Items by Rich Miller

• Reader comments closed for the weekend

  —Capitol Fax

  * OK, that’s it for me. I kinda hope it snows this weekend around here. If it does, be safe, but enjoy it while you can. * If you’re old enough to have experienced the Golden Age of Chicago TV, then you’ll remember this one… Thumpity, thumpity, thump, thump And this [...]
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  Posted: December 18, 2009, 4:55pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• *** UPDATED x1 *** Another day, another problem, another Quinn commission

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * Wouldn’t it be easier if the governor just called in his Department of Corrections director along with the director’s team and made them explain to him why they didn’t follow his orders? Apparently not. We’ve got yet another commission. From a press release… Governor Pat Quinn today named legal and [...]
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  Posted: December 18, 2009, 2:21pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• Friday afternoon campaign roundup

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * After blasting Democrats for pandering to union interests and attempting to roadblock a deal to bring a Navistar expansion project to DuPage County, along with hundreds of high-paying jobs, Republican gubernatorial candidate Sen. Kirk Dillard has changed his mind… On Thursday, Dillard sided with a local autism school in opposing [...]
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  Posted: December 18, 2009, 1:51pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• Question of the day

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * If you were asked to nominate five people for a hypothetical “Illinoisan of the Decade” award, who would they be? Explain, please. [...]
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  Posted: December 18, 2009, 11:23am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Hynes does better than Quinn vs. Republicans, but Ryan wasn’t tested

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * As I told subscribers this morning, Rasmussen has a new poll pitting the two Democratic gubernatorial candidates against three different Republicans. Dan Hynes does better than Pat Quinn against the Republicans. The problem, though, is that for whatever reason Rasmussen didn’t test Jim Ryan against the Democrats. Bizarre. From the [...]
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  Posted: December 18, 2009, 10:49am EST
  by Rich Miller

• So far, I’m wrong

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * A coalition of human service providers held a press conference yesterday to demand that Gov. Pat Quinn, Comptroller Dan Hynes and Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias set aside their differences and approve a short-term borrowing plan to help out their most desperate members. From a press release… “There is no sign that [...]
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  Posted: December 18, 2009, 10:11am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Jackson trying to raise money for new ad

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * On Monday, Cheryle Jackson’s Democratic US Senate campaign sent out a blast e-mail to supporters touting her second place finish in the Tribune’s latest poll. The campaign asked for cash to put a new TV on the air. Yesterday, Jackson sent another blast e-mail to supporters crowing about they had [...]
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  Posted: December 18, 2009, 9:47am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)

  —Capitol Fax

  There is no excerpt because this is a protected post. [...]
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  Posted: December 18, 2009, 8:51am EST
  by Rich Miller

• More late afternoon holiday cheer music

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 2
  * The late, great Nicky Hopkins plays a holiday standard with the Jerry Garcia Band. Beautiful stuff… Are you going anywhere during the break? [...]
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  Posted: December 17, 2009, 4:10pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• Today’s campaign videos and some news updates

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * Democratic US Senate candidate David Hoffman has a new video blasting away at Alexi Giannoulias’ resumé. From a press release… The video cites numerous public reports about Giannoulias, including his irresponsible loans to convicted felons as Vice President and Chief Loan Officer at Broadway Bank; his role in putting Broadway [...]
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  Posted: December 17, 2009, 1:53pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• Question of the day

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * From a press release… The Illinois seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for November is 10.9 percent, down 0.1 percent from October, according to figures released today by the Illinois Department of Employment Security. The three-month moving average increased 0.3 percent to 10.8 percent. Slight increases and decreases in the unemployment rate are [...]
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  Posted: December 17, 2009, 12:49pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• Danny Davis endorses Dorothy Brown

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  *** UPDATE - 1:30 pm *** From a Danny Davis press release… After having been focused on the race for President of the Cook County Board for the past several months, I have come to the conclusion that Dorothy Brown is my candidate for President of the Cook County Board. During my [...]
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  Posted: December 17, 2009, 12:12pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• And the winners are…

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * Congrats to our newest Golden Horseshoe winners… 1) Best press spokesperson: Patty Schuh. The spokesperson for the Senate Republicans has been getting the job done for years. From the nominations… She has handled the job under Pate (no easy task), Watson and now continues to be available and personable. 2) Best [...]
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  Posted: December 17, 2009, 11:51am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Quinn caught in a lie

