Public Affairs

Better than CNN's John King: Berkowitz w/ U. S. Senate Candidate David Hoffman on "Is Hoffman a better candidate than Giannoulias;"Cable and Streaming

2009-11-23T14:54:00.011-06:00

Jeff Berkowitz: Does Alexi Giannoulias, as somebody who ran on his experience working for the family bank, the Broadway Bank, can he hide from that?...[or] if the Bank screwed up, did Alexi Giannoulias screw up?

David Hoffman, U. S. Senate Candidate (D-Chicago): Well, of course, it's relevant. I mean, if you are the Vice-President and Chief Loan Officer of a Bank, you have to take responsibility for...People who watch Illinois politics know that everything is inter-related. So, how some of these players like Tony Rezko are getting financial benefits from loans [at Giannoulias' family bank], or if they bounce very large checks at Vegas casinos, as happened here with [Giannoulias' family bank] Broadway Bank, and they are not getting kicked out of the bank-- [Watch the show w/David Hoffman here].

Jeff Berkowitz: Isn't the bank supposed to report that if that happens?

David Hoffman: I believe that that's right and

Jeff Berkowitz: Did the bank do that?
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This week's Chicago Metro Suburban edition of "Public Affairs," features 2010 U. S. Senate Democratic Primary candidate David Hoffman (D-Chicago). The Chicago Metro Suburban airing schedule for Public Affairs is included, below. The show was recorded on Sunday, November 22, 2009.
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You can now watch the show with Democratic U. S. Senate Candidate Hoffman here.
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2010 U. S. Senate Democratic Primary candidate David Hoffman (D-Chicago) debates and discusses a broad range of domestic and foreign policy issues with show host and executive legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz on this week’s suburban edition of “Public Affairs.” Topics discussed include the relevancy to the U. S. Senate race of Treasurer Giannoulias' alleged involvement at Broadway Bank with Tony Rezko, borrowers at Giannoulias' family bank convicted of operating brothels, borrowers of the bank involved with gun shops that were known for selling guns that were used in criminal operations; The significance of U. S. Senate Candidate Cheryl Jackson's former role in the Blagojevich Administration; lack of transparency by Giannoulias and Jackson; financial mismanagement by State Treasurer Giannoulias; Giannoulias and Jackson in hiding; the Barack Obama Doctrine and is it working? Is the United States being beat, under President Obama, at diplomatic strategy and foreign policy by China, Russia and Iran; how to handle Iran's growing nuclear capability; did the 800 billion dollar Economic Stimulus fail to work? Should President Obama try a new approach to stimulating the economy? Should the Feds encourage charter schools and school vouchers? Is Hoffman independent of Mayor Daley? of Teachers unions? And, much, much more.
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The Chicago Metro suburban episode of "Public Affairs with Jeff Berkowitz," featuring this week's guest,2010 U. S. Senate Democratic Primary candidate David Hoffman (D-Chicago), airs on:

Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.

and tomorrow night, Tuesday night, at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, parts of Inverness, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Wilmette

and tomorrow night, Tuesday night, at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 35 in Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Glenview, Golf, Des Plaines, Hanover Park, Mt. Prospect, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights, Schaumburg, Skokie, Streamwood and Wheeling.
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The Public Affairs show featuring 2010 U. S. Senate Democratic Primary candidate David Hoffman (D-Chicago) also airs on Monday night, Dec. 7, 2009, throughout the City of Chicago at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
More than 116 of our shows from the last two years are posted on the Public Affairs YouTube page . Our most recent shows w/ Democratic Primary U. S. Senate Candidate David Hoffman, 7th CD candidate Chicago Ald. Sharon Denise Dixon [24th Ward]and State Comptroller candidate Clint Krislov are now streaming.
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Better than Bill Kurtis with Gov. Quinn: Berkowitz w/State Comptroller Candidate Krislov on the Bully Pulpit & Taxes; Cable tonight and now streaming

2009-11-23T14:14:00.012-06:00

Clint Krislov (D-Wilmette), Candidate for State Comptroller: What Krislov says is that before you can ask people to raise their taxes, you’ve got to make the system fair, you’ve got to make it so that it’s not just the taxpayers who are the sucker in this game…

Jeff Berkowitz: How do you make it fair?
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From Public Affairs w/Jeff Berkowitz, Our show with Democratic Primary State Comptroller candidate Clint Krislov was taped on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, and it is airing in the City of Chicago on "Public Affairs," tonight on Cable Ch. 21 at 8:30 pm. For more about tonight's show with Comptroller candidate Clint Krislov (D-Wilmette), including a summary of topics discussed and a partial transcript of the show, please go here.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com.
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You can now watch the show with Democratic State Comptroller candidate Clint Krislov here.
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More than 116 of our shows from the last two years are posted on the Public Affairs YouTube page . Our most recent shows w/ Democratic Primary U. S. Senate Candidate David Hoffman, 7th CD candidate Chicago Ald. Sharon Denise Dixon [24th Ward]and State Comptroller candidate Clint Krislov are now streaming.
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The meaning of recent endorsements by Republican Township organizations for IL 10th Cong. District Candidate Robert Dold.

2009-11-22T22:55:00.014-06:00

Links added and text revised at 10:30 am on Monday
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Rich Miller (Capitolfax) makes some inferences that are not supported by the evidence when he writes:

It’s becoming obvious that several suburban township organizations have moved far to the Right - at least at the endorsement sessions. New Trier’s GOP organization endorsed Bob Dold over Rep. Elizabeth Coulson and other candidates in the 10th Congressional District. In the past, that would’ve probably been a lock for Coulson. Elk Grove Township also went with Dold, and nobody got enough support in Northfield Township for it to make an endorsement.
[emphasis supplied]

As to the New Trier Republican Organization (“NTRO”), it has not been far to the right in the past and it not far to the right now. It is and remains an establishment, center-right organization of precinct captains, and it’s long time committeeman, Tolbert Chisum, is right in sync with that.

Yes, Lolita Dedrickson, a moderate, easily won the 1998 NTRO endorsement over conservative Peter Fitzgerald for the U. S. Senate seat but that reflected a push by Peter that was too little, too late-- as he waited until the night before the endorsement vote to make his calls to the captains. In 2004, Jack Ryan, who was a NTRO precinct captain and an attractive, conservative U. S. Senate candidate who worked his local contacts hard, won the NTRO endorsement easily over the less conservative Andy McKenna, Jr. (from Northfield) and five others. There was no push to the right from 1998 to 2004 in the NTRO.

As Tip O’Neill said, all politics is ultimately local and that is especially true with the highly nuanced and localized endorsement process involving very personalized aspects of the candidates and historical, institutionalized aspects of the township organizations. Ideology has a role-- but often it is far from dominant.

Bob Dold won the NTRO 10th CD endorsement last week because he is a polished, reasonable center-right candidate who also happens to be a precinct captain very active in the NTRO. His father (Bob Dold, Sr.) is a long time captain in the NTRO and Bob’s mother is also quite active in the NTRO. Bob, Jr. lives, with his family, across the street from the NTRO HQ and Bob’s father built up a pest control company in the area that Bob Jr. now helps run.

Again, all politics is ultimately local and all of that local activity by the Dold families is a major factor, along with Bob Dold, Jr.’s talent and traits, in the explanation why he won the NTRO 10th CD endorsement. Bob Dold’s endorsement is no slap at competitors Coulson, Catigan or Green and has nothing to do with a conjectured shift to the right, with all due respect to Rich Miller. Sure, Beth Coulson's well known moderate social views were a factor, but no more so than they would have been five or ten years ago.

Dick Green, a 10th CD candidate from Winnetka, is a big financial supporter of NTRO and a Deputy Committeeman but not as active and not for as long a time in the NTRO as the Dolds.

Bill Cadigan, another 10th CD candidate from Winnetka, has historically been more involved in the Wheeling Republican Township Organization and got the most votes in that township’s endorsement session, but not enough for an endorsement. [See here].

State Rep. Coulson is respected and liked by most in the NTRO, even though her socially moderate views as a state legislator have probably been more moderate than most in the NTRO. The organization has endorsed her and worked to re-elect her in the 17th State House District for more than a decade, notwithstanding her cultural views.

However, Beth Coulson is not, like Bob Dold, part of the very long term rank and file of the NTRO. Beth’s base, if you will, is more in Northfield Township, where she received the most votes, but did not meet the two-thirds necessary for an endorsement. NTRO’s endorsement procedures, unlike Wheeling and Northfield, do not require a supra-majority.

So, in short, the fact that NTRO endorsed Dold for the 10th CD and no one got the endorsement in Northfield had more to do with the personal, not ideological, histories of the candidates and perhaps the nuances of what it takes for an endorsement than any shift to the right in those organizations. I am not familiar with the nuances of Elk Grove Village, but I imagine that endorsement also does not portend or reflect a shift to the right.

Moreover, Dold, Coulson, Catigan and Green sound quite similar on the issues, i.e., conservative, at the candidate forums. The forums I have attended have focused on domestic and foreign policy issues, with little attention paid to cultural issues. Based on their views expressed at forums, where there is little, if any, follow-up questions, those four Republican candidates, who are the major Republican candidates, come across as quite similar in terms of healthcare, spending, taxes, stimulus, Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel, etc.

Bill Catigan, has appeared on “Public Affairs,” and from that appearance and elsewhere we know his cultural views are generally socially moderate, not unlike those of thirteen year State Rep. Coulson and those of Cong. Kirk and Cong. Porter, two Republicans who have held the 10th CD seat for the last thirty years [Attorney Cadigan is a former Cong. Porter staffer and campaign manager]. We don’t know as much about Bob Dold and Dick Green, including on the social issues as both have declined to appear on “Public Affairs,” and both have gone out of their way not to take clear positions on the social issues, apparently arguing that is not what the 10th CD Republican Primary is about. [State Rep. Coulson was scheduled to tape Public Affairs this afternoon, but advised us yesterday that she lost her voice and confirmed this morning that she would have to re-schedule].

In conclusion, if there is any kind of a shift to the right in the North Shore or Northwest Republican township organizations, you couldn’t tell if from the endorsement votes. And, if Politico thinks anything going on the IL 10th CD is at all related or similar to what went on NY 23, they surely have made no such case. Perhaps they should have someone write for them who knows something about the IL 10th CD. Could we suggest, in all modesty, this guy Berkowitz? See here and here.
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More than 116 of our shows from the last two years are posted on the Public Affairs YouTube page . Our most recent shows w/ Democratic Primary 7th CD candidate, Chicago Ald. Sharon Denise Dixon [24th Ward]and Democratic Primary State Comptroller candidate Clint Krislov are now streaming.
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IL State GOP Chairman Brady: The meeting with Chairman Steele,Rep. Coulson, Tom Cross, et al was not as reported in Politico- "They were 100% wrong."

2009-11-21T04:38:00.021-06:00

IL State GOP Chairman Pat Brady says, "Politico was completely, 100% wrong.”
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Jeff Berkowitz: And, I take it Michael Steele is staying neutral in the 10th Cong. District.

IL State GOP Chairman Pat Brady: Absolutely. The focus is completely on a big picture approach to winning seats from top to bottom in Illinois.
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Jeff Berkowitz: Do you expect [Beth Coulson] to say anything or do anything to kind of—

Pat Brady: No, I think it was an honest screw up, mistake by a staffer so that’s why I don’t want to hang anybody out to dry—too much.
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Yesterday's reports from "Public Affairs." Capitolfax and Politico

This journalist reported yesterday, based on comments from Team Coulson and a Team Coulson press release, about State Rep. and 10th CD candidate Beth Coulson attending an upcoming meeting with RNC Chairman Steele and others relating to “the upcoming midterm elections in Illionois and how to keep the 10th CD in Republican hands.” Go here and here.

Although this journalist did not say that Beth Coulson was being supported or given preferred treatment in the 10th CD by Chairman Steele, that was the aura from the Coulson press release. Rich Miller, in the Capitolfax blog went further:

The GOP leaders believe that Coulson is the best shot at holding onto that seat. But she has to get through the primary first. Coulson, for her part, is trying hard to move right.

So did Politico:

State Rep. Beth Coulson, one of the most moderate Republican candidates running for Congress, will be meeting with Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele tomorrow in Illinois to discuss her campaign – and the need for Republicans to have a big-tent party so it can compete in Democratic-minded districts

According to State GOP Chairman Pat Brady, speaking by phone yesterday after the meeting with Coulson, Chairman Steele, Illinois State House GOP Republican Leader Cross, Chairman Brady and others, the meeting was not focused on “Beth’s campaign,” or on the “need to have a big-tent Party.” Take a listen:

The Report from State GOP Chairman Pat Brady

Jeff Berkowitz: All right, so what’s the news?

State GOP Chairman Pat Brady: The news is probably no news, really. We had a meeting today with leadership from different parts of the State, with the National Chairman to talk about mapping out a strategy for victory in 2010, from the [U. S.] Senate races all the way on down.

Jeff Berkowitz: So, was this with Cross, Radogno, you and—

State GOP Chairman Pat Brady: Yeah, with me, Cross, Radogno, Randy Pollack-County Chairman’s Association, Lee Roupas [Cook County Republican Party Chairman], several members of the State Central Committee, the State Party finance people-our fundraisers, [Chairman] Steele, our regional political director-Chris McNulty, he’s our representative from the RNC.

