• "Straight Talk" Blagojevich Commercials Continue and Go Negative
• Governor Files for Tax Extension, Again
• Legislators Don't See Reason for New Ethics Legislation
• PI FYI: Top Tier Races - 33rd Senate District
• State Rep. Introduces Legislation to Impeach President Bush
• Pay-to-Play - Legislators Debate Pay Increase
• Editorial of the Week: The Southern - "Illinois General Assembly Resembles a Bunch of Bratty Kids"

"Straight Talk" Blagojevich Commercials Continue and Go Negative

Gov. Blagojevich, some would argue, never stopped campaigning after his win in 2002.  With a campaign fortuner at his disposal, it appears that Blagojevich has only begun to campaign for re-election.  His campaign commercials have not ceased since he easily won his primary contest on March 21.  In a development not seen in Illinois races, Blagojevich's campaign last week launched a series of attack ads against his opponent, State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka.  The ads are butressed with a new website also attacking Topinka. 

Juxtaposing the negative ads, Blagojevich also began running a series of "straight talk" ads highlighting his first term.  In the first, the Governor is at a "town hall meeting" discussing his accomplishments.  While meant to appear like a real face-to-face with voters, the event was entirely staged with only campaign supporters and no press invited.

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Governor Files for Tax Extension, Again

Gov. Blagojevich has, once again, filed for a tax extension in order to fully prepare his '05 taxes.  This isn't the first time the Governor has requested such an extension, but it is the first time he's done so during an election year.  Treasurer Topinka, who did file her taxes on time, is making it an issue because of what Blagojevich's taxes could show voters.  "The public shouldn't have to wait till October to determine whether or not Rod Blagojevich is still receiving family income from tainted sources," Topinka said referring to last year's tax returns that reported Blagojevich receiving $40,000 from Tony Rezko.

In response, the Blagojevich campaign spokesperson said, "Patti has a business and two small children, and he's the governor of the state. And like millions of other people, they are busy."

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Legislators Don't See Reason for New Ethics Legislation

With the conviction of former Gov. George Ryan of all counts last week, there has been discussion of a renewed push in Illinois for ethics reform.  However, legislators on both sides of the aisle reacted last week less than enthusiastically when asked about new ethics legislation.  State Rep. Mike Bost said he believes the laws on the books are sufficient.  "Why create a new law if the old one works?  Murder's against the law. Everytime somebody is murdered we don't go out and pass eight new laws against murder."  Steve Brown, spokesman for Speaker Mike Madigan said, "The case that we're reacting to tells us that regardless of any amount of money, if people have a willingness to utilize relationships to get business, I'm not sure there are any laws that could be deterrents to that, because there are already laws."

Cindi Canary, director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, however, believes that Illinois should pass a host of new ethics legislation.  Canary believes that the General Assembly should begin by capping how much "money candidates can receive and should ban direct contributions from corporations and unions." 

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PI FYI: Top Tier Races - 33rd Senate District

Background:  Senator Dave Sullivan (R-Park Ridge) represented this district since 1998, but retired mid-session to pursue a career in lobbying.  Cheryl Axley, real estate attorney and Elk Grove Township GOP Committeeman, was appointed to fill out the vacancy.  The district is represented by Republicans in the House, and GOP candidates have faired well here.  Democrats are hoping that they can take advantage of Axley's newness to the office.

The district includes the Cook County communities of Mount Prospect, Elk Grove Village, Des Plaines, Park Ridge, Rolling Meadows and Arlington Heights.

District voting patterns:

George W. Bush beat Al Gore here in 2000 by 5,282 votes

Jim Durkin beat Dick Durbin in this district for US Senate in 2002 by 310 votes

Jim Ryan beat Rod Blagojevich in this district for Governor in 2002 by nearly 13,000 votes

Candidate Profiles:

Cheryl Axley (R-Mount Prospect)

Cheryl Axley is an accomplished attorney, practicing in Illinois for 22 years.  She was admitted to the US Supreme Court bar in 1998.  She was appointed to the senate position in late 2005, after becoming the consensus candidate of party officials and retiring senator, Dave Sullivan.  

Her courtroom experience certainly must have helped her during the traditional hazing of freshmen legislators presenting their first bills.  Axley received some "over the top" questions from a colleague that made headlines across the state, but remained calm and unfazed, handling the incident in a professional manner.  That composure under fire will serve her well as she heads into the fall political season.

Website:   www.axleyforsenate.com

Dan Kotowski (D-Park Ridge)

Dan Kotowski is best known for his work as a lobbyist advocating for handgun control laws.  This background could certainly translate to a good grassroots campaign for Kotowski.  He currently resides in Park Ridge, where he works for a human service agency.

Kotowski beat a well-financed trial lawyer in the primary thanks in large part to the backing of the Democrat establishment.  He was also able to key in on several political missteps made by his opponent.  Kotowski announced his plans to run for the senate prior to Sullivan's announcement that he planned on stepping down.

Website:   www.kotowski4senate.com

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State Rep. Introduces Legislation to Impeach President Bush

State Rep. Karen Yarbrough (D-Maywood) has introduced a resolution that calls for the impeachment of President Bush.  The little known mechanism which comes from "Jefferson's Manual", written by Thomas Jefferson, allows for charges of impeachment to be forwarded to Congress by a state legislature.  Illinois would be the first state to pass such legislation.  There are a number of cities across the country that have passed similar resolutions.  Should the resolution pass, it would be referred to the GOP controlled U.S. House.

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Pay-to-Play - Legislators Debate Pay Increase

As the General Assembly nears the end of the 2006 Spring Session, one topic, perhaps more than any other, is splitting legislators: should they or should they not receive a pay raise?  Some have argued that the Legislature cannot figure out how to adjourn on time and, therefore, should not be eligible for a pay hike.  On the other hand, some legislators say, they have not received a cost of living adjustment since 2001.  But with the state finances in a shambles, goes the retort, how can tax payers be asked to foot the bill for a pay enhancement?

The recommendation is for a 13.1% increase to legislative salaries.  That translates to a $7,500 boost for the lowest paid legislators bringing their "part-time" salary to just over $65,000 a year.  The increase includes retroactive raises for past years when legislators did not receive additional pay.  Many legislators believe the pay hikes should be tabled, however, Senate President Emil Jones says that he believes the pay raise is fair.  Other agree, like State Rep. Ken Dunkin (D-Chicago) who said, "`Pay raise' shouldn't be a bad word, when it's for people who work hard.  Legislators are losing money and opportunities. Now, that's OK for some of us because we elected to do this. I'm not asking folks to feel sorry for us. But I think the pay should be commensurate with the work, of any profession."

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Editorial of the Week: The Southern - "Illinois General Assembly Resembles a Bunch of Bratty Kids"

"Several years ago I walked into my house and found my then much younger children in the middle of a squabble. One was red faced and mad, one was near tears and one was pointing a finger at the other two.  As I tried to sort through the accusations and finger-pointing I looked down at the floor and noticed a broken lamp.

As my eyes water from the daily stench resonating out of Springfield, where once again gridlock has set in, I'm often reminded of that scene. We have some legislators red-faced and mad, others choked with anger and everybody seems to be pointing a finger at somebody else.

In short, our General Assembly in many ways resembles a bunch of bratty kids."  Read the whole thing...

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