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * Yesterday, Gov. Quinn reversed himself and said he knew that the Dept. of Corrections was releasing some prisoners after just a few days in custody. Quinn wouldn’t say, however, why he halted the release program after the AP asked about it. But the governor also claimed that Corrections Director [...]
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  Posted: December 17, 2009, 11:24am EST
  by Rich Miller

• This just in…

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * 5:02 pm - Another blow to Dan Hynes’ campaign. From a press release… Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, a lifelong educator and public servant, today formally endorsed Governor Pat Quinn, citing Quinn’s long record of standing up for honesty in government, school finance reform, and veterans’ rights. “Governor Quinn [...]
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  Posted: December 16, 2009, 5:03pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• Late afternoon holiday cheer music

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 9
  * Did you think I forgot? Nope. Just distracted with actual work. The video quality ain’t that great, but the tune is awesome. Ladies and gentlemen, the Ramones… How’s your shopping going? [...]
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  Posted: December 16, 2009, 4:45pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• Oddities and ends

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * The guv has some splainin’ to do… Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn says he knew ahead of time that his Corrections Department planned to begin releasing some prisoners after just a few days behind bars. But Quinn wouldn’t explain Wednesday why he halted the practice after The Associated Press reported the [...]
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  Posted: December 16, 2009, 2:37pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• Post debate wrap-up

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * I admit that I hadn’t really thought of the Jacob Meister “gay” angle, because I figured David Hoffman’s constant claim that he’s the “only parent” in the race is directed for various reasons at the bachelor Alexi Giannoulias… Meister is offended that Hoffman, father of a 2-year-old, keeps calling himself [...]
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  Posted: December 16, 2009, 1:03pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• Question of the day

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * Our newest Golden Horseshoe winners are… 1) Best Illinois state legislator: Sen. Don Harmon. John Cullerton’s ascension to the Senate Presidency has propelled Harmon into the upper echelons of legislative power. He is a likely future Senate President himself. Harmon was an overwhelming favorite in the nominations. This one was [...]
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  Posted: December 16, 2009, 11:49am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Looking behind the headlines

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * The Tribune urges everybody, but mostly opponents of the Thomson prison sale, to “Take a deep breath” in an editorial today… But the fear mongers want no part of it. To hear them talk, Obama and Quinn are painting a big red bull’s eye on the Willis Tower, 150 [...]
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  Posted: December 16, 2009, 11:23am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Fahner falls on the McKenna grenade

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * Former Illinois Attorney General Ty Fahner has claimed full responsibility for inserting Andy McKenna’s name in a state Republican Party poll. “This was no his idea,” Fahner is quoted as saying about McKenna. The former state party chairman McKenna, you will recall, is under fire for allegedly using the poll [...]
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  Posted: December 16, 2009, 10:47am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Rush plays the race card… again

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * Here we go again. The Hill has a new story out entitled: “Race becomes an issue during campaign for Obama’s old Illinois Senate seat“… Rep. Bobby Rush claims that the “white-dominated” media are ignoring an African-American candidate running for President Obama’s old Senate seat. Rush, the inveterate race-baiter, is referring [...]
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  Posted: December 16, 2009, 10:33am EST
  by Rich Miller

• More holiday spirit

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * How can you possibly have a week of holiday videos without including José Feliciano? The answer is, you can’t. Enjoy… Prospero Ano y Felicidad What’s your all-time favorite Christmas song? [...]
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  Posted: December 15, 2009, 1:23pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• Debate roundup

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * Sen. Bill Brady tried to tack as far to the right as possible on taxes during last night’s GOP gubernatorial candidates debate… Some candidates occasionally questioned their opponents’ conservative credentials for not swearing to oppose a tax increase under all possible circumstances. “I’m the only one who will live up to [...]
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  Posted: December 15, 2009, 11:49am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Question of the day

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * Here are the winners from yesterday’s Golden Horseshoe nominations… 1) Best legislative staffer: These are the unsung heroes of the Illinois Statehouse. They do all the hard work and get no credit. It’s always tough to make this award because so many are deserving, but Melissa Black, a policy analyst [...]
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  Posted: December 15, 2009, 10:50am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Illinois politics’ mirror image is arrested in Fairview Heights

