News February 2004

Gov. lays out budget plan
Gov. Rod Blagojevich told lawmakers he wants to fill a $1.7 billion budget hole for fiscal year 2005 in part by seeking hundreds of millions more in taxes and fees on businesses, reimbursements from the feds for social service spending and revenue from the sale of a riverboat casino license. He also contends more than a billion can be cut by consolidating and reorganizing agencies, sidestepping some state pension contributions, trimming funds for tourism and open lands acquisition and closing correctional and mental health facilities. His big hurdles include convincing lawmakers to support closing the Vandalia prison and a $483 million in tax and fees hikes for businesses.

Illinois Issues, February 20, 2004

Safe Road probe turns to lobbying firm
Federal prosecutors’ Operation Safe Road investigation has been extended into the McCormick Place expansion, resulting in the indictments of a prominent lobbyist’s firm and its former vice president. The U.S. attorney alleges that Al Ronan’s Chicago-based lobbying firm Ronan Potts LLC and its former vice president Julie Starsiak of Chicago participated in a scheme to steer an $11.5 million contract to the construction management firm hired to supervise the $800 million expansion Former Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority chief Scott Fawell, who is already serving six and one-half years on a Safe Road racketeering conspiracy conviction, also was indicted along with his assistant and two employees of Jacobs Facilities Inc, the St. Louis construction management.

Illinois Issues, February 20, 2004

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People in the news

Steve Neal
The veteran Chicago political columnist and author died February 18. He was 54. The Chicago Sun-Times columnist, known for snappy one-line leads and an uncanny ability to recall obscure bits of political history, also had written politics for the Chicago Tribune and published several political history books.

Illinois Issues, February 20, 2004

Aldo DeAngelis
The former south suburban senator died February 13, 2004. He was 72. The Olympia Fields Republican served from 1979 until 1996. The businessman rose to assistant majority leader.

Illinois Issues, February 20, 2004

Court upholds RyanĂs Death Row commutations
Former Gov. George Ryan had the power to empty Death Row, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled in response to the state attorney generalĂs challenge of 32 commutations he issued near the end of his term.

Illinois Issues, January 23, 2004

Stukel to retire from U of I presidency
University of Illinois President James Stukel announced he will retire in February of 2005. Stukel has been president of the three-campus system for the past nine years.

Illinois Issues, January 23, 2004

Illinois Issues, January 23, 2004

Poshard picked for SIU board
Gov. Rod Blagojevich appointed the former congressman and Democratic gubernatorial candidate to the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees. That appointment requires state Senate approval.

Illinois Issues, January 23, 2004

Grand jury indicts Ryan
A federal grand jury indicted former Illinois Gov. George Ryan December 17 on charges of racketeering conspiracy, mail and tax fraud. The corruption charges stem from Ryan’s terms of secretary of state and governor. He is the 66th person indicted in the U.S. attorney’s Operation Safe Road investigation. The indictment’s major allegations: Ryan and members of his family got illegal cash, gifts, trips and services. The U.S. attorney’s office also alleges that Ryan directed another illegal $300,000 to a friend and repeatedly lied during the federal investigation.
The Ryan indictment.pdf

Case summary of Operation Saferoad (updated December 17, 2003)
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/iln/osr/osrcasesummary.pdf

Press release, the Ryan indictment
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/iln/pr/2003/pr121703_01.pdf

Read our analysis: George Ryan's political career

llinois Issues, December 17, 2003

Paul Simon dies
Former U.S. Sen. Paul Simon of Makanda died December 9 in Springfield following heart surgery. Simon, known for integrity and high ethical standards, was 75. A Democratic presidential candidate in 1988, Simon was director of the Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale at the time of his death. The former newspaperman was a founder of Illinois Issues. He also was the first director of the Public Affairs Reporting Program at what is now the University of Illinois at Springfield.

Illinois Issues tribute to Paul Simon

Illinois Issues, December 10, 2003