• Governor's Math is Addition Only - Job Losses not Taken in to Consideration
• Stroger Delivers Message, "I'm Still in Charge"
• PI FYI: Top Tier Races, 107th House
• Legislators Begin Discussing Sale/Lease of Tollway
• 17th Congressional Dist. Dems Select Phil Hare to Run for Evans' Seat
• Editorial of the Week: The Pantagraph - "Voters Deserve to Know if State Hiring is Shady"

Governor's Math is Addition Only - Job Losses not Taken in to Consideration

Governor Blagojevich announced that Illinois led the nation in job creation in April citing the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Blagojevich's administration says that over 23,000 jobs were created mostly because of an expanding Illinois economy.  However, State Treasurer and GOP gubernatorial candidate Judy Baar Topinka indicated that the Governor has, in the past, has had a "problem with numbers."  Topinka pointed to a previous Auditor General's report that indicated the administration often did not know what to count as a job and misrepresented information on official reports.  Topinka also, using numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, noted that Illinois' economy has grown at a slow 1.2% since Blagojevich became governor.

While Blagojevich played up economic incentives that have been provided by his administration as one reason for the up-tick in job numbers, others warned that this perhaps is not a trend given the repressive business fees and taxes implemented by the same governing team.  Greg Durham, spokesman for the Illinois Coalition for Jobs, Growth and Prosperity said that Illinois has lagged behind the Midwest and Nation for the past three years and has "a long way to go."

PI did a quick analysis of historic numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics beginning in 2003 through the present for Illinois and surrounding states.  Theses numbers reflect jobs created as well as layoffs during this period.  Illinois still lags behind Wisconsin in job growth but considering Illinois' population difference, edging out the rest of the Midwest in job growth isn't an astounding feat.

Illinois - 72,100 created - 2,231 layoffs

Wisconsin - 96,100 - 2,354

Iowa - 60,100 - 664

Kentucky - 57,600 - 978

Indiana - 67,100 - 1474

Missouri - 66, 200 - 886

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Stroger Delivers Message, "I'm Still in Charge"

Early last week, Cook County Board President John Stroger met with political allies and religious advisors to ensure that county board members and other Cook County politicians understood that he was still in charge and intended to remain President.  Stroger met with ministers Al Sampson, Larry Trotter and Alderman William Beavers.  Following the meeting, the three indicated that Stroger was "on the road to eventually reclaiming his seat."

Since Stroger's stroke days before the March 21^st primary, there have been growing calls for resolution to filling the Cook County Board President's seat.  There is currently no replacement process in county government.  However, Cook County Commissioner Larry Sufferdin plans on introducing a resolution based upon the 25^th Amendment of the US Constitution.  Also last week, Sufferdin and Commissioner Bobbie Steele indicated that Steele would have enough votes to be elected interim Board President.  Stroger's opponent in the November general election, Commissioner Tony Peraica has called for hearings and evidence that Stroger can still serve.

Late last week, Stroger was rushed back to the hospital because of medical complications.

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PI FYI: Top Tier Races, 107th House

Background:  House Republicans think this is the year they can beat Kurt Granberg.  Emboldened by successes in neighboring 108^th District, the GOP has decided to seriously challenge Granberg.  To do so, they have recruited the same candidate that ran against Granberg in 2002 and lost by 3,000 votes.

District voting patterns:

George W. Bush carried the district in 2004 with 57.5%

Rod Blagojevich carried the district with 52% in 2002

Granberg won his last contested race in 2004 with 67%

Candidate Profiles:

Kurt Granberg (D-Centralia)

Granberg was first elected to the House in 1987.  He has worked his way through party ranks, and is currently an Assistant Majority Leader.  He has a 49% lifetime voting average with the Illinois Chamber.  He was the only House Democrat to vote against the minimum wage increase in 2003.

Website:   http://www.housedem.state.il.us/members/granbergk/

John Cavaletto (R-Salem)

Caveletto is a retired high school coach and principal.  He ran against Granberg in 2002 and lost by 3,000 votes.  He says his campaign four years ago was "fragmented", but that things are coming together better this time.

Website:  NA

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Legislators Begin Discussing Sale/Lease of Tollway

At a hearing last week, the State Senate Appropriations Committee held a hearing exploring Governor Blagojevich's suggestion that the Illinois Tollway be sold or leased.  Suburban lawmakers are expressing opinions from concerned interest to outright opposition.  House GOP leader Rep. Tom Cross's spokesperson said last week that Cross is willing to look at the proposal and the proceeds from any sale should remain in the suburbs.  "Whatever money is generated from the sale, we'd like to see it used for transportation issues and other needs in the suburbs - for the people who have been paying into it, using the tollway and paying the tolls," said David Dring, spokesman Tom Cross.

Other legislators, however, are not at all interested in the state selling a revenue generating operation.  State Rep. Brent Hassert (R-Romeoville) is adamantly opposed saying, "you're going to see a short-term gain from selling the tollway with long-term ramifications."  State Sen. A.J. Wilhelmi (D-Joliet) asked people to keep an open mind about the proposal given the growing southern collar counties such as Will and Kendall. 

State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka also weighed in on the idea saying that she would not sell or lease the Tollway if elected in November.  "It is irresponsible," Topinka said of the Democratic-led idea of leasing the 274-mile system to a private company for more than $15 billion. "What is going to be next? Lincoln's Tomb?"  She repeated fears by some suburban lawmakers such as State Senators Kirk Dillard and Peter Roskam that the sale would be used to bail-out Chicago and downstate.

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17th Congressional Dist. Dems Select Phil Hare to Run for Evans' Seat

Phil Hare, an aid for Congressman Lane Evans was selected by Democratic precinct committeemen in the 17^th Congressional District to run against GOP nominee Andrea Zinga.  Evans is retiring from Congress at the end of his current term because of his battle with Parkinson's disease.  In accepting his nomination, Hare said, "I'd trade with Lane today.  I wish this was not happening. In a perfect world, I would not be here."

Not much is known about Hare's stance on the issues of the day.  He did say that he would focus the campaign on jobs, health care and when troops will come home from Iraq.  In reacting to Hare's selection, Zinga said that Hare will continue to push the policies of Evans which have lead to "empty neighborhoods, empty stores and empty factories."  In the balloting, Hare took 64% of the vote and State Sen. John Sullivan, in his first political setback, came in a distant second.  Rock Island Mayor Mark Schwiebert finished third, followed by state Rep. Mike Boland of Moline and Quincy high school teacher Rob Mellon.

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Editorial of the Week: The Pantagraph - "Voters Deserve to Know if State Hiring is Shady"

"Tell us before November's election if Gov. Rod Blagojevich has been doing something illegal.

He didn't use those exact words, but that's the message state Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, sent to Attorney General Lisa Madigan.

This is not personal, but Brady's request for the information within 90 days will be viewed as political. Remember, Brady railed on Blagojevich during his campaign for the GOP gubernatorial nomination in the contest won by state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, who faces Blagojevich in the fall."  Read the whole thing...

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