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * OK, I couldn’t resist this story for several reasons. First, I have a painting by Henry Hill and it’s pretty good. Second, I used a quote from Goodfellas in a recent Sun-Times column… The leaders’ most important job is protecting their members from election challenges by the other political party. [...]
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  Posted: December 15, 2009, 10:03am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Gitmo prisoners on the way soon

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  *** UPDATE 5 - 2:35 pm *** Fox Chicago is carrying a live presser by Quinn and Durbin. Click here to watch it live. UPDATE: End. Not much new info. *** UPDATE 4 - 2:30 pm *** From AFSCME… Following today’s developments regarding a possible sale of the Thomson [...] [...]
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  Posted: December 15, 2009, 9:48am EST
  by Rich Miller

• McKenna facing “ethics probe” by state GOP?

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * I’m not sure what, exactly, an “ethics probe” is if it’s conducted by the Illinois Republican Party, but somebody over at HQ apparently doesn’t love Andy McKenna… Sneed has learned GOP gubernatorial hopeful Andy McKenna is the target of an ethics probe by the Illinois Republican Party, which he once [...]
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  Posted: December 15, 2009, 9:15am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)

  —Capitol Fax

  There is no excerpt because this is a protected post. [...]
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  Posted: December 15, 2009, 8:44am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Cohen says he’ll spend $3 million on lite guv race

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * Yowza… Chicago businessman Scott Cohen says he will spend up to $3 million of his own fortune on his Democratic race for lieutenant governor. […] He revealed his spending plans at a Daily Herald editorial board interview today and was quickly rebuked by the three other candidates in attendance: state Sen. [...]
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  Posted: December 14, 2009, 4:21pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• Getting into the holiday spirit

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * The days are ticking down fast to Christmas, so I think I’m going to post my favorite off-beat holiday videos pretty often throughout the week. This is one of my all-time faves. Robert Earl Keen’s Merry Christmas from the Family… Fred and Rita drove from Harlingen I can’t remember how I’m [...]
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  Posted: December 14, 2009, 2:12pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• Frontrunner Ryan taking big gun heat

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * The Illinois State Rifle Association is not at all happy with Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Ryan. Ryan told the Associated Press that he would sign a “narrow” ban on the sale and possession of semiautomatic assault-style weapons… “I would sign it provided it was narrowly drawn and did not violate [...]
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  Posted: December 14, 2009, 1:04pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• Another Quinn screw-up

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * This is what happens when you are a good campaigner and a mediocre governor, and when your good campaign sensibilities don’t translate into sound governing… Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has suspended a prison program that allowed repeat drunk drivers, drug users and even people convicted of battery and weapons violations [...]
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  Posted: December 14, 2009, 12:24pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• Question of the day

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * It’s that time again. Nominations are now open for our third annual Golden Horseshoe award. Today’s categories are… 1) Best state legislative staffer 2) Best state legislative secretary/admin assistant 3) Best political bar/restaurant in Springfield (must be currently operational) 4) Best IL [...] [...]
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  Posted: December 14, 2009, 11:25am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Senate GOP polling analysis

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * So, how much of a threat is Patrick Hughes to Mark Kirk? Not much so far… Kirk 41 Thomas 3 Hughes 3 Arrington 2 Martin 2 Lowery 1 Zadek 1 Other cand. (Vol.) 1 Undecided 46 Yes, the undecideds represent 46 percent of the vote, but that 41-3 Kirk-Hughes lead is gonna be incredibly tough to overcome, to say [...]
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  Posted: December 14, 2009, 11:21am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Democratic Senate primary poll analysis

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * Let’s have a look at the Tribune’s Senate Democratic primary polls, shall we? The toplines and crosstabs are here. The news story is here. Democratic matchup… Giannoulias 31 Jackson 17 Hoffman 9 Boyd 2 Meister 1 Marshall 1 Dabney 1 Other cand. (Vol.) 3 Undecided 35 Progress Illinois compares those numbers with previous candidate polling… Meister Poll [...] [...]
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  Posted: December 14, 2009, 10:48am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Friday night polling analysis

  —Capitol Fax

  [Password protection removed, bumped up for visibility and comments opened for discussion.] * The Tribune has Gov. Pat Quinn with a big, 49-23 lead over Dan Hynes… Among the 600 likely Democratic primary voters surveyed by telephone Dec. 2-8, Quinn had the support of 49 percent to 23 percent for Hynes, [...]
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  Posted: December 12, 2009, 11:27pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• Reader comments closed for the weekend