Jeff Berkowitz: Was this the meeting that involved the State legislators or was that a separate one?

Pat Brady: It wasn’t all the State legislators, it was just representative leadership.

Jeff Berkowitz: Not all, I’m saying, but some state legislators?

Pat Brady: Yes. some were there.

Jeff Berkowitz: Can you name them?

Various State Legislators attended the meeting

Pat Brady: Beth was there. Beth Coulson. My cousin- [State Rep.] Dan Brady was there. [State Senator and Republican Primary guv candidate Bill Brady (Bloomington) ] was there. [Leader] Tom Cross. Who else. [Cook County Commissioner] Liz Gorman. A representative from [State Rep.] Roger Eddy. A representative from the Congressional delegation.

Focus not on the 10th CD

Jeff Berkowitz: So, the focus wasn’t at all on the 10th Cong. District?

Pat Brady: No, not at all.

Chairman Steele stays neutral

Jeff Berkowitz: And, I take it Michael Steele is staying neutral in the 10th Cong. District.

Pat Brady: Absolutely. The focus is completely on a big picture approach to winning seats from top to bottom in Illinois.

Jeff Berkowitz: Meaning State and Federal?

Pat Brady: Yup.

Jeff Berkowitz: Anything new come out in terms of a slice on how the Republicans are going to play it in Illinois in terms of winning seats? Retaining seats?

Pat Brady: I’m sorry. Couldn’t hear you. In terms of what?

Jeff Berkowitz: In terms of either retaining or winning seats? Any particular newsworthy slice as to—

State GOP anticipates pick-ups

Pat Brady: Just that they anticipate-- I didn’t hear any numbers on pick ups in the House and in the Senate-- Tom and Chris didn’t give specific numbers. I know there are seventeen contested races in the [State] House and I don’t know how many there are in the Senate. It was just more that they anticipate pick-ups.

Jeff Berkowitz: Is the National Republican Party going to be able to assist—that’s only in the general election, I imagine.

Pat Brady: Just in the general [election], yeah.

Jeff Berkowitz: Are they planning to assist in the U. S. Senate race? And in the Gubernatorial race?

Help all up and down the ticket

Pat Brady: Yes, throughout the State, from the Senate on down. It was interesting. The Chairman made a point of it. Absolutely, we want to help with the Senate race because that’s a big national focus. But, equally important to him is getting the lower seats—because he is a former County Chairman, a Lt. Governor [Maryland] and local guy and he wants to make sure there are going to be resources to help all up and down the ticket.

Jeff Berkowitz: I think that’s…

Pat Brady: The 10th [CD], that was just flat out wrong. The 10th was never that. This whole meeting was just the way I described it. It was not as it was reported in Politico. They were completely, 100% wrong.

Jeff Berkowitz: Politico reported that---

Pat Brady: Yeah, Politico had a big article. Even Joe Ryan [Daily Herald] put something in there about Beth Coulson. It just wasn’t. That’s not what it was, at all.

Jeff Berkowitz: Do you expect [Beth] to say anything or do anything to kind of—

A honest screw-up by a Coulson staffer

Pat Brady: No, I think it was an honest screw up, mistake by a staffer so that’s why I don’t want to hang anybody out to dry—too much.

A Republican Primary front-runner in the 10th CD?

Jeff Berkowitz: Do you have any impressions on who is the [Republican] front-runner in the 10th Cong. District?

Pat Brady: I do not. Do you?

Jeff Berkowitz: I’m—

Pat Brady: I don’t. I’m really-- a run of good candidates.

Jeff Berkowitz: Well, I think four. I think there are four major candidates [Bill Catigan, Beth Coulson, Bob Dold and Dick Green]. I don’t think it’s going to go beyond that.

Pat Brady: Yeah. I’m for the winner, man.
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More than 116 of our shows from the last two years are posted on the Public Affairs YouTube page . Our most recent shows w/ Democratic Primary 7th CD candidate, Chicago Ald. Sharon Denise Dixon [24th Ward]and Democratic Primary State Comptroller candidate Clint Krislov are now streaming.
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10th CD Candidate Rep. Coulson meets today with RNC Chairman Steele, Republican Leaders Cross and Radogno and State GOP Chairman Brady

2009-11-20T05:15:00.005-06:00

Video links added on Friday at 12:45 pm (CST)
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The Coulson campaign sent out a press release late yesterday afternoon indicating that 10th Cong. District Republican Primary candidate Beth Coulson is joining Illinois House Republican Leader Tom Cross, Illinois Senate Republican Leader Chris Radogno and Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady in a meeting with RNC Chairman Michael Steele to talk about the upcoming midterm elections in Illionois and how to keep the 10th CD in Republican hands.

The Coulson Press release quoted State Rep. Coulson, “as welcoming the opportunity to meet with Chairman Steele to discuss how the Illinois Republican Party can compete in many of the state elections and how we can keep this seat in Republican control.”

10th CD candidate and State Rep. Coulson noted to this reporter in a phone conversation last night that she would not just be discussing the 10th CD with Chairman Steele but they would be discussing how Republicans can win in many districts.

House Republican Leader Tom Cross noted in the press release that he had already endorsed the 13 year veteran state legislator, Rep. Beth Coulson, to replace Cong. Mark Kirk in the 10th CD seat he has held for nine years.
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When asked last night by this reporter if he thought the meeting by Chairman Steele with Rep. Coulson was showing some kind of favoritism that might be inappropriate, 10th CD candidate Bill Catigan (R-Winnetka) said, “if he does, I don’t think it will have the intended effect. There are no more independent group of voters than the Republicans in the 10th Congressional District. If [Chairman Steele] were to make an endorsement, I don’t know that most people would give it great weight.”

When asked by this reporter if he would be thrilled and honored if former 10th CD Congressman John Porter [1979-2000] were to endorse him, Candidate Cadigan said, “John Porter is someone with a record of involvement in the Community. for …35 years and no one knows this District better than John Porter. I think national figures who don’t live here who come in and make observations based on self-serving statements of candidates shouldn’t be given as much weight as people locally.”
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10th CD Republican Candidate State Rep. Beth Coulson to meet with RNC Chairman Michael Steele.

2009-11-19T14:33:00.006-06:00

10th CD Republican Primary Candidate State Rep. Beth Coulson (R-Glenview) is scheduled to meet tomorrow afternoon, in the Chicago Loop, with RNC Chairman Michael Steele.

It is not known by this journalist if Chairman Steele will be meeting on this trip to Chicago with any other 10th CD candidates.

Coulson is vying for the 10th CD Republican nomination with three other major candidates: Small businessman Bob Dold (Kenilworth); Wealthy financial sector entrepreneur Dick Green (Winnetka); and attorney Bill Cadigan (Winnetka). Ari Friedman, a retired military officer and peditrician entered the race recently and it is thought that it might have been too late for Friedman to become a credible contender. Patricia Bird and Paul Hamann are not thought to have a serious chance to win the nomination.

On the Democratic side, the major contenders are Dan Seals (who was the Democratic nomninee for the 10th CD seat in 2006 and 2008) and 11th year State Rep. Julie Hamos (Evanston).

The current 10th CD incumbent, Cong. Mark Kirk (R-Highland Park), who has held the seat since 2000, is expected by most knowledgeable pundits to win, farily easily, the 2010 Republican Primary nomination for the U. S. Senate and is the current, slight favorite to win the general election contest in the fall over State Treasurer Giannoulias, Former Chicago Inspector General David Hoffman or former Chicago Urban League President Cheryle Jackson.
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Gov. Pat Quinn to Dan Hynes: I’m the Governor and you’re not; Hynes to Quinn: "It's about leadership, Pat."

2009-11-19T02:45:00.017-06:00

Text revised significantly and supplemented, and video links added, at 1:00 pm on Thursday.
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There is not a lot of daylight between Quinn and Hynes whether it is tax policy, healthcare policy, state treatment of illegal immigrants, spending priorities, education policy, job growth policy or whatever. The views of Quinn and Hynes are consistently liberal and virtually identical on most issues to those of the other. Hynes' emphasis on his preference, long term, for a progressive income tax is a difference with Gov. Quinn that is more apparent than real.
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Jeff Berkowitz: What substantive difference do you see between you and Dan Hynes on healthcare policy.

Gov. Pat Quinn: Well, I think I am the Governor and he wants to be Governor and I think the person who is Governor has a good record at fighting for fundamental reforms this year; we got a very far reaching insurance reform that allows healthcare consumers who are not treated properly by an insurance company who have a grievance to have an independent review of their denied care. I think this could make a big difference for a lot of families in Illinois and I was the Governor who got that done and I look forward to doing many more things like that.

Jeff Berkowitz: But, fundamentally on policy, you’re in agreement with Dan Hynes, aren’t you?

Gov. Pat Quinn: I’m the Governor. You know, people can agree with me. I’m the one who is doing all these things every day. That’s how it works.
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Exchange between Berkowitz and Gov. Quinn (D-IL) after yesterday's Campaign for Better Health Care Debate between Gov. Pat Quinn and his primary challenger State Comptroller Dan Hynes.
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After debating for over an hour, starting at 8:00 am yesterday at the Union League Club of Chicago, and then holding separate post game media availabilities, Gov. Quinn and Comptroller Dan Hynes clashed once again for another hour, or so, starting around 3:30 pm and going at it for an hour before the Campaign for Better Health Care, which seems to be a fully owned subsidiary of various labor unions, along with a few medical provider groups thrown in for good measure. The debate was at the Holiday Inn at 350 North Orleans in the Loop, as a part of a meeting of the Campaign for Better Health Care, whose leaders seem to have a big time distaste for "teabaggers."

There is not a lot of daylight between Quinn and Hynes whether it is tax policy, healthcare policy, spending priorities, education policy, job growth policy or whatever. The views of Quinn and Hynes are consistently liberal and virtually identical on most issues to those of the other. Hynes' emphasis on his preference, long term, for a progressive income tax is a difference with Gov. Quinn that is more apparent than real. Quinn would like a progressive income tax, too. He just thinks his proposal for increased personal exemptions is more practical and quicker and more likely to be achievable than going the constitutional amendment route, which may not be politically feasible. To establish a true progressive income tax in Illinois, as Hynes' proposes, requires a constitutional amendment.

In contrast to the virtually identical public policy positions of Quinn and Hynes, Democratic Gubernatorial Primary candidate Ed Scanlan has significant public policy differences with Hynes and Quinn [Scanlan, a very successful trial lawyer, opposes an increase in the state income or sales tax to deal with the State's budget deficit and he has a much greater emphasis on making the State more job growth friendly]- Watch Scanlan here], but Doc Walls and Scanlan were excluded from the Union League Club of Chicago debate, based on allegedly low polling numbers. This journalist is not familiar enough with the views of Democratic Primary Gov candidate Walls to know if they would differ substantially from those of Quinn and Hynes.

As to Hynes' vaunted short-term revenue solution of an increased cigarette tax, closing tax loopholes, an expanded sales tax and an increase in the casino tax, Quinn is not conceptually opposed to any of that and has proposed or supported much of the same, at one time or another [Indeed, when Quinn opposed Blagojevich's proposed Gross Receipts Tax, Quinn argued, instead, for closing "loopholes," to the corporate income tax]. Gov. Pat Quinn, again, may question the current political feasibility, but not desireability, of some of those measures proposed by Dan Hynes.

Hynes responds to the above volleys of Quinn by saying that Quinn is not providing the requisite "Leadership," to accomplish the spending and revenue priorities and budget needed to support Democratic goals and program. So, at the end of the day and the debate, we are back to where we started: Not a lot of difference between Quinn and Hynes on public policy substantive issues. Hynes to Quinn: It's about leadership, Pat. Quinn to Hynes: Yeah, I'm leading by being Governor every day, as I have been doing for the last ten months, what are you doing to solve the state's problems?

One significant item on which a Quinn-Hynes difference exists is pension reform policy and this difference was highlighted during yesterday's post Union League Club of Chicago debate media availability with Hynes. Hynes argued vigorously, when challenged by the media, that the State should not move toward a defined contribution pension for new state employees, while keeping its defined benefit system for current employees.

Such a change would save tens of billions of dollars for the state in the next two to three decades, making the state's public sector pensions solvent. Quinn says he supports such a change in the State's pensions with its government employees, including teachers. Hynes thinks that would be an inappropriate treatment of new teachers and other new state government employees.
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More than 114 of our shows from the last two years are posted on the Public Affairs YouTube page . Our most recent show w/ Democratic Primary State Comptroller candidate Clint Krislov is now streaming.
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Almost as good as the late John Callaway w/the late Harold Washington:Berkowitz w/ 7th CD Candidate Ald. Sharon Denise Dixon; Cable and soon streaming

2009-11-17T18:45:00.007-06:00

This week's Chicago Metro Suburban edition of "Public Affairs," features 2010 7th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary candidate Chicago Ald. Sharon Denise Dixon (D-24th Ward)

The Chicago Metro Suburban airing schedule for Public Affairs is included, below. The show was recorded on Sunday, November 15, 2009.
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You can soon watch the show with Ald. Dixon on your computer here.
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Chicago Ald. Sharon Denise Dixon is a candidate in the 7th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary. Cong. Danny Davis, a thirteen year incumbent, filed for both President of the Cook County Board and for re-election in the 7th CD. After he saw the competition in the Cook County Board President race, he apparently decided, a week after filing, to withdraw from the race for President of the Cook County Board. So, the real question is- why did Cong. Davis file for County Board President? Why, indeed.

