From the Illinois GOP:
Illinois Bond Ratings Tumble
While the Illinois bond rating tumbles, Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias has been spending his time raising money for a U.S. Senate race.
"On the same day the State of Illinois appeared on a credit watch list, Alexi Giannoulias was busy trumpeting his fundraising numbers for a political campaign," said Illinois Republican Party spokesman Lance Trover.
"Blagojevich Democrats have created a fiscal crisis and instead of serving as financial watchdog for the people of Illinois, Giannoulias is focused on his next political move.
"Under State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, Illinois’ bond ratings have fallen steadily. The loss will cost Illinois taxpayers millions as the new Democratic Governor plans a large increase in the state income tax.
Four days ago, Moody’s downgraded the state’s rating on general obligation bonds from A1 to Aa3. Yesterday Standard & Poor’s reaffirmed a previous downgrade from AA to AA minus. And today, Fitch Ratings placed Illinois’ AA minus rating on a negative credit watch.
These multiple downgrades of Illinois’ credit rating reflect a growing concern in the market of Illinois’ ability to remain solvent in the face of a $12 billion deficit and the most underfunded pension system in the country. This loss of confidence will cost Illinois taxpayers millions as the new Democratic Governor plans a large increase in the state income tax.
“Alexi Giannoulias should have spent more time looking out for the working families of Illinois and less time grooming himself for higher office,” continued Trover.Illinois’ Junior Senate seat became the focus of the criminal prosecution of Governor Blagojevich last December.
The field for the Democratic nomination Illinois senate race next year is crowded, with former Commerce Secretary Bill Daley (D-IL), former Blagojevich Press Secretary Cheryl Jackson (D-IL), US Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), and US Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL) all expected to make announcements about the February 2010 Democratic primary soon.
Hat tip: Backyard Conservative
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4 comments:
Looks like the GOP has a jump start on Giannoulias' seat.
http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2009/04/09/news/doc49dcfafb4c580017441606.txt
I'm glad to see we're already planning for the 2010 races because we very well could win a lot of races next year if folks will just get the ball rolling...
I hope that many Illinois Republicans want to plan ahead, to encourage good candidates, for the 2010 elections. Here are my suggestions. If you agree with me, please email or call the politicians and ask them to run. IL will have close elections for U.S. senator, governor, lt. gov., and treasurer.
Ex-Gov. Blagojevich was a three-term congressman, so the republican nominee should be a congressman. In 2000, when then-St. Rep. Tim Johnson ran for Congress (in the 15th Dist.), he promised that he wouldn’t serve more than three terms, in the U.S. House. He later changed his mind and broke his promise. Last year, he was elected to his fifth term. He should run for governor, because of his experience and his voting record. These are some of his latest interest group ratings: NRA, A; Concerned Women of America, 100%; English First, 100%; Christian Coalition, 90%; Eagle Forum, 90%; U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 84%; and NARAL, 0%. His district includes Champaign and Danville and parts of the Bloomington and Decatur areas, so he has high name recognition in some important cities. If he runs for governor, St. Sen. Bill Brady should run for his congressional seat. Congressman Johnson’s campaign email address is info@timjohnsonforcongress.com. His phone number is 217-373-1320.
St. Sen. Larry Bomke, of the 50th Dist., which includes most of the Springfield area, should run for lt.gov. These are some of his latest ratings: NRA, A; Illinois Family Institute, 100%; U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 88%; and Planned Parenthood, 0%. He’s been a state senator since 1995. His campaign email address is senator_bomke@yahoo.com. His phone number is 217-732-4433.
St. Sen. J. Bradley Burzynski, of the 35th Dist., which includes De Kalb Co. and part of the Rockford area, should run for U.S. senator. These are some of his latest ratings: NRA, A+; U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 100%; URF, 90%; AFL-CIO, 10%; and Planned Parenthood, 0%. He’s been a state senator since 1993. If he wins, he would have 18 years of experience, as a state senator, and that’s more than twice as long as Obama had, when he became a U.S. senator. Burzynski’s email address is citizensforburzynski@verizon.net. His phone number is 815-899-1988.
St. Sen. Matt Murphy, of the 27th Dist., which includes parts of Cook and Lake Counties, should run for treasurer. He’s the ranking republican on the senate appropriations committee, and he’s a member of the commerce & economic development committee. He proved that he’s committed to conservative government budgets, in March 2008, when he led the movement to allow parts of Cook Co. to secede, to avoid the increased Cook Co. sales tax rate. He’s been a state senator since 2007, but he has more political experience than Treasurer Giannoulias had, when he became treasurer. Senator Murphy’s email address is senatormattmurpy@sbcglobal.net. His phone number is 217-782-4471.
State Senators Brady, Bomke, Burzynski, and Murphy were elected to four-year terms, in 2008, so they could run, for higher offices, in 2010, without giving up their legislative seats.
Phil Collins
Phil-
Your suggestions raise some interesting points.
About Tim Johnson, I really can't give you any good news. He's a dreadfully ineffective Congressman, has no real respect from anyone who could help him, and has some SERIOUS vetting issues. I would also ask that you review the logical process that lead to the conclusion, "Blago was a congressman first, so our nominee should be too."
Other than him, your slate of candidates seems based significantly on ratings from conservative interest groups. I completely understand how this would appeal to the participants in this blog and the Republican primary electorate. The truth is, however, we're in a blue state, and getting bluer. There's got to be some compromise or centrism on issues. I'm not saying pseudo-Democrats are the most desirable outcome for Republicans, but politics is the art of the possible.
Also, while the state senate is a good place to look at GOP bench strength, they can have weaknesses as state-wide candidates, particularly for offices such as US Senator. State Senators have to plan extensively for such a run, and have to begin campaigning well before the traditional season. They have comparatively under-developed fundraising networks, often relying on a small number of massive donors, not feasible for a federal campaign.
It's a long time until 2010 gets into full swing, and lots will change by then. Before we start proposing candidate slates, let's wait and see where things fall, and most importantly, get some governing done.
Visit the new blog, NextTenWords.com!
Hmm, it seems to me that a recent President spent exhorbitantly and 'forgot' to include these expenses on serveral yearly federal budgets. This must be deemed as good policy.
It also seems to me that while spending exhorbitantly, said recent President found a way to provide tax cuts to those who needed them the least, did not spend these funds, or invested them in the under-regulated sections of the markets - a lot of good that did us all now! That is also just sound policy by a person who has never achieved business success. Just ask Mark Kirk of the importance of a politician's demonstrated business success. He'll tell you like he told the public at his (weekly - he must be planning a run for office) press conference! If he would only get more than a handful of legislative bills passed and quit acting like an independent!
Let's not forget the king of Ear-Marks: Ted Stevens (GOP - AK) and those who wrote the 40-60% of earmarks in recent legislation this year alone. Wanna buy a bridge?
Also, when it comes to selecting candidates for office, the GOP needs to go back to school:
Judy - loan forgiveness - Topinka (no comment on the fiduciary prudence of this, huh?).
Alan - the 'carpet-bagger' Keyes (hypocritical?).
Jack -family values- Ryan.
George -prisoner #?- Ryan.
Greenberg for 8th District Rep. (markets are fine, stay in Iraq forever).
Sauerberg for Senate (end affordable healthcare, stay in Iraq forever).
The Illinois GOP is the LAST group to comment on the importance of electoral choice, representativeness, and fiscal conservatism.
They also need to speak out when members of their Party are an embarrassment to the party and the nation.
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