 4 million eggs — that there are too many to deal with.
These fish aren’t caught with a rod an reel. Some anglers “fish” for them with a bow and arrow. See a video HERE.
Then there’s the Redneck Fishing Tournament where participants net the fish as they fly through the air. There are commercial outfits that have been removing fish, but the fish eat so much, grow so much and reproduce so much that the supply seems endless.
These fish can and do squeeze out the fish you want to catch. I was at a symposium in Peoria a few years ago and there seemed to be few real solutions.
Keeping them out of the Great Lakes with barrier nets is important, but finding more commercial opportunities might be the key. If more people can find a way to make money off these fish, we might avoid a big problem.
August 17th, 2009
In any other state, Senate President John Cullerton’s goals would sound like a no-brainer: cooperate with the House, cooperate with the governor and cooperate with the opposing party.
But, heck, this is Illinois. So I found the Democrat’s observations refreshing.
Cullerton visited the Editorial Board this morning. First elected in 1978, he became head of the senate in January after Emil Jones retired.
He inherited a dysfunctional environment in which the House speaker and the Senate president didn’t talk. Scheduling a dinner with senators and their spouses in early February was a landmark event. “This place had become so toxic,” Cullerton said.
Cullerton is a politician skilled in explaining big concepts in simple ways. He admitted that coming into the senate prez’s job without experience on the appropriations committee was a challenge. He seems to have grasped the important stuff, which is: Operate the state like you would your household. Pay your bills on time and don’t spend what you don’t have.
Because he sees Illinois’ pension obligations as ultimately unsupportable, he favors a two-tier system in which new hires would get lower pension benefits. While gains wouldn’t be seen for two to three years, such a system could save $60 billion by around 2045. Yet, the two-tier plan did not get the needed GOP votes. “The Republicans are playing games with this one, just so you know,” Cullerton said.
We share his curiosity at how such a position helps either party gain traction with the public. “Our brand is bad, their brand is just as bad,” he said.
Other Cullerton observations:
On the constant pressure to raise money in an unsuccessful run for Congress against Dan Rostenkowski in 1994. “I asked every one I ever met for $1,000,” he said.
On being proud of how the Senate handled the impeachment trial of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. “We took it more seriously than the people who hated Blago. We took it more seriously than Blago himself.”
On the clout scandal in University of Illinois admissions: He explained how the Chicago Tribune’s statistics on which lawmakers wielded clout might be misinterpreted. Cullerton said he called the university to ask about a briliant high school student’s chances at being admitted to the engineering school at the U of I. The student had already been admitted to the University of Michigan’s engineering school. Cullerton found out the young man was on the U of I’s waiting list and probably wouldn’t move off. The student then chose Michigan. Because the student ultimately was admitted to the U of I’s general program – just not the engineering school — Cullerton’s inquiry was considered an example of wielding clout.
Sometimes, politicians are right and there is more to the story.
August 17th, 2009
Why do we elect auditors, coroners, etc? Those are jobs with specific duties and skill sets that should be decided by an HR director rather than voters. Champaign County may let voters decide whether the auditor’s position will continued to be an elected post. There are good reasons for it not to be. Read the News-Gazette’s editorial HERE.
August 13th, 2009
We have received lots of letters lately dealing with everything from health care reform to cash for clunkers to the Baby Crystal case. Our letters editor is on vacation and I’m processing them as quickly as I can. If you haven’t seen your letter in the print product, give it a few more days before you call. Thanks for understanding.
August 12th, 2009
Just talked to Winnebago County Board Chairman Scott Christiansen about his DuPage County counterpart coming to Rockford to persuade folks to opt out of video gambling.
Christiansen said he hasn’t heard from Bob Schillerstrom. You would think out of professional courtesy that Schillerstrom would first talk to Christiansen one-on-one before having a public event. (My comment, not Christiansen’s).
“I would never go into DuPage County in a public forum and try to sell my agenda,” Christiansen said.
Could the DuPage County chairman be trying to make political hay out of the video gaming issue? Schillerstrom has his eyes on running for governor. His campaign Web site, bobschillerstrom.com, had the news about the gambling ban posted almost as soon as the vote was taken.
Tom Grey once told me that being FOR gambling wouldn’t get a politician votes. I’m not sure if being against it does.
You can hear Schillerstrom for yourself at 9:30 a.m. at the Giorgi building. He’s also going to Rock Island, Peoria, Springfield and Champaign.
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