In addition to Ald. Dixon, a number of candidates have apparently decided to stay in the 7th CD race, including Deputy Cook County Recorder of Deeds Darlena Williams-Burnett, Businessman Jim Ascot, Businesswoman Joyce Washington and Rev. Hatch. Senator Hendon has dropped out to run for Lt. Governor. State Reps. Ford and Collins have dropped out to run for re-election. It is interesting that Cong. Davis has attracted three African-American females to oppose his re-election. Some have suggested there might be a “ringer,” or two in that group. Someone filing mainly to drain votes from someone else? That type of thing has been known to happen in Chicago politics.
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Ald. Dixon is a smart, thoughtful candidate who knows the public policy issues and she knows politics, as well. She came up in politics via the grassroots, upsetting a 12 year incumbent Alderman in the 24th Ward more than two years ago. She is looking for a repeat in February, as she seeks to upset a 13 year incumbent congressman, Danny Davis.

Ald. Dixon debates and discusses a broad range of domestic and foreign policy issues with show host and executive legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz on this week’s suburban edition of “Public Affairs.” Topics discussed include was the military guilty of political correctness in dealing with Major Hasan? If President Obama asks for a resolution supporting 40,000 additional troops for the war in Afghanistan, should Congress give it to him? Was General Casey wacky on diversity and the Ft. Hood shooting? Should illegal immigrants be included in the Obama healthcare reform plan? Should residents in the City of Chicago have greater choice from charter and voucher schools? Is the Obama economic stimulus program working? Should abortion be permitted in the third trimester if a woman’s life is not at issue? Should taxes be increased or decreased? Should we allow same sex marriage? Should we bring back the ban on assault weapons? Should citizens in the City of Chicago be allowed to possess a handgun in their homes? Outside their homes? And much, much more.
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The Chicago Metro suburban episode of "Public Affairs with Jeff Berkowitz," featuring this week's guest, 2010 7th Cong. District Democratic Primary candidate Chicago Ald. Sharon Denise Dixon (D-24th Ward), airs on:

Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.

and tonight, Tuesday night, at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, parts of Inverness, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Wilmette

and tonight, Tuesday night, at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 35 in Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Glenview, Golf, Des Plaines, Hanover Park, Mt. Prospect, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights, Schaumburg, Skokie, Streamwood and Wheeling.
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The Public Affairs show featuring Ald. Sharon Denise Dixon a candidate for U. S. Representative from the 7th Cong. Dist. in the Democratic Primary, also airs on Monday night (Nov. 30) throughout the City of Chicago at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
More than 114 of our shows from the last two years are posted on the Public Affairs YouTube page .
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Better than Stephanopoulos w/ Hillary Clinton: Berkowitz w/Democratic Illinois Comptroller Candidate Clint Krislov; Cable and Soon Streaming

2009-11-16T18:33:00.012-06:00

Clint Krislov: No, I’m not waffling. I’m telling you when people get their pension doubled or tripled and then move out of state, so that they can receive their pension and start working somewhere else now and they never have to pay Illinois tax on that, that’s a concern.
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Ed. Note: Is Krislov waffling? You can watch the whole show and be the judge of that. For more on this general issue, See the comments of the Chicago Tribune's Eric Zorn and Berkowitz here.
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As the saying by Woody Allen goes, “90% of life is just showing up.” So, [Democratic Comptroller candidates Krislov and Krishnamoorphi are getting "Public Affairs," grades in the 90% and up range, which are very good grades. State Rep. David Miller? So far, not so good.
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The "Public Affairs," show featuring Clint Krislov, Candidate in the 2010 Democratic Primary for Comptroller, is airing tonight, Nov.16 on cable in Aurora and surrounding areas at 7:30 pm on ACTV-10. The program also airs at 3:30 pm tomorrow and Wednesday in Aurora and surrounding areas (New regular slots for "Public Affairs"). The Aurora station, ACTV-10, aka Aurora Community Television, Comcast Cable Ch. 10, reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery.

The "Public Affairs," show featuring Clint Krislov, Candidate in the 2010 Gubernatorial Democratic Primary, will also air throughout the City of Rockford (and in surrounding areas) this Thursday night, November 19 at 8:00 pm on Cable Ch. 17. The surrounding areas reached by Ch. 17 include Byron, Cedarville, Cherry Valley, Loves Park, Machesney Park, Mount Morris, New Milford, Portions of Ogle County, Oregon, Polo, Stillman Valley, Winnebago, Portions of Boone County and Poplar Grove.

All of the above are regular airing slots for "Public Affairs."
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You can also soon watch the show with Clint Krislov on your computer.
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For more about this week's show with Clint Krislov please go here.
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Raising taxes and fairness

Clint Krislov (D-Wilmette), Candidate for State Comptroller: What Krislov says is that before you can ask people to raise their taxes, you’ve got to make the system fair, you’ve got to make it so that it’s not just the taxpayers who are the sucker in this game…

Jeff Berkowitz: How do you make it fair?

Clint Krislov (D-Wilmette): You eliminate the double and triple dippers, people who are able to leave employment at age 60 and make, three pensions, more than they ever made when they were working for the State and local—
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Clint Krislov: …the Comptroller should be the taxpayer’s, the citizen’s watchdog.
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The Comptroller's bully pulpit and expressing concerns.

Jeff Berkowitz: …if you were the State Comptroller, would you use the bully pulpit to say, “You know, it would be fairer if people earning retirement benefits, pension benefits had that income taxed [by the State of Illinois].”

Clint Krislov: It would be something you would have to consider

Jeff Berkowitz: But, you’re not taking a position?

Clint Krislov: Well, you know—

Jeff Berkowitz: You’re waffling.

Clint Krislov: No, I’m not waffling. I’m telling you when people get their pension doubled or tripled and then move out of state, so that they can receive their pension and start working somewhere else now and they never have to pay Illinois tax on that, that’s a concern.
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Ed. Note: Is Krislov waffling? You can watch the whole show and be the judge of that. For more on this general issue, See the comments of the Chicago Tribune's Eric Zorn and Berkowitz here. But, whatever you think about the above colloquy, most importantly, Clint Krislov showed up. One of his Democratic Primary opponent’s, Raja Krishnamoorthi, is also scheduled to show up and tape the show this Sunday.

But another Primary opponent of Krislov's, Rep. David Miller, is guilty, so far, of a much worse sin. Team Miller has not responded to our repeated invitations to schedule a time for Rep. Miller to tape the show. As the saying by Woody Allen goes, “90% of life is just showing up.” So, Krislov and Krishnamoorphi are getting "Public Affairs," grades in the 90% and up range, which are very good grades. Rep. Miller? so far, not so good.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
More than 114 of our shows from the last two years are posted on the Public Affairs YouTube page. *********************************************************************

Better than Olbermann w/Palin: Berkowitz w/Dem. Gov. Candidate Ed Scanlan; On Cable tonight in Chicago, now Streaming

2009-11-16T03:55:00.004-06:00

New Trier, Northfield and Wheeling Republican organization endorsement sessions: Quotes and Totals

2009-11-15T04:32:00.004-06:00

New Trier Republican Organization endorsment session

“It’s fantastic to get the endorsement of the New Trier Republican Organization (“NTRO,”) said Kenilworth’s 10th CD candidate Bob Dold yesterday. It’s a thoughtful organization- true honor to get their endorsement. There are twelve organizations like this in the 10th CD, but there are only four are five that will actually endorse… We got the Elk Grove endorsement so we are two for two. [Subsequently, it was determined that both Northfield and Wheeling did not endorse anyone in the 10th CD, see below].

Gubernatorial candidate Andy McKenna, Jr. said yesterday, “Well, I am pleased to be endorsed by NTRO [dual endorsement with Dan Proft], it is a great organization.” When this reporter asked if he was now the front-runner, Andy McKenna said, “You know, we are really having fun with this race…we are pleased with the momentum we are having. There are 80 days to go and we love competition and there’s a lot ahead of us.” When asked what he saw as the key issue in the campaign, McKenna said, “It’s the one I spoke about today, this outrageous spending and outrageous debt. People in Illinois are deeply troubled by a government that’s about to collapse and it all happened because of bad leadership. And people want common sense, simple, courageous leadership that will make decisions to rein it in. We’re not headed for a fiscal, rainy day, we’re headed for a fiscal Katrina and I’m just going to fix it. If that means tough decisions and a one-term governor, I’ll do it. I want to fix the problem.”

This reporter asked McKenna if he could control it all by spending cuts or does he have to consider a revenue or tax increase? McKenna said, “Illinois taxpayers gave Illinois more and more revenue. It is just that the leaders down there spent faster than the tax dollars came in and we have to live within our means.”

Jim Dodge was elated about winning the NTRO endorsement, noting that he had also won his home township, Orland Township, and that he picked up a straw poll victory in Milton township in DuPage, won unanimously in Schaumburg Township and he was expecting “some support out in Will County, as well.” Dodge said he thought, “people were responding to the idea of making a clean break with the politics of the past so that we can move forward.” Dodge said, “the people remember, whether it is fair or unfair to Judy, how she was tied to George Ryan by Blagojevich… and frankly the whole Alan Keyes thing happened on her watch as State Party Chairman.” When this reporter asked Dodge if he thought taxes should be increased, he said, “Absolutely not, emphatically not. Worse possible move.” I asked, “You don’t think there should be an increase in the income tax or sales tax for the next four years? Dodge said there should not be such an increase. He said the State spends too much money. When this reporter asked if Dodge could find ten billion dollars to cut since he said there was a ten billion dollar deficit, Dodge said, “Yes, [but] it’s not necessarily the Comptroller’s job, the comptroller’s role would be to get the facts right, so that the legislature, who ultimately controls the dollars, and the Governor, have a clear set of facts.”

Tolbert Chisum, NTRO Committeeman, speaking yesterday from the Winnetka Community House, the site of the endorsement session, said that in the Republican gubernatorial primary, Dan Proft won the first vote, 25 to 20 over McKenna, Jr. with the remaining votes being splintered among the other candidates and that the run-off between Proft and McKenna resulted in a tie at 32 votes each, meaning that NTRO would make a dual endorsement. Chisum said he had been neutral in the race for Governor and now that his organization has endorsed Proft and McKenna, he would be supporting them both.

Chisum acknowledged that McKenna, who had lived, with his family, in Glenview for many years, was kind of the hometown guy and “much better known there than Proft,” in his organization’s endorsement vote. This reporter asked Committeeman Chisum if Proft would get some notoriety out of this since he had tied a guy who was from the area and has been running big time TV ads. Chisum responded that this tie told him “Proft was representing his views very well and that people are hearing what he has to say.” When I asked Tolbert if he thought this meant “Proft had a shot at getting the Republican Party nomination,” Tolbert Chisum just laughed and said, “Thank you, Jeff, I’m not going to go there, I am only dealing with New Trier.”

NTRO Committeeman Chisum said the 10th CD vote was a surprise in that Bob Dold won it on the first ballot with about 52 %. [Chisum said it was 36 votes for Dold, 20 for Dick Green and 11 for State Rep. Beth Coulson, with Bill Cadigan getting 3 or 4 votes]. Chisum said the big surprise was Coulson’s third place performance because a lot of people thought she was the favorite because “She is the current State Rep. for the 17th Dist. and well known in this area…we’ve supported her thru New Trier strongly the last three elections and she has more name recognition than anyone but again Robert Dold had a strong showing- this is his home territory so his message is clear-- and Dick Green also made a strong showing…”

Committeeman Chisum said that Cong. Mark Kirk, who grew up in New Trier Township and is its Congressman, picked up the U. S. Senate endorsement, getting 94% of the vote, with several of his conservative opponents getting one or two votes each.

Jim Dodge picked up the NTRO endorsement over Topinka for Comptroller.

Northfield Township Republican Organization endorsement session

In Northfield Township, Cook County Comm. Goslin received the endorsement but the organization did not endorse anyone for Governor [McKenna, the top vote getter], Lt. Gov. [Plummer, the top vote getter], 10th CD [Coulson, the top vote getter], or Comptroller [Topinka, the top vote getter], as no one received the requisite two thirds for endorsement in those races.

Wheeling Township Republican Organization endorsement session

There was no endorsement for Governor, although Dillard received the largest vote total in the third round (46) to Brady’s 33, but Dillard did not have the requisite 60% for an endorsement.

For Lt. Gov., the local native son Sen. Matt Murphy received 41 votes to downstate Jason Plummer’s 40 votes in the third ballot, but again that was insufficient for the endorsement.

For 10th CD, Bill Cadigan was the top vote getter in the third round, with 43 to Dold’s 40 votes, but again that was insufficient for an endorsement.

