Wednesday, December 28, 2005
2005 - The “Mostests”
Most significant story: U.S. Attorney’s Office moving up the food chain in Mayor Richard Daley’s administration.
Second most significant story: U.S. Attorney’s Office sniffing at Governor Rod Blagojevich’s administration “business as usual.”
Story with the most impact on the General Assembly: Diane Rado’s May 18th Chicago Tribune 2,215 word front page story on the costs and benefits of SB 750, entitled “Tax proposal shifts pain.” The accompanying internet tax calculator, from which one could determine the average tax impact for any zip code in Illinois, spooked state senators enough to prevent a vote on the bill that would have increased income tax rates by 40%, providing some real estate tax relief and lots more money to schools.
Most impact on Springfield by bloggers: Spreading Diane Rado’s SB 750 tax calculator throughout Illinois.
Most over-reported Illinois story: All Kids, which plowed no new ground for children of poor families--except those here illegally--but which was given days of headline coverage.
Most unreported Illinois story: the fact that Governor Rod Blagojevich’s All Kids health care program will include illegal aliens. This is not something that should be debated after the bill becomes law. Illinois already has its Healthy Kids program for poor children legally in this country, but who are not poor enough for Medicaid. Under current federal law, people here illegally do not qualify for the 50% financial match. Thus far, I haven’t seen the Tribune, Sun-Times, Daily Herald or Associated Press cover this part of the story. My complaint is that the illegal alien aspect of the program should have been reported before the bill passed the legislature. The only papers that did so (that I can find) were the Northwest Herald out of Crystal Lake and the Quincy Herald-Whig.
Most blatant defense of a future felon: Chicago Sun-Times columnist Carol Marin’s July 31st puff piece on former Democratic Party National Committee Finance Chairman Joe Cari two days before he copped a plea on August 2nd to helping Stuart Levine in his alleged “pay to play” Downstate Teachers Retirement Fund scandal. A free link to the column is no longer available at the Sun-Times web site.
Most stunning example of Left Stream Media bias by a reporter: WTTW’s Elizabeth Brackett’s reply to Edwin Eisendrath when he said that he would not take a “no tax” hike pledge: “That would make some sense.”
Second most significant story: U.S. Attorney’s Office sniffing at Governor Rod Blagojevich’s administration “business as usual.”
Story with the most impact on the General Assembly: Diane Rado’s May 18th Chicago Tribune 2,215 word front page story on the costs and benefits of SB 750, entitled “Tax proposal shifts pain.” The accompanying internet tax calculator, from which one could determine the average tax impact for any zip code in Illinois, spooked state senators enough to prevent a vote on the bill that would have increased income tax rates by 40%, providing some real estate tax relief and lots more money to schools.
Most impact on Springfield by bloggers: Spreading Diane Rado’s SB 750 tax calculator throughout Illinois.
Most over-reported Illinois story: All Kids, which plowed no new ground for children of poor families--except those here illegally--but which was given days of headline coverage.
Most unreported Illinois story: the fact that Governor Rod Blagojevich’s All Kids health care program will include illegal aliens. This is not something that should be debated after the bill becomes law. Illinois already has its Healthy Kids program for poor children legally in this country, but who are not poor enough for Medicaid. Under current federal law, people here illegally do not qualify for the 50% financial match. Thus far, I haven’t seen the Tribune, Sun-Times, Daily Herald or Associated Press cover this part of the story. My complaint is that the illegal alien aspect of the program should have been reported before the bill passed the legislature. The only papers that did so (that I can find) were the Northwest Herald out of Crystal Lake and the Quincy Herald-Whig.
Most blatant defense of a future felon: Chicago Sun-Times columnist Carol Marin’s July 31st puff piece on former Democratic Party National Committee Finance Chairman Joe Cari two days before he copped a plea on August 2nd to helping Stuart Levine in his alleged “pay to play” Downstate Teachers Retirement Fund scandal. A free link to the column is no longer available at the Sun-Times web site.
Most stunning example of Left Stream Media bias by a reporter: WTTW’s Elizabeth Brackett’s reply to Edwin Eisendrath when he said that he would not take a “no tax” hike pledge: “That would make some sense.”
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Cal, you seem upset over Eisendrath's rational comment in regards to taxes. Why? Do you think the tooth fairy is going to straighten out the fiscal mess created by the Ryan and Blagojevich administrations?
Someone will have to do it, and it may involve taxes, but given the fact that the Illinois Constitution does not permit deficits we may not have a choice. (You are welcome to join the supporters for a new constitutional convention when it appears on the 2008 ballot, if you like, if you think a new state constitution would straighten this mess out. But even in that case, some additional revenue may be needed until a new constitution could go into effect in 4 or 5 years.)
RANDALL SHERMAN
Secretary/Treasurer, Illinois Committee for Honest Government
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Someone will have to do it, and it may involve taxes, but given the fact that the Illinois Constitution does not permit deficits we may not have a choice. (You are welcome to join the supporters for a new constitutional convention when it appears on the 2008 ballot, if you like, if you think a new state constitution would straighten this mess out. But even in that case, some additional revenue may be needed until a new constitution could go into effect in 4 or 5 years.)
RANDALL SHERMAN
Secretary/Treasurer, Illinois Committee for Honest Government
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