  —Capitol Fax

  * One more week has come and gone. Not sure to be happy or what. But the weekend is here and I’m hoping for the best. Have a great one, everybody. * This is not your usual holiday video, but it’s definitely a catchy tune…. [...]
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  Posted: December 11, 2009, 4:53pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY: This just in…

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 2
  There is no excerpt because this is a protected post. [...]
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  Posted: December 11, 2009, 4:06pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• Conaty out at Fox Chicago, and other media news

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * Fox Chicago reportedly didn’t renew Jack Conaty’s contract. Conaty has been the lead political reporter at the station forever. I really like the guy, and this is another major blow to quality political journalism… Conaty’s contract was not renewed, a station spokeswoman confirmed. His last Channel 32 appearance is expected [...]
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  Posted: December 11, 2009, 2:52pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• O’Brien counters with own poll results

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * MWRD President Terry O’Brien is releasing his own polling results today in an attempt to counter the Tribune’s poll showing him in last place in the Cook County Board President’s race and trailing badly. The O’Brien poll was conducted by Cooper & Secrest November 11-17 of 605 likely Democratic primary [...]
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  Posted: December 11, 2009, 1:36pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• Rasmussen: Giannoulias pulls ahead of Kirk

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * Hot off the presses… A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Illinois voters finds Giannoulias ahead of Kirk 42% to 39%. Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate, and 15% are undecided. In October, the two men were tied at 41% each. In mid-August, Kirk held a modest 41% to 38% [...]
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  Posted: December 11, 2009, 12:04pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• Question of the day

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * My Sun-Times column this week takes a look at some of the Democratic woes… It almost goes without saying that Illinois Democrats have a whole lot of problems on their hands. They gave us Rod Blagojevich and Todd Stroger. Their state government stewardship has resulted in bone-crushing budget deficits and threats [...]
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  Posted: December 11, 2009, 11:21am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Exactly what are they hiding?

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * I’m not sure why WBEZ is being blocked from accessing some juvenile prisons where the station has eye-witness reporting that shines a negative light on the facilities, but WBEZ isn’t happy about it… You may not think what goes on in Illinois’ youth prisons affects you. Think again. Thousands of [...]
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  Posted: December 11, 2009, 3:58am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Two Republicans open the door a little to tax hikes

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * After a rough patch when he was talking about Barack Obama being a “socialist” and catering to the tea party crowd, Republican gubernatorial candidate Kirk Dillard seems to be softening his hard-line stances of late and returning to his more moderate roots. Yesterday, Dillard said at a press conference [...]
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  Posted: December 11, 2009, 3:42am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Hynes: “If that’s stability, I’d hate to see chaos”

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * The Tribune has finally uploaded the video from its editorial board “debate” between Gov. Pat Quinn and Comptroller Dan Hynes. You can watch the two-part video by going to the main editorial page and looking at the lower right side. I excerpted one pretty testy back and forth between Hynes [...]
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  Posted: December 11, 2009, 3:33am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)

  —Capitol Fax

  There is no excerpt because this is a protected post. [...]
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  Posted: December 11, 2009, 2:50am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Dorothy Brown leads in Trib poll

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 2
  [Bumped up from last night for visibility.] * A new Tribune poll is not hugely surprising… Faced with widespread voter dissatisfaction, embattled Cook County Board President Todd Stroger trails Circuit Clerk Dorothy Brown and Chicago Ald. Toni Preckwinkle in the race for the Democratic primary nomination, a Chicago Tribune/WGN-TV poll shows. Brown [...]
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  Posted: December 10, 2009, 10:38pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• Best in show so far

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * Pat Quinn’s latest Internet promo video is probably the best yet. Quinn campaign staffer Simon Edelman is underpaid, overworked and hugely talented, and he gets better all the time. Have a look… [...]
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  Posted: December 10, 2009, 4:25pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• Things that make you spit out your coffee

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * Earlier this week, somebody in the governor’s office accidentally cc’d me on an e-mail that was meant for a subordinate… Yes, it helps to email rich miller with our comments re breaking news. He’s at: capitolfax@aol.com He may or may not use. Not a friend of the house. I’ve never been [...]
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  Posted: December 10, 2009, 1:45pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• Question of the day