In the U. S. Senate race, Pat Hughes edged out Cong. Mark. 43 to 38 in the third round vote totals, but again, that was insufficient for an endorsement.

Jim Dodge picked up the endorsement for Comptroller over Topinka, winning 53 votes to 25 in the second round.
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To improve Cook Cty democracy, Gov.Quinn holds a Strange, Saturday, Sabbath Stroger Presser—but it was not about Stroger, or Stroger's tax- or was it?

2009-11-12T02:36:00.009-06:00

A strange Saturday Sabbath with Gov. Quinn

It was a strange Saturday afternoon at the Thompson Center in the Chicago Loop this past weekend. The few media who showed up in the Blue Room on the 15th Floor for the Press Conference called by Governor Quinn to watch him sign some new legislation were treated to a University of Chicago reform seminar. Yup, it was Poly Sci 101, goo goo style, with Professor Quinn presiding, flanked by his teaching assistants, State Rep. Walker (D-Arlington Heights) and Senator Kotowski.(D-Park Ridge). Senator Noland (D-Elgin) and Rep. Zalewski (D- Summit) were kind of auditing the course-- in attendance, but not really participating. All the show was missing was the reform movement's defrocked Larry Bloom.

Many of the less tutored thought that various Democratic legislators were concerned about the negative image President Stroger is giving the Democratic Party. To such legislators, President Stroger stands for higher Cook County sales taxes, perhaps the highest in the nation, which upsets consumers, employers and employees (voters all) in Cook County who think business and low priced products are being driven out of Cook County, taking with them jobs. Indeed, earlier this year, when appearing on Public Affairs, it seemed that Rep. Walker had that point of view. See here. [Rep. Walker: When I asked people, “what is the number one thing you want me to do in Springfield,” you know what they said? “Get rid of Todd Stroger.”]

Stroger enablers no more: the Democratic Party is now about reform?

The legislation, recently passed, which lowers the requisite percentage of Cook County Board members to override President Stroger’s veto from 80% to 60%, was thought by most to be intended, specifically, to allow the County Board to repeal the much maligned increase in the County sales tax.

When the media showed up on Saturday, they were surprised to learn that Gov. Quinn never really focuses on an individual, such as Todd Stroger or Dan Hynes. For Pat Quinn, Illinois’ only Governor in the 21st Century not to have been indicted, changing the override legislation for Cook County was akin to cleaning up an historical, legislative anomaly. Indeed, it was as if Gov. Quinn had said Saturday was about insuring a more perfect union of the one hundred two counties, only one of which, Cook, had been out of sync with its 80% veto override requirement.

Walker and Kotowski: no politics, please

Same with Rep. Walker and Senator Kotowski. For them, the Saturday afternoon signing ceremony was really just another effort at reform, viewed almost as a glorious, but abstract, concept. Yes, Rep. Walker conceded that the increase in the Cook County sales tax was quite bad for the economy in the District he represents, but he couldn’t really say how much the sales tax increase should be rolled back. That was for others to decide. State Rep. Walker had not gotten “that deep into the numbers to say which is the right solution.” Walker had signed up for the poly sci seminar, not the math seminar.

And, of course, neither Sen. Kotowski nor Rep. Walker was much concerned about the politics of the situation. Like Captain Renault in Casablanca, they would be shocked to discover that politics was going on- by politicians holding a presser on a Saturday afternoon- in the blue room. And, to the media’s surprise, no Democrats in the Blue Room had heard anything about Speaker Madigan bottling up, for months, the veto override legislation. Yup, in the University of Chicago seminar view of the making of public policy, it is all about goo-goo goodness, sweetness and reform. Politics at the Thompson Building? Who would have thunk such a thing?

Cook County Comm. Tony Peraica (R-Land of Topinka) showed up and even took to the lectern, after the Dems finished, to provide a counter-lecture, suggesting that yes, the Democrats were indeed worried about encountering the wrath of the people upset about Stroger’s tax and other antics-- and the corruption of the now impeached, arrested and indicted former Governor, Rod Blagojevich. Blago, of course, is affectionately known by one of the seven Republican candidates for Governor, Andy McKenna, Jr. as “Hair.” And, that is the most substantive statement to come out of McKenna’s nascent campaign, to date,

Peraica contended, essentially, that the Democrats were trying to enable a repeal of the County sales tax, to save their political hyde.

Senator Kotowski responded to Comm. Peraica that his feelings were hurt that Tony would even suggest such.

And, the media present were shamed for daring to suggest same.

Finally, it was rumored that all the pols present were being considered for the faculty of the school of journalism at the University of Chicago, should such a school be started.

And, if you would like to read about Saturday’s Seminar, an actual, partial transcript of the press conference at the Thompson Center is included, below.
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Jeff Berkowitz: Governor, Senator Kotowski said this wasn’t a matter of party, Democratic or Republican. I think a number of Republicans would argue what is going on [at this bill signing, reducing the vote required to override a Cook County Board President veto from 80% to 60%] is at least, in part, an effort by the Democrats to inoculate their State legislators …on the Northwest side of Chicago in particular and in the Northwest suburbs from the wrath of the voters with regard to Blagojevich, Todd Stroger, public corruption and indeed, they would argue, the Democratic Party in general. What do you say to them?

Gov. Quinn [D-IL]: Well, that sounds like a lot of words about something very specific. I think you should have a three fifths rule [for] the override of an Executive action at the County level in Cook County the way you have at the State level regarding the Governor and the Legislature. I think it is just simple, direct democracy and so…

Jeff Berkowitz: Could we get the response of, in particular, Senator Kutowski and Rep. Walker as to whether they think—

Gov. Quinn: Their political philosophy?

Jeff Berkowitz: No, as to whether they think this is a Todd Stroger concern because I think I have heard them talk about that, indeed, Mark Walker, when he was walking the precincts to get elected [in 2008] told me, the voters asked him “What are you going to do—when you go down to Springfield—about Todd Stroger?” So, I’d kind of like to hear [from Rep. Walker about that].

Gov. Quinn: I’d just like to say about myself. I don’t do anything in this office…that’s directed at any one person. I don’t believe in that. I don’t. People call me names. It’s water off a duck’s back, as far as I’m concerned…I’m not signing this bill to be directed at any one person or elected official…

State Rep. Mark Walker: That’s a very interesting question. As I go door to door, I hear all kinds of opinions expressed. …As far as my personal opinion of Todd Stroger, I’ve never met the man. I understand he is a very nice man. What I talked about with my constituents was what is going on in Cook County and what they talked about was the Stroger tax increase. So, I focused on the financial issues and I focus on what it is doing to the economy in my area. We have a lot of businesses that have moved outside of Cook County. We have a tremendous amount of shoppers that have crossed borders to buy…You can talk to anyone who lives in our area. They will tell you where they go so as not to shop in Cook County. I think that is simply bad policy and that’s why I pushed for this bill.

Monique Garcia [Chicago Tribune]: Do you think that that tax should be repealed…

Rep. Walker: I will leave that up to the [Cook County] commissioners. I understand that they have tried to cut the increase [in the added Cook County one cent sales tax] in half. I understand they have tried to take one per cent away. I am not that deep into the numbers to say which is the right solution.

Jeff Berkowitz: When you say that is bad policy, I thought you meant the tax increase that Todd Stroger pushed for and got. And, now you say, you don’t know if they should repeal it. So, what do you mean by bad policy?

Rep. Walker: Again, what I did say, not what you just said. What I did say was that I support reducing the tax. It’s up to them as to the question whether it should be the full amount or part of it—I leave that up to the commissioners.

Monique Garcia: But, you think that some portion should be—

Rep. Walker: That’s my perspective. But, again, it’s not my job to make that decision.

Jeff Berkowitz: Well, is it that the differential [between the Cook County tax and the tax in surrounding areas] is bad policy and you are not sure how much that differential should be? You said something was bad policy—what is it?

Rep. Walker: I think the tax increase that was passed has been destructive to the economy of my area.

Another reporter: It is undeniable, though, is it not that the driving force behind this move has been the sales tax reform, isn’t this why you’re here? Isn’t this why you’re signing this into law?

Rep. Walker: I would say to that. The driving force behind is, at least from my perspective, is a belief by my constituents that I talk to is that there is a lot wrong in Cook County, that they want to be better represented in Cook County, that there are issues- at least perceived issues of corruption, of mismanagement, of waste, of tax policy and they want to be better represented and I think one way to get them better represented is to give the commissioners more power of a systemic point of view.
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Senator Kotowski: …this is the type of initiative that needs to get passed to insure that, as Rep. Walker talked about, when you talk to somebody at their door, they don’t feel as powerless as they have felt in the past. This is a very important empowering piece of legislation; it’s an empowering law and we’re here to try to support it.

Jeff Berkowitz: …it was argued in the media that Speaker Madigan, also Chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party, was bottling up this effort [to reduce the percentage of Cook County board members required to override a veto by the President] for a long time. For some reason, he relented. So, if it is not about Party [as you suggest], it’s about reform- and it was said that Speaker Madigan was doing that because he did not want to upset Todd Stroger and perhaps the African-American community. Do you have any response to that? Do you think Speaker Madigan was bottling this up and why was he doing that?

Senator Kotowski: I don’t have a window into the workings of all people’s minds…I have a window into my own mind. Any, my own mind is that I worked with my colleague and my teammate Mark Walker on an initiative that we thought was good government. And, we worked very, very hard and we introduced one initiative and this is what happens in Springfield- sometimes something has an opportunity to get passed and you just keep pushing and pushing and pushing until it becomes law. That’s just simply what happened here. We refused to give up and good government is going to happen.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
More than 114 of our shows from the last two years are posted on the Public Affairs YouTube page .
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Better than Charlie Rose w/ Nicole Kidman; Berkowitz w/State Comptroller candidate Clint Krislov on state tax increases; Cable and Soon Streaming

2009-11-10T18:07:00.005-06:00

This week's Chicago Metro Suburban edition of "Public Affairs," features 2010 Democratic Primary State Comptroller candidate Clint Krislov, father of three who lives in Wilmette with his wife. His kids are now grown up. Clint is an accomplished lawyer in private practice who has been involved in many consumer protection and investor protection matters, and he views himself as a consumer and taxpayer watchdog, fighting over the years for transparency in business and government.

The Chicago Metro Suburban airing schedule for Public Affairs is included, below. The show was recorded on Sunday, November 8, 2009.
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You can soon watch the show with Clint Krislov on your computer here.
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Clint Krislov is running in the Democratic Primary against attorney Raja Krishnamoorphi and State Rep. David Miller. Raja is scheduled to appear on "Public Affairs," in December. Rep. Miller has not returned our calls to schedule an appearance.
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Clint Krislov debates and discusses the Comptroller race issues with show host and Executive Legal Recruiter Jeff Berkowitz, including the role of the Comptroller's office as a bully pulpit to discuss state budget deficits, taxes, tax increases, spending, double dippers, state pensions, taxing of pension benefits, spending cuts, education reform, the comptroller as a rubber stamp, various comptroller issues arising in the current Democratic gubernatorial primary, ratings of 10th CD candidates for transparency and much, much more.
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The Chicago Metro suburban episode of "Public Affairs with Jeff Berkowitz," featuring this week's guest, 2010 Democratic Primary State Comptroller candidate Clint Krislov, airs on:

Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka. This week's airing schedule in these ten suburbs includes a special airing on Thursday at 5:30 pm on Cable Ch. 19.

and tonight, Tuesday night, at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, parts of Inverness, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Wilmette

and tonight, Tuesday night, at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 35 in Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Glenview, Golf, Des Plaines, Hanover Park, Mt. Prospect, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights, Schaumburg, Skokie, Streamwood and Wheeling.
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The Public Affairs show featuring Clint Krislov, a candidate for State Comptroller in the Democratic Primary, also airs on Monday night (Nov. 23) throughout the City of Chicago at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
More than 114 of our shows from the last two years are posted on the Public Affairs YouTube page .
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Way Better than Stephanopoulos w/Cokie and Sam: Berkowitz w/Dem Gov. candidate Ed Scanlan on Taxes and Deficits, Cable and Streaming

2009-11-09T16:23:00.006-06:00

The "Public Affairs," show featuring Ed Scanlan, Candidate in the 2010 Democratic Primary for Governor, is airing tonight, Nov.9 on cable in Aurora and surrounding areas at 7:30 pm on ACTV-10. The program also airs at 3:30 pm tomorrow and Wednesday in Aurora and surrounding areas (New regular slots for "Public Affairs"). The Aurora station, ACTV-10, aka Aurora Community Television, Comcast Cable Ch. 10, reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery.

The "Public Affairs," show featuring Ed Scanlan, Candidate in the 2010 Gubernatorial Democratic Primary, will also air throughout the City of Rockford (and in surrounding areas) this Thursday night, November 12 at 8:00 pm on Cable Ch. 17. The surrounding areas reached by Ch. 17 include Byron, Cedarville, Cherry Valley, Loves Park, Machesney Park, Mount Morris, New Milford, Portions of Ogle County, Oregon, Polo, Stillman Valley, Winnebago, Portions of Boone County and Poplar Grove.

