Chicago -
By Steve Rhodes
“Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan on Tuesday accused electric utility Commonwealth Edison Co. of asking its customers to foot the bill for $87.9 million in employee bonuses – a practice she said is illegal,” the Tribune reports.
“Madigan’s office said it uncovered the bonuses, tied to Exelon stock, in ComEd’s rate hike request before the Illinois Commerce Commission.”
Here’s my favorite part:
Posted on July 2, 2014
By Steve Rhodes
“A little less than two years ago, Gregory D. Wasson, the chief executive of Walgreen, sought a series of tax breaks from Illinois, where his company is based,” the New York Times reports.
“We are proud of our Illinois heritage,” he said at the time. “Just as our stores and pharmacies are health and daily living anchors for the communities we serve, we as a company are now recommitted to serving as an economic anchor for northeastern Illinois.”
“The state gave Walgreen $46 million in corporate income tax credits over 10 years in exchange for a pledge to create 500 jobs and invest in upgrading its offices. The state also provided $625,000 in training money and $875,000 in other tax incentives.
“Mr. Wasson’s actions, however, could soon run counter to his words. The same chief executive who said he was so ‘proud of our Illinois heritage’ is now considering moving the company’s headquarters to Switzerland as part of a merger with Alliance Boots, a European drugstore chain.
“Why? To lower Walgreens tax bill even further.”
Posted on July 1, 2014
By Steve Rhodes
“Before he was paid more than $146,000 for work on Gov. Pat Quinn’s scandal-plagued anti-violence initiative, Benton Cook III says he spent four years as a ‘media production director’ for political candidates,” the Sun-Times reports.
“His biggest client, as it turns out, was his wife, Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown, records show.”
Not that there’s anything wrong with that – except for the sneaking suspicion that Brown found a way to increase her household income by transferring fundraising dollars to a shady job for her husband, much in the same way that Jesse Jackson Jr. paid his wife monthly consulting fees.
Beyond that, Cook comes off essentially as a scammer in this article. Go read it and come back; I’ll be waiting.
Posted on June 30, 2014
By Steve Rhodes
“The city of Chicago’s promise of summer savings on electric bills for most residents appears to be so much hot air,” Crain’s reports.
“Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s recently renegotiated contract with Integrys Energy Services to provide power to 720,000 households and small businesses will cost average Chicago homes more in June and July than if they were still with Commonwealth Edison Co. if typical consumption patterns hold.”
There goes the electricity users voting bloc.
Posted on June 28, 2014
By Steve Rhodes
“The City Council’s most powerful alderman will sit out the legislative debate on Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s plan to give movie mogul George Lucas free lakefront land to build an interactive museum to avoid a conflict posed by a threatened court challenge,” the Sun-Times reports.
“Ald. Edward Burke (14th), chairman of the City Council’s Finance Committee, is the husband of Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke.
“If Friends of the Park follows through on its threat to file a lawsuit blocking the project, the appeal could go all the way to the state Supreme Court.”
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Might have been worth nothing that Burke didn’t recuse himself when it came to the ill-fated proposal to move the Chicago Children’s Museum into Grant Park.
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Also, how does Burke explain not recusing himself from all council business?
Posted on June 27, 2014
By Steve Rhodes
Another layer to Bruce Rauner’s lies about his daughter’s admittance to Payton Prep was revealed last night, but here’s the deal: We already know he’s lied – repeatedly – about this.
What is so odd – and this happens so often on the national level – is the media’s stance (particularly that of the punditry) that it will be satisfied only when the candidate puts forth a plausible enough story, though untrue, that everyone will move on, instead of just calling a liar a liar. Then he’ll be graded on his public relations, such as “He should’ve just come up with this version of untruth in the first place.”
It’s not that Rauner needs to “get his story straight” or that further clarification is needed; it’s that he lied. Starting with that premise changes the questions. For example: “Mr. Rauner, why won’t you just tell us truth about what happened with your daughter?”
Or: “Would you have any problem at all with someone doing what you did to get their child admitted to an elite school even if it meant your daughter was therefore displaced, even if her credentials were better?”
Instead, we get various versions of “Critics say you used clout to get your daughter into Payton. For the umpteenth time, how do you respond?”
And for the umpteenth time, Rauner gives a pat answer and everyone moves on.
We all know what happened. And we also know that the U.S. Secretary of Education, at the least, let it happen. Let’s stop pretending otherwise.
Posted on June 26, 2014
By Steve Rhodes
Yeah, instead of celebrating the George Lucas museum “win,” it would be interesting if the media didn’t act like part of the team and took a view that wasn’t from the vantage point of the downtown elite, perhaps something like this: “Rahm Plans To Violate Lakefront Ordinance.”
After all . . .
“in no instance will further private development be permitted east of Lake Shore Drive.” http://t.co/s2JKGgalsp
— Robert Loerzel (@robertloerzel) June 25, 2014
Posted on June 25, 2014
By Steve Rhodes
In truth, this column may not get back to is regular rhythm until July. Life has interfered in several ways, all at once. Doing the best I can.
Posted on June 24, 2014
By Steve Rhodes
“Chicago’s Navy Pier – touted as the biggest tourist attraction in Illinois – has long been a patronage haven where political insiders turned for jobs and lucrative deals to sell everything from expensive meals to gumballs,” Tim Novak reports for the Sun-Times.
“Who was cashing in used to be a matter of public record. It no longer is, since the state of Illinois and City Hall turned over operation of the government-owned pier to a private, not-for-profit group three years ago for $1-a-year rent.
“Navy Pier Inc. doesn’t have to explain how it’s spending $115 million in government bonds that were sold to pay for a face-lift for the 98-year-old pier, either.”
This, of course, is one of the chief problems with privatization – be it the lottery or charter schools: Public money without public accountability.
Posted on June 23, 2014