By Steve Rhodes
“Gov. Pat Quinn said today he is suspending state lawmakers’ pay until they come up with a comprehensive solution to the state’s public pension mess, a dramatic gesture that is likely to increase tension with the General Assembly and the fellow Democrats who lead it,” the Tribune reports.
Quinn also threatened to send lawmakers to bed without their per diem.
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“The move comes a day after the Democratic-controlled legislature overrode Quinn’s rewrite of a concealed carry gun bill amid criticism that he wouldn’t engage in meaningful negotiations over the controversial measure.”
After all, “Because I said so, that’s why” is not effective parenting.
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Let’s look in on the action in Springfield live via BeachwoodCam:
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House speaker Michael Madigan responded to the move saying he hopes it works, while Senate president John Cullerton called it political grandstanding.
So they’re playing good child, bad child.
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Gubernatorial candidate Bill Daley called Quinn’s move a media sideshow – in a statement released to the media.
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Gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner called Quinn’s move a political stunt that can’t replace bold leadership like his.
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Possible gubernatorial candidate Lisa Madigan said she’s still “seriously considering” her reaction to Quinn’s move.
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Spenzo’s Chicago
Straight outta Murray Park.
Green River Blues
Runs brown with red.
Trib Talk
“Tribune said Wednesday, July 10, it plans to split its newspaper operations into a separate entity, freeing the recently reorganized company to focus on its more lucrative broadcasting business,” The Street (among many others) reports.
“Moving to separate our publishing and broadcasting assets into two distinct companies will bring single-minded attention to the journalistic standards, advertising partnerships and digital prospects of our iconic newspapers, while also enabling us to take advantage of the operational and strategic opportunities created by the significant scale we are building in broadcasting,” said Peter Liguori, who was named Tribune CEO in January. “In addition, the separation is designed to allow each company to maximize its flexibility and competitiveness in a rapidly changing media environment.”
If that’s too hard to penetrate, let me put it for you this way: Each Tribune newspaper will now come with this attractive Post-It note stuck to its front page.
Clifford The Big Metra Dog
“Ex-Metra CEO Alex Clifford threatened to sue Metra whether his contract was renewed or not and initially demanded even more than the $700,000-plus deal he got to leave Metra, RTA board members were told Wednesday,” the Sun-Times reports.
Only the no-snitch code kept him from being reported for extortion.
Divvy City
I hate those fucking bikes already.
News Flash
Arsenio Hall Still Not Funny.
Chicago Firm Moving San Diego’s Books
And not all the locals there are happy about it.
Buzzkill Ahead
Just when the season was getting good.
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The Beachwood Tip Line: A red river runs through it.
Posted on July 10, 2013