All of the above are regular airing slots for "Public Affairs."
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You can also watch the show with Ed Scanlan on your computer.
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For a partial transcript of the show with Ed Scanlan please go here.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
More than 114 of our shows from the last two years are posted on the Public Affairs YouTube page. *********************************************************************

Senator Brady gains slightly in last night’s forum while Dillard, Ryan and McKenna tread water.

2009-11-06T03:53:00.003-06:00

As to who won last night’s Republican gubernatorial candidate forum, we ask the question as to which candidate did the best job of helping to move the needle toward the win column.
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Retired, wealthy small businessman Adam Andrzejewski. With less than one hundred days left until the February 2, 2010 primary, Adam needs to shake things up now if he is going to have a shot then. Although telling this reporter he has a net worth of ten million dollars or more, it seems as if he will spend one million dollars, or less. That’s not enough for Adam to win this race without some help from his performance at forums, etc. Did he score points last night? Not enough to make a difference. If he isn’t going to spend two million dollars, he is going to have to take more risks at forums and score more points by taking on the front-runners.
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Downstate family businessman and State Senator Bill Brady (R-Bloomington): Going into last night’s debate, Senator Brady was a frontrunner with Dillard, but Jim Ryan and Andy McKenna, the latest candidates to join the race, represent real threats to Brady and Dillard.

Senator Brady has a number of significant factors going his way. With fifteen years in the General Assembly, the only candidate in the race from south of I-80 and a guy who picked up 20% in the Republican Gubernatorial Primary in 2006 (third out of four candidates), Brady has a nice political base and organization, a decent chunk of money, a good physical appearance and a reputation for not making many unforced errors. With all of the above going his way, Brady did not have to take chances and yet he took a few and came out with the needle pointing a little closer to the win column. Another good night for Bill.
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Senator Dillard also has a number of significant factors going his way. With fifteen years in the State Senate, a long history with Party establishment figures Thompson and Edgar, Dillard has a good political base and fundraising network. He has had an uneven start, got a boost from the Edgar endorsement and seems to be hitting his stride. However, Senator Dillard has too much to say and too little time to say it. Needs to both shorten and put more punch into his message. Needs more definition as to what he will do as Governor and less discussion of his press clippings. Neither hurt nor helped himself last night.
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Andy McKenna, Jr. came into the race last week with the release of a film and a commercial that “had them talking.” Known for his plodding and uncharismatic style, the ad shook things up. His strategy is to continue building brand and name recognition thru TV ads until Thanksgiving, pull back in December and then blitz with another air war in January. He will only selectively engage the earned media in an attempt to control, tightly, his message of “a Springfield outsider, who brings competence, honesty and integrity to the state’s fiscal problems.”

McKenna, Jr. raised two million dollars and put in more than two million dollars of his own money into his 2004 U. S. Senate Primary, but got only 14% of the vote and came in 4th of four serious candidates. He thinks he knows what he did wrong then and is back with what he views as a “new and improved product.”

McKenna is ready to spend more money in a shorter time period. In some respects, McKenna gives the appearance of a guy who is not yet in the lead, but is employing a “prevent defense.” When the other candidates stayed around after last night’s debate for short interviews in the green room, McKenna, Jr. literally ran for the exits as if a pit bull was chasing him. Perhaps he had select interviews set up elsewhere. Or, perhaps uncontrolled interviews are just not a part of his game plan. In any case, he sort of tread water most of last night. He didn’t excite as did his ads, but didn’t hurt himself much. His is a strategy that looks to January TV ads for success.
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Dan Proft, former political pundit, campaign consultant, campaign idea man and PR entrepreneur. Proft, running for Governor, is a bit like William F. Buckley, running for Mayor of New York. It was fun to do and fun to watch, in both cases, but winning is quite another matter. Proft and his creative ideas for how to run the State of Illinois are attracting a following. Last night, he ripped McKenna for saying we need to do the best we can, or something like that, for fixing education. As Proft said, Mckenna should have a specific plan (as Proft does), not a bromide, for fixing education, However, to be competitive to in this race, Proft needs to raise about 1.5 million dollars and drop some more of his own wealth into the campaign.
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Jim Ryan, former Attorney General and DuPage County State’s Attorney, ran and lost to Blagojevich in 2002. Jim just entered the governor’s race this week. Has demonstrated his personal character and integrity. Appears to have laundry lists of ways to improve education and fiscal responsibility. Needs to hone “his own approach,” as opposed to borrowing the best of his competitor’s stuff. Told this reporter after the debate that he favored a “tax swap,” and 5 billion dollar net increase in taxes two years ago but not now “because we are in a recession now.” Will also have to deal with Stu Levine again and again. Says he didn’t know what Stu Levine was doing in terms of improper government influence and Levine’s own personal life weirdness when Levine was giving money to Jim Ryan’s 2002 campaign. Ryan will have to appear much sharper at forums than he did last night-- if he is going to win this.
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Bob Schillerstrom, DuPage County Board Chairman. Bob thinks if he tells us what he did as DuPage County Board chairman, people will vote for him for Governor. I don’t think so. He needs a sharp, concrete plan for the State as Governor. And, he needs it now. Lost points last night and needs to start winning debates and points.
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Tonight’s Illinois Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Forum and the likely Main Stream Media liberal coverage bias

2009-11-05T04:35:00.009-06:00

As all seven Republicans in their gubernatorial primary head toward tonight’s show down forum sponsored by the State GOP at the Hilton in the Loop, it is useful to review the liberal journalism bias in this town. Tuesday night’s discussion on WTTW’s Chicago Tonight [Public TV] gives Republicans an idea of what they are up against in terms of Main Stream Media ("MSM") liberal bias in their coverage of the gubernatorial primaries and then general election. A partial transcript of Tuesday night’s program is included, below.

The MSM want a tax increase

Clearly, two of the three panelists [WGN’s Lisnek and the Chicago Reporter’s Lowry] think a major tax increase by the State of Illinois is in order. Pallasch doesn’t quite take a position but he certainly doesn’t challenge his co-panelists when they pop for increasing taxes. And, moderator Brackett never challenges her guests with the argument that maybe we shouldn’t increase taxes.

The MSM is deaf to proposed spending cuts

Further, nobody challenges Lisnek’s statement that the Republican candidates are “murky on spending cuts.” Has Lisnek not heard any of the Republican candidates talk about using managed care to cut Medicaid costs? Has Lisnek heard any of the candidates discuss reforming pensions for new state employees to be based on defined contributions, not defined benefits. Has he heard any of the candidates discuss increasing the state employee share of healthcare costs? Hell, even Quinn suggested that [until he met union resistance]. Perhaps make state employee salaries comparable to their private sector counterparts? Perhaps cut the number of state employees? Is all of this foreign to Lisnek? To his co- panelists? To Brackett?

Which party wants to increase taxes?

For the Republicans, six of their candidates for Governor say they oppose an income or sales tax increase [Jim Ryan did take a different position two years ago], and one, Dan Proft, wants to cut state income tax rates by 50%. On the other hand, the two major Democratic candidates for Governor, Quinn and Hynes, want to institute major increases in state income tax rates. Do you think the Democrats will get better treatment from WTTW than the Republicans during the gubernatorial campaign? Is the Pope Catholic?

Structural Deficits or excessive growth in state government spending?

And, you can apply that pretty much across the board with the MSM, at large. It is the conventional wisdom in and outside of Illinois that most States are suffering “structural deficits,” and the problem in those states is that their tax rates are too low. The fact that in most of those states, as in Illinois, spending increases in the last decade have far outstripped population growth and inflation will not deter the MSM from thinking that tax rates should be increased.

Far Left and Far Right

Further, others in the MSM in Illinois will join Lisnek in finding Brady and other Republicans to be “on the far right,” but you’ll never hear the MSM discuss any Democrats as being “on the far left.” I am sure it must be because this State has no “far left,” Democrats. There certainly could be no other explanation.

WTTW: Fair and Balanced?

Take a listen to what was said on WTTW on Tuesday night. You’ll be hearing much more of that left of center bias from the MSM in Illinois during the next year. You can make book on it. It might be nice if WTTW added a journalist who is in the center, or maybe even slightly right of center. But, who that person could be-- I just don’t know.
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Paul Lisnek, WGN News: But [Senator Bill] Brady is the most conservative of them all… in a Primary that may play well…[and] he may have some challenge to that—but this state I don’t think will be comfortable with that far right of a Governor. That said, Brady is quick to say-- forget the social issues, I am running on business and jobs.
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Abdon Pallasch, Chicago Sun-Times: …Dan Hynes first [ad] said that Pat Quinn wanted to raise taxes on everybody, which is partially true because his plan would have only taxed the rich, but then at one point he had to drop part of it so that it would have taxed everybody [Ed. Note: Actually, Quinn proposed expanding the level of exempt income per dependent, which meant that his plan would have resulted in income taxes increasing only for a family of four with incomes greater than 60K—which doesn’t seem to support Pallasch’s statement that Quinn initially “would have only taxed the rich.”]
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Elizabeth Brackett, WTTW panel moderator: Alden, do you think either one of them [Pat Quinn or Dan Hynes] is giving voters the sense that they can handle this fiscal crisis?

Alden Lowry, Chicago Reporter: At this point, no, but I’m not sure, though, anybody could- could really kind of come up with a magic pill that kind of gets us out of this; it certainly seems like it’s going to involve bringing new revenue in of some sorts, so whoever can present a tax package of some kind that seems fair and reasonable and something that people can swallow may be the person who can get a little bit of an edge; right now, though, we are seeing a lot of attack politics and that I think is the easier way to handle this kind of thing; whoever can throw up the biggest stone can move themselves ahead in the race.

Elizabeth Brackett: But both of these two candidates [Gov. Quinn and Comptroller Hynes] do say that there is going to be some sort of a tax increase, which is—none of the Republicans are saying that.

Abdon Pallasch: They both advance it, but neither has the political skills to pass it, so far.

Paul Lisnek: And, isn’t it interesting that you have campaign ads basically saying, “here’s how I am going to tax you.” Since when do we allow that, right? So, these guys basically say get ready for it. We all know it’s coming. It is coming. It just won’t come until after the primaries are done and probably after even the general election. Republicans keep saying, “No taxes,” we”ll keep cutting. When you ask them what they’re cutting, it gets a little murky at that point… Except that Dan Proft says-50%, cut everybody. [Ed. Note: Proft does favor cutting the individual and corporate income tax by 50%, but that is not what Lisnek said. Lisnek seemed to be having an out of body theatrical experience of some sort.].
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Elizabeth Brackett: There is one anti-tax Democratic candidate and that’s Ed Scanlan, the attorney. Do you think this will bring him any momentum?

Abdon Pallasch: …in the Republicans, there is a big enough field where surprises could happen down on the ticket [but] I think they would have a much harder chance for the further back candidates [Ed Scanlan and Doc Walls] in the Democratic Party to emerge.
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Panel Discussion, Chicago Tonight, WTTW, November 3, 2009
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
More than 114 of our shows from the last two years are posted on the Public Affairs YouTube page .
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Better than Tom Roeser w/Bill Ayers:Berkowitz w/Dem.Gubernatorial candidate Ed Scanlan on not raising the income tax and much more;Cable and Streaming

2009-11-04T15:23:00.009-06:00

Ed Scanlan [Democratic Primary candidate for Governor]: ... we ought to be trying to lure businesses into Illinois by giving them a tax Holiday…and then also trying to make our climate in Illinois one that businesses will want to come to. What they are doing is precisely the opposite. watch show with Ed Scanlan

Jeff Berkowitz: Who are they?

Ed Scanlan [D-Oak Park]: Governor Quinn and Comptroller Hynes. [They] are doing just the opposite.
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You can now watch the show with Ed Scanlan on your computer , as well as on Cable (See below).
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Jeff Berkowitz: …Ed Scanlan, you say, "Don’t raise [income] taxes at all, right?

Ed Scanlan [Democratic Primary candidate for Governor]: That’s correct.
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Ed Scanlan [D-Oak Park]: …Both of these gentlemen (Hynes and Quinn) are arguing about how best to tax the people of Illinois. Right now we are in the middle of a recession. There is an enormous deficit. Gov. Quinn’s proposal raises [individual and corporate income taxes by] 3.1 billion dollars…and the current estimates are anywhere from 110 to 120 billion dollars that we’re in the red. This doesn’t address the problem. This only makes it worse.

Jeff Berkowitz: What’s this? Raising taxes?

Ed Scanlan [D-Oak Park]: Raising taxes. What we need to do is to get businesses to locate in Illinois…Another thing you can do is normalize the State payroll. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says we are paying 12% more for comparable labor compared to the private sector…we’ve got to take a look at that. Current and former state employees are going to have to have a sacrifice. This is going to be a shared sacrifice to get this together…we ought to be trying to lure businesses into Illinois by giving them a tax Holiday…and then also trying to make our climate in Illinois one that businesses will want to come to. What they are doing is precisely the opposite.

Jeff Berkowitz: Who are they?

