Politics and Opinion from Champaign-Urbana

Open Thread (7/17/2009)

IlliniPundit — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 05:42:19 +0000

Friday, July 17, 2009.

Friday Funnies

Joan Dykstra — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 02:58:41 +0000

And Biden's most recent gafftastic? That we have to spend money so we don't go bankrupt. Hey, that works at my house...

What can I tell ya. This was the only anti-cap and tax I could find.

Open Thread (7/16/2009)

IlliniPundit — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 05:01:48 +0000

Thursday, July 16, 2009.

Federal Judge Ends "Most of Consent Decree"

History Guy — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 23:32:34 +0000

Just posted on the News-Gazette website: "Judge terminates most of Champaign consent decree." The remaining parts of the Consent Decree that are still operable are those that the plaintiffs had filed a motion requesting an extension for a few months ago. The specific areas, according to the article, are "special education, alternative education, and the addition of elementary seats in north Champaign." The next hearing is currently set for August 3, but Judge McDade may schedule conferences in order to reach a settlement prior to that hearing date. Personally, I don't see how the complaint about adding elementary seats in north Champaign would be extended, given how the recent tax increase measures failed during the last few elections. The district seems to have done everything in its power to increase seats, but the voters would not approve a tx increase to fund those new seats; I don't see how the district could reasonably be faulted for that.

As an aside, I found the article is somewhat confusing to read; it may be a "breaking news" type entry, and will be refined later however.

As IP says, discuss...

Matt Murphy's Law Firm

IlliniPundit — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:40:04 +0000

Rich Miller points out something interesting about Sen. Matt Murphy, a presumptive Republican candidate for Governor. This one gets to me because of my interest in civil justice reform - Murphy's law firm describes itself as:

The firm always confines it’s practice to representing plaintiffs and injured persons. We have never represented insurance companies, employers or other defendants.

Is there something wrong with representing employers?

(Disclosure: I am helping Kirk Dillard's campaign for Governor.)

Open Thread (7/15/2009)

IlliniPundit — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:33:00 +0000

Wednesday, July 15, 2009.

Open Thread (7/14/2009)

IlliniPundit — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:59:01 +0000

Tuesday, July 14, 2009.

McKenna Out

IlliniPundit — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:51:06 +0000

That didn't take long:

As Party Chairman my goal has been to build Party unity. Mark Kirk and I met last evening as part of an ongoing discussion about the U. S. Senate race. I reassured Mark that if he chooses to be a candidate, I will not oppose him.

The only thing we've learned from this episode is that we still need a new Party Chair. Any takers?

Rutherford for Treasurer

IlliniPundit — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:41:57 +0000

State Senator Dan Rutherford is announcing this morning that he's seeking the GOP nomination for State Treasurer.

Open Thread (7/13/2009)

IlliniPundit — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:33:00 +0000

Monday, July 13, 2009.

I'm back from an extended vacation. Thanks for putting up with our troll, and thanks to everyone who helped out while I was away.

Open Thread (7/10/2009)

IlliniPundit — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:42:24 +0000

Friday, July 10, 2009.

Friday Funnies

John Farney — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 04:27:48 +0000

Status Quo in Battle of MTDs

Mark Shelden — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:00:13 +0000

Judge Leonhard has issued an opinion and order in the Champaign Southwest MTD v. Champaign-Urbana MTD (05-CH-206) case. Essentially, nothing changes. Attachment below.

My reading here is that on the issue of Constitutionality, Judge Leonhard ruled that CSWMTD had no standing. Whether that is appealable, I don't know. I also don't know if the question could be brought by a citizen who would have standing or if that would be barred by laches.

On the question of whether the statutes allow overlapping districts, Judge Leonhard ruled that they did not have to be read to preclude that and that case law, Bartholf v. Woodward, specifically allows for this. I attended the last hearing in this matter, and I got the sense then that this is where the judge was going. I personally don't think that the law in this instance was intended to allow that. The lawyers for both sides in this case took my position, but whether a trial court judge should fill in the gap for the legislature is certainly arguable. Now, it appears that a panel of appellate justices will be asked to do that.

The judge also made a ruling that the creation of the new district was valid and that the facts of the case did not support the CUMTD's assertion of bad faith on the part of the CSWMTD.

Open Thread (7/9/2009)

IlliniPundit — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:28:32 +0000

Thursday, July 9, 2009.

Dominoes

IlliniPundit — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:26:07 +0000

The dominoes are falling.

First, Lisa Madigan is running for re-election as Attorney General.

Next, Mark Kirk is running for the United States Senate.

Of course, State Sen. Kirk Dillard (whom I'm helping) is announcing for Governor today.

There will be more.