Up until the afternoon of Nov. 18, it looked like Commonwealth Edison had it made in the shade. House Speaker Michael Madigan had signed off on what was thought to be the final draft of ComEd’s bill to help it purchase Decatur-based Illinois Power Co. Everyone was all smiles, including the Citizens Utility Board. CUB […]
Rich Miller
Rich Miller publishes Capitol Fax, a daily political newsletter, and CapitolFax.com.
Posted inOpinion
Ruffled feathers
You’ve probably heard that Gov. Rod Blagojevich is fighting with state legislators again. This time, he’s claiming the General Assembly is on a “spending orgy” and tossing around taxpayer money like “drunken sailors” who have “run amok.” We’ve seen this time and time again. The governor often tries to control the General Assembly’s behavior by […]
Posted inOpinion
Power play
Commonwealth Edison has come a long way from the bad old days when it was constantly trying to find underhanded, sneaky ways to bill consumers for its overpriced, and then-unfinished, nuclear power plants. ComEd’s service territory was infamous for having the highest electric rates in the Midwest, and the third highest rates in the country. […]
Posted inOpinion
Battle royale
Addison Township was once king of the state’s Republican hill. The Illinois Senate President (James ‘Pate’ Philip), House Republican Leader (Lee Daniels) and state attorney general (Jim Ryan) all lived in the eastern DuPage County township. When people talked about the power of DuPage County Republicans, they were really speaking of Addison’s enormous strength. But […]
Posted inOpinion
Reality bites
A fascinating month-long political standoff may finally be coming to a close in Kankakee County. The trouble started when Gov. Rod Blagojevich promised state Rep. Phil Novak (D-Bradley) a seat on the Illinois Pollution Control Board. Rep. Novak, who has specialized in environmental and utility issues during a House career that has spanned three decades, […]
Posted inOpinion
What I did on vacation
I can only take so much of Illinois politics before I begin to go a little crazy. Don’t get me wrong, Illinois politics is my life. I truly enjoy my job. But, eventually, the bickering, the corruption, the pettiness starts to infect my soul and I gotta stop for a while. The last real vacation […]
Posted inOpinion
Roadside attraction
I spent much of my childhood on a farm in rural Iroquois County. One of my most pointless chores was mowing the ditches. It was dangerous work. The mower–or the tractor, depending on the ditch–could tip over while you were negotiating the steep inclines. I heard lots of harrowing stories about farmers (my granddad included) […]
Posted inOpinion
The lighter side of Tikrit
TIKRIT, IRAQ – Tikrit is Saddam Hussein’s hometown. The place was showered with goodies while he was running Iraq, so its residents have been more than a little reluctant to praise their new masters. Throughout the city, the walls are covered with graffiti, most of it lauding the former dictator: “Down with Americans, We love […]
Posted inOpinion
Dueling Democrats
Let’s continue our examination of U.S. Senate candidates. This time, the Democrats: • Dan Hynes. Obviously the man to beat. State Comptroller Hynes has lined up big-time labor support, he has the backing of most county chairmen, and he has put together a good organization. He’s already won two statewide elections by wide margins. So […]
Posted inOpinion
Wrong moves, right moves
FALLUJAH, IRAQ – “Ego Buster” was painted clearly on the side of an American tank that rumbled past the Fallujah police headquarters. Below the tank’s name, its crew had painted a motto: “1-2 to the head.” The tank was part of a convoy of heavily armored U.S. infantry vehicles patrolling Fallujah, while a handful of […]
Posted inOpinion
Republican roundup
This seems like a good time to rate our various U.S. Senate candidates. Let’s start with the Republicans. • Jack Ryan. A handsome multimillionaire with three Ivy League degrees, he quit his career as an investment banker and went to work as a teacher in an inner-city school. This guy could catch fire. He’s putting […]
Posted inOpinion
Grim realities
BAGHDAD, IRAQ – Fadia was crying when we arrived, but she quickly explained that it wasn’t serious. The teenager was hungry and had a stomachache. The pain would soon pass, she said, as tears welled up in her red and swollen eyes. Her family’s home–in a tiny, poverty-stricken Christian ghetto in Baghdad–was one of my […]