Ed Scanlan [D-Oak Park]: Gov. Quinn and Comptroller Hynes are doing just the opposite.
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Ed Scanlan: Jeff, there’s a distinction between standing up for labor, the men and women who work in labor and are members of the union and standing up for the union leadership. Both Gov. Quinn and Comptroller Hynes stand up for the union leadership—

Jeff Berkowitz: Is that why they get endorsements from the unions. It’s the union leadership that essentially is endorsing them?

Ed Scanlan [Democratic Primary candidate for Governor]: The way the Democratic Party, including both the State Comptroller and the Governor, have handled the issue is—they say to the unions when they are dealing with them: What do you need? I’ll give it to you. I’ll give you this deal but would you have your union support me, and then they send the bill to the taxpayers. That’s the way this State Democratic Party has been negotiating with unions. You need somebody to step up to the unions and deal with them in an arms length transaction, like the Sun-Times did…
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From Public Affairs w/Jeff Berkowitz, taped on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009, and airing in the Chicago Metro Suburbs on "Public Affairs," this week. For the suburban airing schedule and more about this week's show with Democratic Primary Gubernatorial candidate Ed Scanlan, please go here.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
More than 114 of our shows from the last two years are posted on the Public Affairs YouTube page .
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Better than Craig Dellimore w/ Mayor Daley: Berkowitz w/ Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Ed Scanlan; Cable and Streaming

2009-11-03T20:49:00.007-06:00

This week's Chicago Metro Suburban edition of "Public Affairs," features 2010 Democratic Primary gubernatorial candidate Ed Scanlan, who lives in Oak Park with his wife. His kids are now grown up. Ed is an accomplished lawyer in private practice who has tried more than one hundred jury trials to verdict. The Chicago Metro Suburban airing schedule for Public Affairs is included, below. The show was recorded on Sunday, November 1, 2009.
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You can also now watch the show with Ed Scanlan on your computer.
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The show with Ed Scanlan, a candidate for Governor in the Democratic Primary, includes a far ranging discussion with show host and Executive legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz of the State Budget deficit, taxes, spending, improving the quality of education, how to deal with the pension issue, how to work with unions, same sex marriage and/or civil unions, abortion, parental notice, partial birth abortion, gun control, concealed carry and much, much more.
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The Chicago Metro suburban episode of "Public Affairs with Jeff Berkowitz," featuring this week's guest Ed Scanlan, a candidate for Governor in the Democratic Primary, airs on:

Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka. This week's airing schedule in these ten suburbs includes a special airing on Thursday at 5:30 pm on Cable Ch. 19.

and tonight, Tuesday night, at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, parts of Inverness, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Wilmette

and tonight, Tuesday night, at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 35 in Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Glenview, Golf, Des Plaines, Hanover Park, Mt. Prospect, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights, Schaumburg, Skokie, Streamwood and Wheeling.
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The Public Affairs show featuring Ed Scanlan, a candidate for Governor in the Democratic Primary, also airs on Monday night (Nov. 16) throughout the City of Chicago at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
More than 114 of our shows from the last two years are posted on the Public Affairs YouTube page .
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Cong. Kirk and Cong. Roskam on Feds divesting their private sector interests; healthcare; Giannoulias v. Hoffman; Gitmo; Palin

2009-11-03T04:27:00.003-06:00

Congressman Mark Kirk (R-Highland Park, 10th CD) and Congressman Peter Roskam (R-Wheaton, 6th CD) held a joint press conference yesterday afternoon in Chicago in which Kirk and Roskam discussed, along with a number of other topics, their proposed legislation to require the federal government to divest itself, over the course of 2010 of its common stock and preferred stock interests that the Feds “bought,” last year from GM, Chrysler, AIG, Citigroup, Bank of America, GMAC and the Hartford.

U. S. Government losses on its private sector investments

The stock purchases [or more accurately, bailouts for which the government received an equity interest] cost at least 217 billion dollars when they occurred last fall and the government has, so far, lost more than “70 billion dollars on their investments.

Questioned by this reporter as to whether their proposed legislation was motivated by their view of the proper role of government in the private sector or by their desire to limit or cut the losses of taxpayers, Roskam said “it is both and.”

Healthcare reform legislation

Cong. Kirk explained his opposition to the current Democratic healthcare reform bill by noting that the current bill has ten major tax increases in it, pushes the top marginal rate of taxation in Illinois to 49.9%, makes a tremendous number of cuts to Medicare, cuts skilled nursing and makes a series of 100 billion dollar cuts for health care for seniors and “I am just getting going.”

Cong. Roskam said, “The unfortunate part is that there is quite a bit of common ground…” Roskam said his “hope is that the new Speaker Pelosi bill doesn’t become the law and what ultimately moves forward is …”things like purchasing insurance across state lines, really tackling the idea of pre-existing conditions and rescission…” Roskam said, “the notion that somehow raising taxes on small business, which happens in Speaker Pelosi’s bill…arguing that is a good thing is counter-intuitive.”

Cong. Kirk’s proposed healthcare reform

Cong. Kirk’s idea of a healthcare reform bill “in 60 seconds,” would be “Cong. shall make no law interfering with decisions that you made with your doctor; secondly…lawsuit reform which is reported to cost 300 billion dollars in extra benefit costs; … you should be given the right… to buy from any state in the union if you find a plan that is less expensive or more flexible…”

Medicare reform?

Cong. Kirk asserted that the Democratic Leadership in Congress is hoping to get a set of Medicare cuts adopted and that they will immediately reverse themselves on the cuts-- and that rapidly rising Medicare costs will ultimately be financed by additional borrowing from abroad which will weaken the value of the U. S. Dollar.

Kirk’s Medicare Reform

In response to this reporter’s question as to what alternative would Cong. Kirk propose to deal with the rapidly rising Medicare and other healthcare costs, the 9th year Congressman from the North Shore and likely Republican nominee for the U. S. Senate listed a set of reforms:

1. Lawsuit [Medical Malpractice] reform
2. Fully electronic medical records owned by the patient
3. Utterly accountable, publicly revealed outcome data
4. Instead of paying for inputs, move to an outcome based reimbursement system
5. Interstate [insurance] competition which is currently not allowed.
6. Remove the McCarran [-Ferguson Act] antitrust exemption

Cong. Roskam added “point of purchase verification,” for Medicare, which he said would save 50 billion dollars in Medicare fraud.
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Giannoulias or Hoffman

Cong. Kirk was asked by this reporter if Democrat David Hoffman would be a tougher U. S. Senate general election opponent for him because of his reform credentials of being a former Ass’t U. S. Attorney and Chicago Inspector General-- and without any apparent connection to Blagojevich.

Mark Steven Kirk responded “We need reform in this state, but I am going to confine my campaign to earning the Republican nomination on February 2nd and then there is plenty of time for a general election.” But then the moderate Republican added: “I expect it will be Giannoulias but …my job is to win the support of my fellow Republicans [and I am] very happy that Cong. Roskam has endorsed me…”
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Votes in the Senate for a Public Option?

This reporter indicated that some say Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid simply wanted to give those who favor a Public Option “a day in Court,” and he wanted to give it a decent burial and then I asked Cong. Kirk if he agreed that Senator Reid doesn’t have the votes in the Senate for a Public Option.

Cong. Kirk said, “It does appear that the Public Option is Dead on Arrival in the Senate.”

Votes in the House for a Public Option?

Cong. Kirk noted that he believes Speaker Pelosi needs about a half dozen additional votes to pass her healthcare bill and that she would work with Rep. Charlie Rangel, Chairman of House Ways and Means, to use earmarks and other inducements in the form of a “Manager’s Bill,” to try to attract the additional votes needed to pass the healthcare bill later this week.
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Gitmo and Swine Flu vaccinations

Cong. Kirk indicated it is wrong to let U. S. Veterans who are in the vulnerable community go unvaccinated for Swine Flu and instead make sure that “Al Qaeda terrorists at Gitmo get vaccinated first.”
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Sarah Palin and Cong. Kirk?

When questioned by Rick Pearson of the Tribune several times as to whether “he wants Sarah Palin to do a fundraiser for him,” Cong. Kirk would only say he has a lot of folks coming in and “We’ll see.”
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General David Petraeus

When asked by this reporter if there were any 2012 possible Republican Presidential candidates that they would most identify with at this time, Cong. Roskam declined to name anyone but Cong. Kirk noted: “I would just say that I am still watching the career of David Petraeus. Those of us on the Joint Staff are watching, so we’ll see.”
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
More than 114 of our shows from the last two years are posted on the Public Affairs YouTube page. *********************************************************************

Better than Stephanopoulous w/Valerie Jarrett: Berkowitz w/ Republican gubernatorial candidate Adam Andrzejewski-Cable and Streaming

2009-11-02T19:48:00.007-06:00

The "Public Affairs," show featuring Adam Andrzejewski, Candidate in the 2010 Republican Primary for Governor, is airing tonight, Nov.2 on cable in Aurora and surrounding areas at 7:30 pm on ACTV-10. The program also airs at 3:30 pm tomorrow and Wednesday in Aurora and surrounding areas (New regular slots for "Public Affairs"). The Aurora station, ACTV-10, aka Aurora Community Television, Comcast Cable Ch. 10, reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery.

The "Public Affairs," show featuring Adam Andrzejewski, Candidate in the 2010 Gubernatorial Republican Primary, will also air throughout the City of Rockford (and in surrounding areas) this Thursday night, November 5 at 8:00 pm on Cable Ch. 17. The surrounding areas reached by Ch. 17 include Byron, Cedarville, Cherry Valley, Loves Park, Machesney Park, Mount Morris, New Milford, Portions of Ogle County, Oregon, Polo, Stillman Valley, Winnebago, Portions of Boone County and Poplar Grove.

All of the above are regular airing slots for "Public Affairs."
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You can also watch the show with Adam Andrzejewski on your computer.
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For a partial transcript of the show with Adam Andrzejewski please go here.
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For additional Q/A with some of the Republican Gubernatorial Primary candidates, please go here.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
More than 114 of our shows from the last two years are posted on the Public Affairs YouTube page. *********************************************************************

Better than David Gregory with Tim Geithner: Berkowitz w/former Reagan adviser Art Laffer and FNC's Steve Moore; Cable and Streaming

2009-11-02T03:24:00.005-06:00

Art Laffer [former Reagan economics adviser]: We all want to see the poor do well. But, you don’t make the poor rich by making the rich poor. The dream in America has never been to make Beverly Hills look like Watts. The dream is...[Watch the show w/ Laffer and Moore here]
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Jeff Berkowitz: Art, is it just an empirical difference [of opinion in terms of reading the data] between you and say, Austan Goolsbee, one of the [economic advisers] to Barack Obama from the University of Chicago. They would say that you over-estimate these empirical effects: yes, as you tax...
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Jeff Berkowitz: If you had to assign blame, to be fair, would you put a lot of the blame on George Bush, Bernanke at the Fed, Paulson at the Treasury because those were the three who came up with the $700 billion bailout before Barack Obama was President.

Steve Moore [Fox News Channel and Wall St. Journal editorial page writer]: This was a crisis that started under George Bush. There is no question that Barack Obama inherited this crisis. The problem is that he’s, in my opinion, just doubled down on the Bush policies. …
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Art Laffer [Watch Laffer and Moore discuss President Obama's economic policies]: When I look at this world… and you see a little five year old girl in Appalachia or in inner city south side of Chicago who lives with drug addicted parents who are separated and are always on something, whatever it is, and she has no clothes, no money and her living conditions are awful… and then you look at someone else in Lake Forest, IL who has the same age little girl and it’s just a wonderful life and you ask yourself, “how is that fair, I mean what makes any sense about this? It doesn’t. It is totally unjust. It is totally unfair”… and if I were father of the world and in complete control...
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Jeff Berkowitz: If you could sit down with Barack Obama…you know…what he ran on, you understand the politics of the nation and of the Democratic and Republican parties, realistically, what would you say to him in two or three minutes to try to change his mind and change the course [of economic policy]?

Steve Moore [WSJ Editorial board writer and Fox News Channel contributing correspondent]: I think that Barack Obama should...
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The "Public Affairs," show featuring economist Art Laffer and Steve Moore, FNC contributiong correspondent and WSJ editorial board member, airs throughout the City of Chicago tonight i.e., November 2 at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21(CANTV, aka Chicago Access Network TV). Laffer and Moore debate and discuss their book, "The End of Prosperity, how higher taxes will doom the economy, if we let it happen," with interested readers of their book and with Jeff Berkowitz, show host and Executive Legal Recruiter, at Steve Moore's sister's home in Wilmette, IL. For more about tonight's show, including partial transcripts and a list of topics, please go here and here.
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You can also watch the show with economist Art Laffer and Steve Moore, FNC contributiong correspondent and WSJ editorial board member, on your computer.
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The show w/Art Laffer and Steve Moore was taped on June 15, 2009.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
"Public Affairs," is a weekly political interview show airing in Chicago on CANTV, in the Chicago metro area, Aurora and Rockford on Comcast and also often on the Illinois Channel. You can watch the shows, including archived shows going back to 2005, here.
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More than one hundred of our shows from the last two years of "Public Affairs," are posted on the Public Affairs YouTube page .
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Sen. Meeks, Columnist Eric Zorn and TV show host Berkowitz discuss education, parental responsibility and school vouchers, charters and school choice

2009-10-30T00:43:00.011-05:00

State Sen. James Meeks, a popular South Side minister, writes an op-ed today -- Their blood is on our hands -- about the ongoing, chronic problem of youths being murdered in Chicago. [Read here]. Berkowitz's journalism mentor and good friend, Chicago Tribune columnist and father of Chicago blogging, Eric Zorn, sought to respond to Meeks, paragraph by paragraph. Berkowitz conversed a bit with Zorn by email, as they do from time to time, and Zorn suggested Berkowitz formalize the dialogue, which he has endeavored to do, below. You may want to visit Zorn’s blog, so that you can read the comments on this matter, which are interesting in and of themselves, as well as his other posts.
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Meeks: We like to point to irresponsible kids and uncaring parents. But what about a society that won't lift a finger to do anything about the crumbling, disastrous school system that all of these kids, victims and violators, come from?

