• CHAMBER ENDORSES TOPINKA FOR GOVERNOR
• Blagojevich Pork List Released
• PI FYI: Contested Legislative Races - 71st House District
• Blagojevich won't Sell or Lease the Tollway
• Appellate Court Candidate Racking Up Endorsements
• Editorial of the Week: Decatur Herald-Review - "Budget has Abundance of Pork for Chicago"

CHAMBER ENDORSES TOPINKA FOR GOVERNOR

On Wednesday last week, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors provided State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka with an early, enthusiastic endorsement of her candidacy for Illinois Governor.  Chairman of the Chamber Board, Mr. Bill Beck, said, "Job growth and economic strength are critical for Illinois' future success - we have not seen an adequate commitment to these challenges from Governor Blagojevich, and we have confidence Judy Baar Topinka is committed to turning around our sputtering economy."

The Chamber Board has also authorized a campaign contribution to Topinka's campaign from the Chamber PAC.  Chamber President Doug Whitley added, "Our state needs a CEO who will embrace good fiscal practices so bills get paid on time, debt is managed instead of deferred, and dedicated funds aren't raided to shore up state finances."

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Blagojevich Pork List Released

Last week, Illinois State House Democrats released a list totaling approximately $70 million in projects that were part of the deal to pass the FY07 budget.  Near the end of the Spring Session, Democrats in both the House and Senate lined up with hands out for special projects in their respective districts.  While "member initiatives" or "pork projects" have long been part of the budget process, this year's number of projects and total amount is unprecedented.

During the '02 election, Governor Blagojevich often pronounced pork projects a tradition that he would end once elected.  In order to pass every budget of this administration, Blagojevich has had to include special projects in the budget.  Blagojevich spokesperson Rebecca Rausch now says that the special projects are part of the democratic process.  "To pass a budget, it has to be a give-and-take that includes what's important to the governor and the members who participate in the process. Members can bring their budget priorities to the table," she said. 

This year's budget includes money for projects such as $25,000 for "Sistas in the Hood", $25,000 for Jazz Unites, $12,000 for the Chicago Botanic Gardens Youth Farm Program, and $8 million for Northwestern University for a medical research center.  David Dring, spokesperson for Illinois House Republicans responded to the list by saying, "it looks like there's a disproportionate amount of money going to Chicago, which has been the trend under the full Democratic leadership in this state."  This is only the House Democratic list.  The Senate Democratic list has not been released and it is unknown if it will be divulged.

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PI FYI: Contested Legislative Races - 71st House District

The district includes parts of the Quad Cities, Henry, Rock Island, Whiteside, and Carroll counties.

District voting patterns:

John Kerry won in 2004 with 51.5%

Rod Blagojevich won in 2002 with only 49.2%

Boland won in 2004 with 55.5%

Candidate Profiles:

Mike Boland (D-Moline)

Mike Boland was elected in 1994.  His legislative career has been highlighted by populist issues such as the creation of the Citizens Utility Board, universal health care, and McCain/Feingold type election laws.  Boland has a 43% lifetime voting record on issues important to Illinois Chamber members.

Boland has been at the heart of some local political grudge matches.  He has fought with the Jacobs family for years over who would have political control of the region.  He has expressed interest in higher offices such as state senate, including his recent bid for the nomination to replace Lane Evans for Congress.  He was unsuccessful in that venture.

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

Steve Haring (R-Savanna)

Steve Haring works for a six county economic development organization, representing much of the 71^st District.  He is a member of the local school board, and President of the Savanna Chamber of Commerce.  This background and insight into the issues facing job providers makes Haring an ideal candidate for the legislature.  He was endorsed by the Illinois Chamber in 2004.

Haring ran a respectable grassroots campaign in 2004, and received some late help from the House Republican Organization.  They are hoping that the groundwork of the '04 campaign will translate into success this fall.

Website:  http://www.ilhro.com/candidates/contentview.asp?c=13511

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Blagojevich won't Sell or Lease the Tollway

In what was shaping up to be a contentious election issue for the collar counties, the sale or lease of the Tollway, was sidetracked last week when Blagojevich announced that he will seek to sell or lease the Tollway system.  "We have no plans whatsoever to lease the tollway or sell the tollway. I think we have a great idea on the lottery," Blagojevich said.  In recent weeks, legislators, led by State Sen. Jeff Schoenberg, have held hearings to discuss the idea of "privatizing" the Tollway in order to realize a large infusion of needed cash for increased spending programs. 

Blagojevich's announcement has some speculating that while he doesn't have "plans" that would not prevent the General Assembly from pursuing this idea or that the Governor doesn't have "plans" now and would move to sell the Tollway after the November election.  State Sen. Peter Roskam, who is also a candidate for Congress and opponent of the sale/lease idea said, "I hope this means it's absolutely off the table and it's not clever language to deflate the public debate for the next several months and then run it through the greased chute of government in Springfield after the election."

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Appellate Court Candidate Racking Up Endorsements

Judge Michael Powers, Republican candidate for the Third Appellate District, has been racking up endorsements lately.  The district consists of 21 counties that stretch from Will County to Rock Island County.  Justice Kent Slater (R), who is retiring, currently represents the Third District.

Powers is the only candidate rated highly qualified by the State Bar Association.  He recently received the endorsement of the Metropolitan Alliance of Police, as well as the Will-Grundy Central Trades and Labor Council AFL-CIO.

Powers faces Democrat Vicki Wright, an Associate Circuit Court Judge from Tampico, IL.

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Editorial of the Week: Decatur Herald-Review - "Budget has Abundance of Pork for Chicago"

"More than $70 million of your money.

That's what it cost Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to get his fellow Democrats to go along with his 2007 fiscal year budget. That's the result of a series of "memorandums of understanding" that Blagojevich and his administration signed with Democratic lawmakers.

The deal is a simple one. The governor agrees to fund a pet project in a legislator's home district. In return, the legislator votes for the governor's budget. Expensive, but simple.

Never mind that the project may not be necessary, or that the budget may not represent reality."  Read the whole thing...

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