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * A State Journal-Register reporter is sending around an e-mail asking various folks to help them put together a piece about the most important news events of the past decade. Here’s a list of suggestions from the e-mail… Gov. Rod Blagojevich is arrested and later impeached and removed from office [...] [...]
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  Posted: December 10, 2009, 12:45pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• AP smears campaign contributors

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * An AP reporter who doesn’t appear to cover Illinois at all nonetheless gets the job of writing one of those ridiculous “where there’s even a tiny bit of smoke, there’s gotta be a raging inferno” stories about Congressman Mark Kirk… As Mark Kirk campaigns for the Senate seat once held [...]
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  Posted: December 10, 2009, 12:06pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• Planned Parenthood backs Quinn, Giannoulias; Edgar backs Coulson

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 6
  * Planned Parenthood Illinois/Action, the political arm of Planned Parenthood has announced that it has endorsed Gov. Pat Quinn. The group also endorsed Alexi Giannoulias for US Senate. Other endorsements… Mike Boland, Terry Link Rickey Hendon and Art Turner - Lt. Governor Lisa Madigan - Attorney General Jesse White - Secretary of State David Miller [...]
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  Posted: December 10, 2009, 11:18am EST
  by Rich Miller

• McKenna disagrees with own TV ad, claims deficit is less than half what ad says

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * As I mentioned to you the other day, Andy McKenna’s TV ads claim Illinois’ budget deficit is $11 billion and growing by $30 million a day. That would mean a $22 billion deficit by the beginning of next fiscal year. I asked the campaign about those figures, but never [...]
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  Posted: December 10, 2009, 10:39am EST
  by Rich Miller

• No Fedstivus for me

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * Some of you are heading to the Chicago “Fedstivus” party tonight to commemorate the Blagojevich arrest. I thought about hosting my own party, but, frankly, this is one depressing anniversary. I think I’ll just stay home and listen to some tunes, starting with this fine, but melancholic jam from [...]
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  Posted: December 09, 2009, 4:28pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• Rate Giannoulias’ new ad, rate Dillard’s new plan

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * Democratic US Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias is now running a second TV ad which builds on his first one. The new ad is called “Details.” Let’s rate the new one…. * Meanwhile, Sen. Kirk Dillard has issued a pretty detailed and interesting white paper on economic development. Step one, the [...]
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  Posted: December 09, 2009, 1:17pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• Question of the day

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * I get a lot of strange press releases every day, but this one from the National Taxpayers United of Illinois’ Jim Tobin was so far over the top that I thought I’d let you see some of what you’re missing… RACIST GOV. QUINN AND CORRUPT DANIEL HYNES USING VICIOUS ANTI-PETITION [...]
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  Posted: December 09, 2009, 11:24am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Arrestoversary roundup

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * Of all the “arrestoversary” stories today, this one truly takes the cake… As he marked the anniversary of his arrest, ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich today reasserted his innocence by autographing a copy of the U.S. Constitution with his now-infamous catchphrase, “fn golden.” The indicted politician scrawled the near-profanity on the nation’s most [...]
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  Posted: December 09, 2009, 11:22am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Budget plans unveiled, sort of

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * Lee Newspapers has more on the story about the planned state budget cuts which we discussed a bit yesterday… In addition to calling for an increase in the income tax rate, Gov. Pat Quinn is asking some of his state agencies to cut back their spending by as much as [...]
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  Posted: December 09, 2009, 10:37am EST
  by Rich Miller

• A big oops and Quinn vs. Hynes gets even testier

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * Not good timing, considering the Blagojevich “arrestoversary” and Gov. Quinn’s planned signing of the campaign reform bill today. But this does appear to be an innocent mistake… The campaign of Gov. Pat Quinn has temporarily halted making automated campaign calls after it came to light that some were going to [...]
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  Posted: December 09, 2009, 10:06am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)

  —Capitol Fax

  There is no excerpt because this is a protected post. [...]
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  Posted: December 09, 2009, 9:20am EST
  by Rich Miller

• One year later

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * I spent way too much time putting this little video together. It’s definitely not the slickest thing you’ll ever see, but I wanted to do something different for the one-year anniversary of Rod Blagojevich’s arrest. Plus, I need the editing practice. Be gentle, please. Have a look… [...]
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  Posted: December 09, 2009, 12:31am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Quinn to use arrest anniversary to sign reform bill