Zorn: Chicagoans who examine their property tax bills in the mail this week will choke on this idea that they're not "lifting a finger" to do anything about the schools. They're paying a lot -- lifting their fingers at work literally for weeks every year in most cases solely to support the schools.

Berkowitz: Meeks doesn't think low-income parents are getting enough of an educational subsidy. Zorn's right, in part. The problem is not the lack of subsidy, which is what Zorn is saying, in part. The problem is that the parents of low income kids do not have the power to remove their kids and the money that is being spent on them from the failing public schools and transfer that money to the school of their choice. [Zorn unfortunately is not saying this, but Meeks seems to be coming around to this point of view.] When schools need to compete to keep or attract students and their money, they will think of ways to deal with what are admittedly very difficult problems in the inner city schools. It may also be that the expenditures in the Chicago Public Schools (“CPS”) and other inner city areas are not distributed equally. It would not surprise me to learn that, say, the schools serving kids from the top 15% of income earners in Chicago consume, say, 30% of the tax dollars. If so, that would leave the bottom 85% of income earners with 70%of the resources. Even if so, the greater problem for educational outcomes is the lack of parental empowerment issue, not the disproportionate distribution of educational resources. Of course, Meeks might reasonably argue that suburbs, whose school districts remain largely outside the control of Chicago, spend more on their kids than Chicago does on its kids. Meeks is probably right, but that still should not be his focus. The CPS spends $15,000 per kid per year. That should be enough to educate, on average, virtually anybody.

Meeks: Poor and minority schools are staffed by the least qualified teachers.

Zorn: To the extent that this is true, it may reflect simple, obvious market forces at work rather than a conspiracy at the highest levels to shift good teachers to wealthier schools. Teaching at "troubled" schools is really hard work, from everything I've ever heard or read. It's frustrating. It can be dangerous. Who could blame a teacher for preferring -- even at the cost of lower wages -- to work with well-behaved, engaged, prepared students whose parents are involved and supportive?

Berkowitz: Zorn is partially right. The market forces he cites are at work. However, under a voucher system, private schools would be free to offer better teachers more money than inferior teachers. Better could mean smarter teachers in terms of grades or SAT scores. But, it could also mean teachers who figured out how to compensate for lack of parental involvement, fewer books in the home, more drugs in the home, etc. In the CPS, as in the suburbs and the rest of the country, teachers are paid based on the number of years they have been teaching and the number of years of graduate school attended or kinds of graduate school of education degrees obtained (M.A. or Ph.D). Years of education or Education School degrees obtained may have little to do with who is the best teacher. This general issue is known as merit pay. But, often, “merit pay,” is not merit pay. Arne Duncan introduced a system in which everyone who worked at a school got paid more if the students improved. That obviously was not merit pay. Nevertheless, that “innovation,” of Duncan was one reason given for his elevation to Secretary of Education by President Obama.

Meeks: When a child reaches high school at a fifth-grade reading level, society offers no hope, no future and illiteracy as a way of life because we have failed that child for eight years.

Zorn: When a child reaches high school at a fifth-grade reading level, he or she either has learning disabilities (which strike across the socio-economic spectrum and do need to be addressed by specialists) or he or she has not been spending enough time reading for the past eight years. Why is this our failure?

Berkowitz: It is our failure because as responsible citizens we should expect our CPS, that spends $15,000 per kid per year to be able to teach kids, at an early age, how to read and to make sure they do enough reading to master that skill. And, if the CPS can’t do that, we, as responsible citizens and journalists, should put pressure on Mayor Daley and state legislators to let the CPS parents take their $15,000 that we are spending on their kids now and let them transfer it to schools that couldn’t do any worse. Indeed, empirical studies of school vouchers in Cleveland, Milwaukee and DC mostly show that voucher kids do as well or better than non school-voucher kids. So, Eric, what exactly do we have to lose by allowing some empowerment for low=income parents?

Meeks: Without question, the lack of preparedness of students leads to despair, disruption and ultimately violence.

Zorn: My own pet theory, since we're clearly trafficking in pet theories here, is that joblessness and the poverty that attends it is what leads to despair, disruption and ultimately violence. If the parents of these students had good jobs and provided stable homes, the families would have concrete, realistic aspirations for the students -- hope, if I may use a word that's now cliche -- and the students would do better in school.

Zorn: Don't believe me? Do you think it's simply the quality of teaching that generates such vastly higher academic performances in wealthier and more stable communities (of all races and ethnicities)? Or do you think it's because kids whose parents have decent jobs and decent incomes have greater incentives and more motivation?

Berkowitz: Zorn is now asking how can we make sure that all low-income earners become high income earners, and preferably overnight. That’s really, really hard to do, Eric. But, something we can do is to change the system so that low-income parents are empowered to spend their $15,000 per kid in a way that motivates competition by private schools to try really hard to teach their kids how to read, write and do arithmetic, as we used to say. The schools that do that really well will expand and those that don’t will go out of business. The main beneficiaries of this change will be low-income parents whose kids will learn how to read by the time they start high school. Competition, the patron saint of the consumer.

Meeks: Nobody wants to be held accountable, but the blood of every child is on our hands.

Zorn: My sense is that overheated, accusatory rhetoric like this annoys rather than galvanizes the average person. Or maybe I just speak for myself.

Berkowitz: Eric, sometimes a little drama is appropriate. Fifteen years ago, the Illinois State Legislature almost adopted a pilot program for school vouchers. But, the teachers unions pressured the legislators to back off. Mayor Daley did start a reform program that accomplished some things under Paul Vallas. But, Vallas left in 2001 and the CPS stagnated under Duncan, with standardized tests being changed to show false improvements [Which Arne Duncan admitted on Face the Nation a month ago]. The CPS is now going backwards.

Berkowitz: Given the above track record, I certainly don’t mind a little overheated, accusatory rhetoric from Senator Meeks. The man is justified, Eric.

Meeks: For the first time in my personal and political career, I am exploring the idea of vouchers and charter schools to help facilitate choice and enhance academic performance. Why should we continue to make investments in a system that is bankrupt and weighed down with bureaucracy?

Zorn: My problem with voucher-based education is that it relies on a level of parental involvement that's manifestly missing and on a free-market system that is failing the inner-city already. Not that there is any easy answer, but these communities need jobs and affordable housing, far lower single-parent birth rates and, yes, calm, safe focused classrooms in which students can learn and teachers can teach.

Berkowitz: On this, Eric Zorn couldn’t be more wrong. All the parent of a school voucher child has to do is once a year be provided some information about alternative schools and make a choice: either stay put in one of the 60% or so public schools in Chicago that is failing or opt out for a private school that might do better and almost assuredly can’t do any worse. I imagine the likes of Rev. Meeks, Rev. Jackson, Eric Zorn, Anne Duncan, Jeff Berkowitz, local ministers, local educators, local business people, Carol Marin, goo goo reformers, etc. could hold meetings, go door to door and make recommendations as to which private schools were best and ultimately the individual parents would make a decision.

Berkowitz: What we have found, over the centuries, is that individuals, no matter how poorly educated or motivated, make much better decisions for themselves than others, and certainly than a state appointed czar. We have enough czars these days, we don’t need anymore. What we need is a little bit of freedom for the individual to choose. You could say I am pro-Choice. School Choice, that is.

Berkowitz: Further, Carolyn Hoxby, a professor of Economics at the Hoover Institution (who used to teach at Harvard) has recently published a study that demonstrated that the importance of parental motivation can be somewhat overstated in educational performance. Dr. Hoxby studied charter school performance where admission was based on lottery. Thus, students who attended the charter schools and those that did not came from similar socio-economic backgrounds with similar levels of parental involvement. Yet, the charter school students outperformed those attending traditional public schools. Similar studies exist for school voucher student performance v. traditional school student performance.

Berkowitz: As to Zorn’s statements that “a free-market system is failing the inner-city already,” I don’t know what he could possibly mean. As of now, low income parents have little or no purchasing power to spend on education. So, there is virtually no free market system at work. Most of the private schools in the inner city are parochial schools that provide small numbers of scholarships. Or, private individuals and businesses provide “opportunity scholarships,” aka school vouchers.

Berkowitz: With school vouchers, low-income individuals would have substantial purchasing power. In Cleveland, Milwaukee and DC, the school vouchers are not fully funded and yet work quite well. Fully fund them at $15,000 per kid, per year, and I assure you, the free market would work quite well to provide successful alternatives to the CPS.

Meeks: Since the will to change the system is nonexistent, we should allow students the flexibility to attend schools outside their district.

Zorn: An interesting idea, the logistics of which boggle the mind. Even if we could pull it off, though, and allow certain, motivated students to flee, the basic problem they are fleeing -- joblessness and its attendant poverty -- will remain.

Berkowitz: Firstly, this is a second best to school vouchers. Under school vouchers, parents can choose to send their kids outside their local area, but they would not have to because quality private schools would be built near by. Secondly, the political difficulties of designing a “public school,” choice system are enormous and therefore such a system is unlikely to be offered. School vouchers, on the other hand, are primarily blocked by teachers’ unions who put pressure on state legislators to block them. Those unions present obstacles, but they can be overcome if people like Rev./Senator Meeks and Chicago Tribune columnist and [Father of Chicago blogging] Eric Zorn are willing to stand up to them.

Berkowitz: Thirdly, Zorn sniffs “certain, motivated students could flee.” implying other students would be left behind, and therefore it is not a good solution. A similar argument is sometimes made against school vouchers, i.e., it is said maybe half the students would leave but the other half- those with less motivated parents—would be left behind. However, I do think in most cases all the students at failing public schools could and would leave, certainly if a fully funded, $15,000 school voucher were offered.

Berkowitz: But, if only half the students could attend voucher schools, wouldn’t you let those students go. If half the students go and half the money goes, how are the remaining students worse off? If your house were on fire, and you could save only two of your four kids, would you say—“Oh, let them all burn.” I don’t think so. I mean, let all my people go. But, if Moses could only save half, I am sure he would say—so, be it. Let half go.

QED.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
More than one hundred of our shows from the last two years of "Public Affairs," are posted on the Public Affairs YouTube page .
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Andrzejewski (interviewed by Berkowitz) calls McKenna’s entry into Gov race bad for Illinois; Questions failed leadership of McKenna;Cable & Streaming

2009-10-29T15:27:00.018-05:00

He pulls a knife, you pull a gun.

He sends one of your boys to the hospital. You send one of his to the morgue.

That’s the Chicago Way.
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Adam Andrzejewski [R-Hinsdale]:...I had 83% of probable Republican voters—did not know who I was-- and I was still ahead of Senator Dillard, Chairman Schillerstrom and Dan Proft. I was one point behind the failed chair of our Party, Andy McKenna. I was within the margin of error of Senator Brady…now these guys have... [Watch the show on your computer]
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Jeff Berkowitz’s interview with Republican Primary Gubernatorial Candidate Adam Andrzejewski is now streaming here. Andrzejewski, 39, a self made retired millionaire who claims to have a net worth in excess of ten million dollars (tax returns posted here), welcomes both Andy McKenna, Jr. and Jim Ryan to the race, but questions whether the strategy being taken by the dynamic duo is good for the Party or the State. Andrzejewski also cites a poll of Jim Ryan’s placing Adam within the margin of error of frontrunner, 15 year state legislator, Senator Bill Brady (R-Bloomington).

Andrzejewski grew up in downstate Herscher, IL and now lives in DuPage County, in the suburb of Hinsdale, about 30 miles west of Chicago, IL (also the home of Senator and Gov candidate Kirk Dillard) with his wife Kerry and three daughters.

For more about the show with Andrzejewski, including this week’s Chicago Metro suburban airing schedule of the show with Andrzejewski on “Public Affairs,” and the show’s topics, please go here. The show with Andrzejewski also airs next week in Aurora and Rockford, and the week after in the City of Chicago.
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The Chicago Way?

Jeff Berkowitz: Here’s a line I borrowed [from Sean Connery in the Untouchables, via Chris Wallace on last week’s Fox News Sunday]

He pulls a knife, you pull a gun.

He sends one of your boys to the hospital. You send one of his to the morgue.

That’s the Chicago Way.

