Chicago -
By Steve Rhodes
“[William Filan] not only lobbies city officials on behalf of clients who have interests at City Hall but also has a contract to lobby for City Hall in Springfield,” Dan Mihalopoulos reports for the Sun-Times.
Wait, did I read that right? Bill Filan is a City Hall lobbyist who also lobbies City Hall?
That would be as outrageous as, say, passing property tax laws and then representing clients who appeal their property taxes.
Posted on October 7, 2013
By Natasha Julius
We’re not ready either.
Market Update
The smart money is on the Millennials, but the Olds have so much more dumb money.
Posted on October 5, 2013
By Steve Rhodes
“The CTA sent a bulletin Thursday night to all rail yard employees ordering a number of precautionary steps to ensure that train cars undergoing maintenance stay in place,” the Sun-Times reports.
For example, if you see something, say something.
And if you don’t see something, say something anyway because ghosts.
Posted on October 4, 2013
By Steve Rhodes
Sometimes it’s just hard to have something useful to say. Is ADM wrong to extort taxpayers for money even as they pay no income taxes themselves? Of course. We have to get government out of the business of subsidizing business – and back into the business of, oh, say, feeding starving children.
Is CPS blatantly showing once again that they can’t be trusted to even tell the time of day honestly? Yes. But how to make it stop?
Is Rahm once again guilty of press release governance that plays the media for patsies? Yes. Some of us have been pointing out that method of operation since his campaign.
And when I see a headline like this, I just think to myself, “He’s incapable of any other kind of motive!”
Posted on October 3, 2013
By Steve Rhodes
“Suburban Chicago businessman Ty Warner, who became a billionaire after creating Beanie Babies collectibles, entered a guilty plea Wednesday morning for tax evasion, apologizing in a choked-up voice and telling a U.S. judge that he knew his tax forms weren’t accurate,” the Tribune reports.
“His lawyer said he’ll pay more than $50 million in civil penalties for not disclosing a foreign bank account. And Warner faces up to five years in prison. His sentencing is set for January.
“Prosecutors say he failed to report $24.4 million in income from 1999 to 2007 and failed to pay taxes of about $5 million.
“Warner acknowledged that he told no one of his Swiss bank accounts, not even his accountants.”
Posted on October 2, 2013
By Steve Rhodes
“No One At Controls When Blue Line Trains Crash.”
Also, no one at the controls when U.S. government crashes.
Posted on October 1, 2013
By Steve Rhodes
“Authorities in Pittsburgh have temporarily shuttered a Chicago artist’s atmospheric installation after three visitors reported experiencing seizure-like symptoms,” the CBC reports.
Similarly, authorities in Chicago have shuttered the managing career of Dale Sveum for much the same reason.
Posted on September 30, 2013
By Natasha Julius
Ted Cruz really should’ve come to us for his Dr. Seuss references. We had it covered months ago.
Market Update
Do you think if the government set up a Kickstarter they’d fare any better than this?
Posted on September 28, 2013
By Steve Rhodes
I’ve got an early morning appointment, so a column will either appear later today or not at all. In the meantime:
* Beachwood Photo Booth: Swedish Diner.
Svea at night. Plus a sister photo.
Posted on September 27, 2013
By Steve Rhodes
“U.S. securities regulators plan to ‘make aggressive use’ of their authority to levy penalties, the head of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said Thursday,” Reuters reports.
“‘Meaningful monetary penalties – whether against companies or individuals – play a very important role in a strong enforcement program,”‘SEC Chair Mary Jo White said in a speech in Chicago, according to prepared remarks.”
Um, right.
Posted on September 26, 2013