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 5
  [Bumped up to Wednesday because it was posted so late Tuesday.] * From Chicago Public Radio… Governor Pat Quinn will sign a bill Wednesday to cap some political donations for the first time in Illinois. When the legislature passed the campaign finance bill in October, Quinn called it “excellent,” but said he [...]
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  Posted: December 08, 2009, 6:13pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• We’re Number 2!!! - And other updates

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * Reuters expands on its story from earlier today about the Moody’s bond rating downgrade. We’re now the second-lowest rated state in the nation. Man, this is not good… The downgrade gave Illinois the second lowest U.S. state rating from Moody’s, with California having the lowest at Baa1, a Moody’s spokesman [...]
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  Posted: December 08, 2009, 2:18pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• Question of the day

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * We’re running late today because of various breaking news items, so I apologize for that. Anyway, let’s get on with it. Andy McKenna’s TV ads claim the state is “facing bankruptcy.” McKenna repeated the bankruptcy claim to Greg Hinz today… Mr. McKenna did not say how he’d persuade state workers unions [...]
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  Posted: December 08, 2009, 1:18pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• More bad budget news

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * Budget director David Vaught told Chicago Public Radio that he wants state agencies to cut 14 percent from their spending… VAUGHT: We don’t want people to, to think that this is a minor situation. It’s not. We’ve got some serious problems that involve big numbers. And so we’ve got to [...]
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  Posted: December 08, 2009, 12:47pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• State Fed neutral in guv’s race and other campaign news

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * As I’ve already told subscribers today, the Illinois AFL-CIO has decided to remain neutral in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. Hynes’ press release just arrived, so I figured it was time the rest of you heard the news… In a major rebuke to a sitting Democratic governor, particularly one who [...]
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  Posted: December 08, 2009, 12:41pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - This just in… *** UPDATED xSeveral ***

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  There is no excerpt because this is a protected post. [...]
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  Posted: December 08, 2009, 11:00am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Ryan: Tax hike now would be “criminal”

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Ryan used some extreme rhetoric when talking about tax hikes to the Tribune editorial board yesterday… Ryan, the former attorney general and DuPage County prosecutor who lost as the GOP governor nominee to Blagojevich in 2002, maintained that “to raise taxes during this recession is criminal.” Asked [...]
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  Posted: December 08, 2009, 10:32am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Rate Brady’s first ad

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * Republican gubernatorial candidate Sen. Bill Brady begins running his first TV ad today. I’m not sure yet how many points are behind it. But, let’s go ahead and rate it… [...]
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  Posted: December 08, 2009, 9:53am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Prosecutors may bring new indictments against Blagojevich

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * Not unexpected, but it’ll be fun to see what they do… Federal prosecutors are promising to bring a new indictment against former Gov. Rod Blagojevich to avoid issues connected to an appeal before the U.S. Supreme Court on the scope of the federal “honest services” statute under which Blagojevich has [...]
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  Posted: December 07, 2009, 12:26pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• Question of the day

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * The news reports on how the Chicago police came to the conclusion that Michael Scott’s death was a suicide contained an interesting little tidbit… Much of that investigation involved public surveillance cameras that recorded Michael Scott over a roughly 45-minute time period as he drove to the location along the [...]
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  Posted: December 07, 2009, 11:29am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Endorsement season kicks into high gear

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * The Sierra Club endorsed Gov. Pat Quinn the other day, but don’t expect any endorsement like that for Republican US Senate candidate Mark Kirk… Environmental groups who champion cap-and-trade say Kirk has now cost himself general election support in a decidedly Democratic state. Cap-and-trade tops their agenda and appears to [...]
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  Posted: December 07, 2009, 11:24am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Our ever-worsening budget problem

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * This is just a small example of how the state budget deficit is hurting employers… More than $80 million [in state reimbursements] is owed to 259 agencies surveyed by Metro Chicago United Way during the last fiscal year, which ended June 30. Sixty percent of the groups surveyed said they will [...]
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  Posted: December 07, 2009, 10:18am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Reform and Renewal, Part 247,968

