• POLITICAL INSIDER GOING ON HIATUS
• STROGER JR. FIRST NEEDS THEN FIRES PATRONAGE BOSS
• LT. GOV. QUINN CALLS FOR VOTE ON RATE FREEZE
• CONGRESSWOMAN BIGGERT LOOKS AT CHANGES IN NEW CONGRESS
• LEGISLATORS LEAN AWAY FROM A STATE SMOKING BAN
• EDITORIAL OF THE WEEK: Quad-City Times - "Blue vs. Blue-Illinois offers frightening example of Democrat mandate"

POLITICAL INSIDER GOING ON HIATUS

With the end of the campaign cycle and the holidays upon us, the PI will be taking a publishing break for the next few weeks.  Once the General Assembly gets ramped up for the 2007 Spring Session, we will bring you the weekly updates you've come to expect.

The Illinois business community is likely to face a challenging year as a result of the election outcomes last month.  The PI will remain your best source for information on the political events that will shape policy decisions and legislative initiatives at the federal, state and local levels.  The PI will also be the business communities place to go for up-to-date information on the upcoming Illinois municipal elections.

Stay tuned...

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STROGER JR. FIRST NEEDS THEN FIRES PATRONAGE BOSS

Todd Stroger Jr., president-elect of the Cook County Board, made his first decision as the incoming leader of Cook County by going back on a campaign promise.  Stroger Jr. indicated during the campaign that he would fire his father's patronage boss, Gerald Nichols.  Last week, he said that he couldn't possibly let Nichols go because of Nichols knowledge of county government.

Nichols is under federal investigation revolving around hiring allegations at Cook County.  Nichols has been on paid administrative leave during the investigation.  As word spread last week that Stroger Jr. would not fire Nichols, the media and others began asking questions.  The Tribune editorialized that other Democratic leaders who endorsed Stroger Jr. should speak out.  On Wednesday, Senator Obama did just that announcing that he would be "disappointed" if Stroger Jr. is not part of the "reform agenda."

On the day before Thanksgiving, Stroger Jr. relented and fired Nichols from his $114,000 job.  However, the termination does not take place until December 31 and Stroger Jr. said that he would still seek Nichols' advice after he leaves the county payroll.

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LT. GOV. QUINN CALLS FOR VOTE ON RATE FREEZE

Last Sunday, Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn called on voters to encourage their legislators to vote for a rate freeze on utility rates during this week's Veto Session.  Quinn also challenged all members of the General Assembly to vote for the rate freeze.  "What we have to do as consumers this week is band together in the best tradition of democracy," says Quinn. "We need to let our legislators know that the people of our State of Illinois do not want Commonwealth Edison and Ameren to have cart blanche to raise electric rates on everyday people in our state."

Illinois utilities have had their rates frozen for the past decade in order to allow for increased competition in the marketplace.  The mandated freeze ends with this calendar year and both ComEd and Ameren have indicated that they will increase rates.  Governor Blagojevich has said that he will call a special session if the Legislature fails to freeze rates during the Veto Session.

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CONGRESSWOMAN BIGGERT LOOKS AT CHANGES IN NEW CONGRESS

When the new Congress convenes in January, there will certainly be many changes given the Democratic takeover.  Congresswoman Judy Biggert, who represents much a DuPage County is hopeful, though, that she will be able to serve her constituents.  While Biggert will enter her 5^th term in the minority, she feels that she will be able to bring bills to the floor and hopes to continue serving on 3 of her 4 current committees.  She hopes to retain membership on Education and the Workforce, Financial Services and Science.

"I have to say that being in the majority is much more fun," Biggert said. "But I'm used to working across the aisle."  Biggert will certainly have to work with members of the new majority if she wishes to pass her closely held projects - the Alternative Energy Research and Development Act of 2006 and the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act.  Additionally, Biggert would like to see the GOP get its message out to the American people in the next two years.  "I don't think we did a good job talking about our message and the media didn't do a good job reporting it," Biggert said.

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LEGISLATORS LEAN AWAY FROM A STATE SMOKING BAN

Several communities in Illinois have sought and passed local smoking bans for public places, including bars and restaurants.  The City of Chicago is the largest examples and they have an ordinance with many exemptions.  Springfield recently passed a strict smoking ban and have numerous complaints about lost business for taverns.  Carbondale recently tried to pass a ban which failed in large part because of business horror stories.

There has been a great deal of talk at the local level that they state will pass a comprehensive state smoking ban which will "level the playing field."  That move does not seem likely at this point.  The State Journal-Register reported last week that three of the four legislative leaders and the Governor now appear to support letting local government control public smoking in their municipalities.  Senate President Emil Jones, Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson and House Minority Leader Tom Cross all believe that the issues should be decided at the local level.  House Speaker Michael Madigan has not taken a position. 

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EDITORIAL OF THE WEEK: Quad-City Times - "Blue vs. Blue-Illinois offers frightening example of Democrat mandate"

"As Americans try to figure out what a Democrat majority might mean, we hope they don't look at Illinois.

The Democrat governor, Democrat House speaker and Democrat Senate Majority Leader are all at odds over what you'd think would be a Democrat slam-dunk: minimum wage legislation and a rate freeze on utility companies.

The Democrat controlled Senate didn't even wait a week after the election to approve pay raises for legislators. Actually, most of those senators who voted opposed the pay raise. But under rules only a lawmaker could understand, pay hikes can only be stopped by 30 "no" votes. This 10 percent raise received just 25 "no" votes. So it passes, even though most senators said they didn't want it."  Read the whole thing...

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