Jeff Berkowitz: I mean is this [process] really Hardball. You feeling this now, just running in the Republican Primary or does the Chicago Way just refer to Democratic politics…
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Andy McKenna, Jr. and Jim Ryan parachute into the Governor's Race

Adam Andrzejewski [Republican Primary Candidate for Governor]…When I declared eight months ago. I felt, you’ve got to get out, you’ve got to meet the people, you’ve got to shake the hands, you’ve got to hear what’s important to people. I think two of these guys [McKenna and Ryan] have a different strategy.

Jeff Berkowitz: …What do you mean a different strategy?

Adam Andrzejewski: Well, they are parachuting in—

Jeff Berkowitz: Oh, you mean coming in late.

Adam Andrzejewski: Literally, in the 12th hour.

Jeff Berkowitz: Are you resentful that Andy McKenna, Jr. and Jim Ryan think they can come in—in the last three months—and do it?

McKenna and Ryan bad for the Party? for Illinois?

Adam Andrzejewski: No, I just think it is bad for the Party. I think it is bad for Illinois.

Jeff Berkowitz: Why is it bad for the Party?

Adam Andrzejewski [R-Hinsdale]: Well, the problem with the Party has been an abject lack of leadership. It has been an abject lack of workers on the ground. And, it has been an abject lack of policies and good ideas and push back versus the Democrats. When you parachute in with one hundred days to go, you haven’t built the Party. One of the hallmarks of my campaign is I have been running with clean conservatives that we’ve identified on the ground. They’re running for precinct committeemen while I am running for Governor. We’ve identified hundreds of those people. Andy McKenna, coming in here in the 11th hour, he hasn’t done—not only didn’t he do that as Party Chairman, but he’s not doing that in his campaign for Governor. And, neither is Jim Ryan. I don’t begrudge them the race…But, I do think it is bad for Illinois that these guys have not shook the hands, listened to people … been vetted by people. Look, these are the days, after George Ryan—

Jeff Berkowitz: Well, maybe they would say they don’t have to because they have been in politics…multiple terms at Attorney General for Jim Ryan, he ran for Governor in 2002…

Adam Andrzejewski [R-Hinsdale]: A long time ago.

Jim Ryan's poll: Good for Jim? Good for Adam?

Jeff Berkowitz: …[He has] a lot of name recognition. [Jim Ryan] says his polling shows him doing better than the folks who are in this race now. And, he hasn’t been doing what you have been doing. You are little known- you have to admit…You have run one TV ad. People are saying if you have, as you have suggested, more than ten million dollars in net worth, why aren’t you out there developing your name, running more TV?

Adam Andrzejewski [R-Hinsdale]: …The poll that I like, it was Jim Ryan’s poll, it had me with zero negatives and 5% positives and I was …the candidate in that poll that played well in every segment of Illinois and that was before I went up statewide, with radio and television…

Jeff Berkowitz: What’s your name recognition across the state of Illinois…

Adam Andrzejewski [R-Hinsdale]: …I was ahead of Senator Dillard; I was ahead of Chairman Schillerstrom-

Jeff Berkowitz: …What’s your name recognition…

Adam Andrzejewski within striking distance of McKenna and Brady?

Adam Andrzejewski [R-Hinsdale]: That’s the nice thing about the poll. I had 83% of probable Republican voters—did not know who I was-- and I was still ahead of Senator Dillard, Chairman Schillerstrom and Dan Proft. I was one point behind the failed chair of our Party, Andy McKenna. I was within the margin of error of Senator Brady…now these guys have spent a career in politics…I have had to create all of that on this campaign, starting March 1. The message is resonating on the trail
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
More than one hundred of our shows from the last two years of "Public Affairs," are posted on the Public Affairs YouTube page .
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McKenna-Murphy make it official: They are running for Gov and Lt. Gov. and they spell out their campaign themes, including "Springfield outsiders."

2009-10-28T05:27:00.006-05:00

Revised at 10:55 am on Wednesday to expand McKenna-Murphy Theme No. 3, below, to include Illinois job growth, which was a very clear emphasis of the McKenna-Murphy announcement and an inadvertent omission from our earlier draft of this post.
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Andy McKenna, Jr. made his run for Governor in the Republican Primary official yesterday morning by announcing to a crowd of about seventy-five supporters and ten media members. It was a joint announcement with his running mate, third year State Senator Matt Murphy (R-Palatine), who introduced Andy to the crowd.

The setting was a very nice setting at City Escape, about five miles west of the Chicago Loop. What could be more green than a green house garden center and design studio. That business was created by Chicago Entrepreneurial Center, an organization for which McKenna, Jr. is a founding Co-Chair.

McKenna-Murphy to go up on TV now

All of the above fits with what is being said about the McKenna, Jr. campaign. It is a campaign that will buy a lot of TV time to give McKenna-Murphy a soft, yet solid, feel and look. McKenna, Jr. is said to be planning a multi-million dollar TV buy, starting soon, then breaking for the Holidays in late November and picking up again for a blitzkrieg air war in January.

Andy McKenna, Jr.: A Springfield outsider?

But, to complement the soft-sell, so to speak, about wife, family and church-going man of character and integrity, there will be some "issue," emphasis, as well. The No. 1 theme will be to run against Springfield, thus Andy is being promoted as the Springfield outsider. As he said yesterday morning, to lead off his press availability,

You need an outsider to go down to Springfield who is not vested in any of those [special] interests. … [I was] never a part of that as the State Party chair …I ‘called out,’ those things…What Springfield needs is someone who is going to cut the spending, cut the corruption, restore integrity in government, that’s what’s needed, that’s what I can bring.”

And prior to that, Senator Murphy introduced Andy as being “unlike Springfield.” Kind of like the "uncola." And, “with his business background and outsider perspective, Andy knows how to create jobs; he knows how to balance budgets,” his running mate Murphy told the crowd.

McKenna is running against public corruption

The No. 2 theme will be to run against public corruption. Andy reminded the crowd that in the last 30 years, over 1000 people have gone to jail in Illinois for public corruption.

McKenna is running against tax and spend and for jobs.

The No. 3 theme is to run against an increase in taxes and spending and for jobs.
As Andy urged Springfield yesterday morning, cut the spending because, “you will not get a tax increase from Andy to balance this budget.” [Emphasis supplied]. When Sen. Murphy introduced McKenna, Murphy said,“Illinois is one of seven states with fewer jobs today than we had ten years ago...over the last decade, almost three quarters of a million people have left Illinois." When Andy McKenna, Jr. spoke to his supporters, he said he would "grow jobs," and "he will invite job creators, big business and small to Springfield and get their ideas about how to create an environment for more job growth in Illinois." McKenna emphasized that "Eight of ten new jobs are [from] small business."

McKenna is running on ethics

The No. 4 theme is to focus on ethics. Andy McKenna, Jr. will make his Lt. Gov. running candidate, Sen. Murphy, the chief compliance officer in the Executive Branch. Murphy, a litigation attorney, will establish ethical standards and see that they are fulfilled.

Only promise what you can afford

The No. 5 theme is to “Build a government we can afford.”

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Beholden to special interests?

When questioned whether he raised money for the State GOP from special interests, Andy McKenna, Jr. emphasized he would, if elected, “not be beholden to any interests.” He emphasized that Springfield needs a business perspective, a perspective that requires dealing with and solving the problems now, not tomorrow.

McKenna’s friends

McKenna said he will deal with debt and cut spending because he is not trying to “become everybody’s friend.” McKenna, Jr. said he will be friends “with the voters of Illinois who need leadership,” not with the County Chairmen who are looking for jobs.
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The McKenna family’s ties to the Dems

Charles Thomas [ABC-7’s political editor] said Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Proft is making an issue of how much money McKenna, Jr. and his family have, focusing on the gap between the McKennas’ personal wealth and struggling people of Illinois. McKenna’s response: “That is politics as usual.” McKenna said that he would focus on jobs and unemployment, not that stuff. [Ed. Note: it appears that Thomas may have gotten Proft wrong because Proft issued a release yesterday focusing on the large amount of campaign contributions Andy McKenna, Sr. gave to Democratic pols, e.g., Mayor Daley and the Madigans, and Proft re-iterated to this reporter that that was his focus, as well as the close ties of McKenna, Sr. to Mayor Daley, not the amount of wealth that the McKenna family has.
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Will McKenna pledge not to raise taxes for four years?

This reporter tried to probe Andy McKenna Jr.’s commitment to no new taxes, asking, “Andy, you say you [wouldn’t] raise taxes this year, would you take that pledge not to raise taxes through your entire term, if elected.” McKenna, Jr. responded:

What I am not going to do is put a burden on families when government has done virtually nothing to cut their own spending. I don’t know that anybody even knows the scope of the problem today. Who in this room realizes that this government took 10 billion dollars in debt and moved it to 90 billion dollars in debt. Tom Cross tried to get a list of government programs that he could cut and the state of Illinois couldn’t even give it to him. So, I don’t know that anyone even understands the scope of the problems. What we’re going to do is stand up for the families and go cut spending.

That sounds to this reporter as if McKenna is not saying what he will do, or not do, in subsequent years. Apparently, like Senator Dillard, Andy McKenna, Jr. is not ruling out future tax increases
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Free Rides for seniors?

McKenna, Jr. punted on whether he would withdraw “free rides for seniors,” He did say the government kept making promises it couldn’t keep. He would …look at everything we are spending and say, “What is the government we can afford.” So, in short, McKenna didn’t answer that question.
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Did McKenna, Jr. abuse his State GOP chair position?

As to Republican Gov candidate Bob Schillerstrom’s allegations that McKenna, Jr. was getting proprietary information [as Party chairman] from the potential candidates at the same time as he was planning to run for something , that’s just “more inside politics.” McKenna tried to move on, saying he is going to talk about job creation, solving the spending problem, solving the corruption problem.

When challenged that he didn’t answer the above question, McKenna said the state party does polls at all times, it does that as it goes forward in election cycles…

Another reporter said, “You are accused of using party resource to help develop your campaign.” McKenna answered the question by saying, “That’s not correct…my opponents are going to throw many stones but that’s not what we are going to deal with, we are going to talk about issues of importance to Illinois voters…their jobs and the fact that people are talking about that means that they are career politicians who don’t have anything to say about jobs.
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Outrageous spending that McKenna, Jr. plans to cut?

When asked to give examples of outrageous spending that he plans to cut, McKenna referred to the fact that the State of Illinois budgets 2.5 million dollars for Lt. Gov and nobody is in the office. McKenna, Jr. said Gov Quinn ought to get rid of that budget item. Andy McKenna, Jr. then argued that “Matt Murphy found three billion dollars in cost cuts in the senate deficit reduction committee. There’s plenty of opportunity to go after it. And, just the whole size of government. We’ve got more government than we need.”

This reporter closed the press availability by asking Andy McKenna, Jr: “Senators Brady and Dillard—people say about them that they are the frontrunners, what do you add to this race that Dillard and Brady don’t have? Andy responded:

There’s good people running in this race, but we bring a different dimension. That’s why we decided to run. We really believe you need an outsider to go to Springfield. We believe a business person is the right profile at this point. We’ve not been down there. We’ve not been part of the problem. I think someone who has the conviction to put a stake in the ground on spending. Someone who has the conviction to take whatever political risks are necessary to fix both the fiscal and ethical issues.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
More than 112 of our shows from the last two years are posted on the Public Affairs YouTube page .
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Better than McKenna-Murphy announcing their candidacy for Gov/Lt.Gov:Berkowitz w/ Republican Gov candidate Adam Andrzejewski;Cable and soon streaming

2009-10-27T18:25:00.004-05:00

This week's Chicago Metro Suburban edition of "Public Affairs," features 2010 Republican Primary gubernatorial candidate and self-made multi-millionaire Adam Andrzejewski, who lives in Hinsdale with his wife, Kerry, and children. The Chicago Metro Suburban airing schedule for Public Affairs is included, below. The show was recorded on Sunday, October 25, 2009.
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You can also soon watch the show with Adam Andrzejewski on your computer here.
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The show with Adam Andrzejewski, a candidate for Governor in the Republican Primary, includes a far ranging discussion with show host and Executive legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz of ways to handle the State budget deficit without an income tax or sales tax increase, how to restrain state spending, school vouchers-school choice and other ways to reform education, why Andrzejewski believes property taxes are not really "capped," the views of Andrzejewski about abortion and concealed carry, why Adam Andrzejewski wants "Every dime on line," how to end pay to play, Andrzejewski's perception of the latest entrant into the Republican Primary race for Governor (Andy McKenna, Jr.) and the latest potential entrant into that race (Jim Ryan) and much, much more.
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The Chicago Metro suburban episode of "Public Affairs with Jeff Berkowitz," featuring this week's guest Adam Andrzejewski, a candidate for Governor in the Republican Primary, airs on:

Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.

and tonight, Tuesday night, at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, parts of Inverness, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Wilmette

and tonight, Tuesday night, at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 35 in Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Glenview, Golf, Des Plaines, Hanover Park, Mt. Prospect, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights, Schaumburg, Skokie, Streamwood and Wheeling.
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The Public Affairs show featuring Adam Andrzejewski, a candidate for Governor in the Republican Primary, also airs on Monday night (Nov. 9) throughout the City of Chicago at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
More than 112 of our shows from the last two years are posted on the Public Affairs YouTube page .
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