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * Rep. Mike Zalewski (D-Chicago), the son of a Chicago alderman, was appointed to his seat last year. He has a no-name challenger, but the Machine, as usual overreacted. Somebody allegedly obtained drivers license photographs of Zalewski’s opponent and the opponent’s father to circulate door-to-door. The Zalewski folks believed that [...]
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  Posted: December 07, 2009, 9:50am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Quinn better - and worse - than expected

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * My syndicated newspaper column takes a look back at the events of last week and puts it all into the context of something I’ve been mulling for quite a while now… For the past several weeks, I’ve been confiding to friends that I think Gov. Pat Quinn has turned out [...]
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  Posted: December 07, 2009, 9:08am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)

  —Capitol Fax

  There is no excerpt because this is a protected post. [...]
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  Posted: December 07, 2009, 8:27am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Reader comments closed for the weekend

  —Capitol Fax

  * Yeesh, what a week. Glad that one’s over. The Giannoulias folks just told me that there would likely be no decision tonight on whether to approve the governor’s short-term borrowing plan, so I’m done for the day. Adriana Colindres went to Cuba like most of the rest of us Statehouse [...]
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  Posted: December 04, 2009, 5:40pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• Break-in at Blagojevich lawyers’ office

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * The easiest wisecrack is to suggest he did it himself, but I would never dare make such a suggestion. Still, it is Chicago… Chicago police are investigating a burglary at the law offices of the attorneys for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, sources said, and are trying to recover computers containing [...]
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  Posted: December 04, 2009, 3:05pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• Hynes decision at 1 o’clock

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * 12:48 pm - Comptroller Dan Hynes will announce his decision on whether to sign off on a $500 million short term state loan at 1 o’clock this afternoon. I’ll update this post shortly thereafter. While we wait, take a look at this Trib story which I missed earlier today… When Gov. [...]
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  Posted: December 04, 2009, 12:49pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• The dying media is an embarrassment and Durbin needs to be stopped

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * You’ve often seen me complain about the Peoria Journal Star’s political coverage - mainly their silly columnists who don’t seem to know much about politics. But you’ve never once seen me complain about Adriana Colindres, the PJ Star’s Statehouse bureau reporter. Colindres is top notch all the way. She’s one [...]
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  Posted: December 04, 2009, 11:44am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Question of the day

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * Democratic State Rep. Julie Hamos has a new TV ad in her race for the open 10th Congressional District seat. Take a look… * The Question: Rate it? [...]
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  Posted: December 04, 2009, 10:57am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Oops x5 and a campaign roundup

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * When you used to work for Rod Blagojevich, and you’re now running statewide, it’s probably best to make extra sure you file your ethics forms… CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery on Thursday talked with Democrat Cheryle Jackson, who completely missed a deadline several months ago to provide a list [...]
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  Posted: December 04, 2009, 10:43am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Gloom and doom and no relief in sight

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * Yesterday, House Speaker Michael Madigan disclosed one reason why he isn’t thrilled about a tax hike right now… “For those that think that tax increases are the answer, it’s a partial answer,” Madigan told an audience gathered for a panel discussion at the annual Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation meeting [...]
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  Posted: December 04, 2009, 10:01am EST
  by Rich Miller

• A brave heckler

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * More like this, please… As Daley began to speak, he quickly was interrupted by a heckler at the rear of the crowd. “What about the parking meters?” the man shouted, referring to the controversial long-term lease of city meters that sent rates soaring this year. Daley took it all in stride, [...]
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  Posted: December 04, 2009, 9:41am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)

  —Capitol Fax

  There is no excerpt because this is a protected post. [...]
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  Posted: December 04, 2009, 9:11am EST
  by Rich Miller

• This just in… IFT to endorse Hynes

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * 6:08 pm - It hasn’t been officially announced yet, but the Illinois Federation of Teachers’ executive board just voted to endorse Dan Hynes for governor. That’s a significant boost to the campaign, especially ahead of the IL AFL-CIO’s endorsement session early next week. The teachers union has been upset [...]
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  Posted: December 03, 2009, 6:09pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• This just in…

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * 4:17 pm - Mark Doyle has withdrawn from the treasurer’s race. This isn’t much of a surprise to subscribers. As I told them earlier this week, Doyle, a Democratic campaign operative, had serious petition problems. Doyle’s withdrawal leaves Robin Kelly and Justin Oberman in the Democratic primary. UPDATE: Doyle’s [...]
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  Posted: December 03, 2009, 4:20pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• Borrowing follow-up and various campaign news

