Guilty
ArchPundit
Both–on all counts. Wow.
Let the appeals begin.
ArchPundit
Ryan Verdict About 11 AM
……hmmmmm…what happens if they don’t convict?
Apparently 11 AM was even more optimistic than expected.
Advertising
Okay, so you’ll notice on the left side a little Blogginois Ad Network thingy—three of us talked about it for a while and I started an Illinois Blog Ad Network. Currently it includes Bill from Peoria Pundit, the IlliniPundit Collective and me. If you have 500 visits a day and would be interested in signing up for Blog Ads, update regularly, and are a politics/current events type of blogger let me know. If you are an Illinois blogger already with Blog Ads, definitely let me know and we’ll get you added. We worked on this a while ago and IP turned into a collective and Bill and I let the ball drop. The idea behind it is that those interested in contacting an Illinois audience interested in politics would have an easy place to go.
What’s really embarrassing–both have surpassed me in traffic. Okay, Bill has has some visuals and IP has multiple authors, but it’s still weird.
We would love to have a better logo, but I’m not sure we’re willing to pay for it. So for now, that’s it.
E-Mail Me
Yellow Dog Democrat
Buck Turgidson
ILPundit
Vasyl
If you are around out there, send me an e-mail–all confidentiality assured as usual.
Staffing Up!
NATIONAL (R): Currently seeking staff members for Republican Presidential campaign. Positions include State Directors, Political Directors, Finance Directors, Political Field Representatives and Administrative Staff. Residency in key states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina are required. Frequent Travel is a must. John Cox’s iIssues are on the website. Salary between 10,000 and 1,000 monthly depending on experience. Please email manager@cox2008.com with your resume. Posted 4/2/06
I guess if people need a paycheck and can hide it on their resume…why not.
Be sure not to miss his public campaign announcement on April 17th in Des Moines
State Finances Downgraded
SPRINGFIELD — A leading Wall Street bond house Thursday issued a negative outlook toward the state government’s finances because of concerns over the billions of dollars owed to Illinois’ public pension systems.
The move by Fitch Ratings represents a jolt to Gov. Blagojevich as he tries to mold a 2007 state budget and fend off Republican Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, who has made the state’s precarious financial condition a cornerstone of her bid to unseat him this fall.
The state faces a $39 billion funding shortfall in its pension funds and, under a 1995 law, is committed to an ever-increasing schedule of payments that threatens to hamstring the next administration.
This year, $1.6 billion was diverted by the state to its pensions. In the 2008 budget year, the total that must be spent rises to $2.75 billion. And by 2010, the final year of the next governor’s term, the state’s annual pension commitment will reach $3.8 billion.
“Fitch believes that, barring a significant revenue increase or a substantial reduction in expenditures, Illinois will be unable to follow its own plan to contain the $39 billion unfunded pension liability,” the firm wrote in a report issued Thursday.
“This intractable problem, including cash flow pressures, is apt to impair credit quality despite the breadth and wealth of the state’s large economy,” Fitch concluded, listing Illinois as one of only three states with such negative outlooks
This doesn’t have immediate consequences, but if it isn’t dealt with properly, there will be a dramatic increase for the state to borrow money.
It’s fair to say that everyone punted except Hynes on the problem of underfunding pensions before Blagojevich, but making it worse doesn’t leave the administration somehow clean. Continuing an unsustainable policy is not an excuse.
Via the 13th Floor at Governing
The One I Missed
Three Democratic Presidential Candidates are trying to get Jerry Costello’s support.
Thank God Warner’s not on that list. My decision may be between those who
A) don’t contact Costello
B) are the last to contact Costello
Unindicted Co-Conspirator people–we’re running againt corruption this cycle.
The Must Read Columns
Everything I hear, Meeks is serious, but let’s be clear–he can’t win. There is no way. Cutting a deal is his best shot, it’s just unclear if Blagojevich will think it’s his Sister Soulja moment horribly confusing the situations.
My solution is to ban all outside travel and limit it to taxpayer paid travel, out of the campaign fund, or personal expenses. Provide a larger budget for each Member–as Sweet points out, Congressional travel is important in many respects, and then file all taxpayer paid trips on-line with itemized receipts besides per diem. Voters can then decide what is reasonable and what is not. The problem with the non-profit travel is that it’s a great way to funnel money and hide it–it’s the point of what happened with the golfing trip to Scotland.
Chambers (because I’ve been neglecting my rounds to the RR)—
Mocking. Posturing. Blaming. The state is no closer to a comprehensive statewide infrastructure improvement plan. This is your government at work.
IL-08 Unofficial Bean/McSweeney Numbers
Bean comes in with $1.75 Million on hand
McSweeney reports about $145,000 on hand
What’s interesting–and I haven’t read for sure what the situation is, but if McSweeney self-funds, the millionaire amendment kicks in and Bean can go back and collect more from those who have already contributed.
First Reports
Manzullo, Biggert, Jackson, Shimkus, Stover (IL-19), Schakowsky, Gill (IL-15), Davis and Costello are in and nothing really interesting in there–this won’t be much of a quarter since it really only includes March. .
Wait, one thing, Lloyd Cueto’s committee gave Costello $150
(Hitting head against wall–what a jackass) I’m sure there is some more fun in there, but nothing stands out.