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * We spent a lot of time yesterday talking about Gov. Quinn’s false claim that Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias had signed off on a $500 million short-term borrowing plan and that Dan Hynes was the lone holdout. Giannoulias hadn’t signed off and Hynes said the governor’s office changed the plan several [...]
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  Posted: December 03, 2009, 2:01pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - This just in…

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  There is no excerpt because this is a protected post. [...]
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  Posted: December 03, 2009, 12:45pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• Giannoulias up with new TV ad

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * Democratic US Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias is going up on TV for the first time. Here’s the ad… As I’ve told you, rival Democrat David Hoffman is already on the air [refresh your memory and watch it again by clicking here]. He’s reportedly spending in the neighborhood of $250K a [...]
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  Posted: December 03, 2009, 11:46am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Question of the day

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * If you’re an angry Republican and you live in the 10th Congressional District, you might love candidate Dick Green’s new TV ad… I’m not sure I’ve ever heard people repeatedly yelling “Yeah!!!” at the end of a campaign ad before, but it may be right for these “town hall” times. [...]
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  Posted: December 03, 2009, 11:06am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Heaps of praise for LIS

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * It’s not often that I praise a state entity, but one surely deserves it today. As most of you know, we started posting a whole lot of videos on the blog during session days last spring. The videos, most of which contained timely and important news, were warmly received [...]
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  Posted: December 03, 2009, 10:39am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Cullerton: No slots and tracks, will push for higher cig taxes again

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * Senate President Cullerton is turning at least an initial thumbs down on slots at tracks… The president of the Illinois Senate cast doubts Wednesday on thousands of slot machines sprouting up at Arlington Park and other horse tracks. “I don’t think there’s a need for that right now,” Chicago Democrat John [...]
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  Posted: December 03, 2009, 10:12am EST
  by Rich Miller

• New poll released in Senate Democratic primary

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * I’m not sure why anyone would release a poll that showed themselves at one percent, but whatever… To: Jacob Meister Campaign Team From: Dave Fako, Fako & Associates, Inc. Re: Meister for Senate Benchmark Survey The U.S. Senate Democratic Primary election is wide open, without a dominant frontrunner and Giannoulias in a weak [...]
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  Posted: December 03, 2009, 9:28am EST
  by Rich Miller

• *** UPDATED x3 *** Fire, ready, aim

  —Capitol Fax

  Enclosure: [download]

  Number of comments: 10
  * Gov. Pat Quinn went off on Comptroller Dan Hynes today, claiming that his rival in the Democratic primary was dragging his feet on approving a $500 million short-term borrowing plan. Quinn also claimed that Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias had signed on… “I’m ready to go, Alexi Giannoulias is ready to go, [...]
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  Posted: December 02, 2009, 1:24pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• Question of the day

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * A supporter of Adam Andrzejewski’s GOP gubernatorial campaign e-mailed me earlier today to remind me that I hadn’t yet posted his new TV ad. Here it is… * The Question: Rate it? [...]
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  Posted: December 02, 2009, 12:05pm EST
  by Rich Miller

• The beginning of the end

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * Cook County Board President Todd Stroger was not a happy man yesterday when the board overwhelmingly overrode his veto of the partial sales tax rollback. He lashed out at Gov. Quinn, who has been patting himself on the back for signing the reduced override threshold bill into law… “Governor Quinn [...]
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  Posted: December 02, 2009, 10:41am EST
  by Rich Miller

• It’s the jobs, stupid

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * The Chicago Tribune’s questionnaire for gubernatorial candidates poses just one question about job creation, and it’s way down the list. Odd, considering the state’s unemployment situation. Some candidates offer a few specifics, like Sen. Bill Brady… I am proposing a $2,100 tax credit to businesses for every new job they [...]
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  Posted: December 02, 2009, 9:43am EST
  by Rich Miller

• Morning political videos - McKenna, Hoffman

  —Capitol Fax

  Number of comments: 10
  * Republican gubernatorial candidate Andy McKenna has a new TV ad. Rate it… The Pat Quinn quote used in the spot is from this Tribune story about McKenna’s earlier ad… Quinn responded to the ad by defending his use of the phrase “missions accomplished” to describe his progress on the budget and [...]
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  Posted: December 02, 2009, 8:35am EST
  by Rich Miller