Political asylum: Prisons, health, Senate poetry

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A prison plan under fire. A senator denies flip-flopping and produces poetry. A college-savings program doesn’t add up. Here’s the week in Illinois politics:

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A prison plan under fire. A senator denies flip-flopping and produces poetry. A college-savings program doesn’t add up. Here’s the week in Illinois politics: HOT BUTTON A hearing on plans to bring terrorism suspects to an Illinois prison gave the public a chance to speak out. Some politicians grabbed the opportunity, too, by issuing another round of press releases. Mike Boland, a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, gave his unqualified support to selling the prison to the federal government. "Jobs have to be our number one priority. While the Republicans peddle fear, we choose jobs," he said. William Kelly, a Republican running for comptroller, said he was preparing a lawsuit to try to block the project. Tea Party members testified against the plan, arguing it would make Illinois a target for terrorism. Local officials, however, said they welcomed the jobs that a federal prison would create. One candidate for higher office actually serves on the legislative panel that held the hearing: Sen. Bill Brady, a Republican running for governor. After touring the prison and hearing the testimony, Brady concluded that "Thomson Correctional Center should be opened and used to confine state inmates, not be sold to the federal government to house international terrorists." Brady also scolded Gov. Pat Quinn for not appearing at the hearing to answer questions about the plan. The day of the hearing Quinn presented a "sustainability award" to a Chicago veterans hospital, then boarded a plane to Germany, where he delivered Christmas cards to Illinois troops. YES AND NO The U.S. Senate narrowly approved a health care plan that, to the consternation of many liberals, lacked a government-run public option. Sen. Roland Burris had repeatedly vowed to oppose any plan without a public option, so he must have voted against the legislation, right? Wrong. Burris joined all other Democrats in backing it. Well, then he must have offered a clear explanation for changing his position? Wrong again. "There’s no change, there’s no flip flop," he told The Associated Press. "We don’t want to get caught up in language." Burris said that while everybody else used "public option" to mean a specific kind of program that would give people an alternative to buying private insurance, he was using his very own definition. He says he meant any legislation that would create competition for insurance companies, control costs and provide accountability. STICKS & STONES Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias confirmed that part of a savings program run by his office had lost far more money than he had previously disclosed. The Chicago Democrat had said the Bright Start college savings fund lost $85 million in 2008, but a settlement with the investment firm overseeing the money pegged the actual loss at about $150 million. The settlement with OppenheimerFunds will reimburse 65,000 account holders for some of their losses. Other politicians quickly jumped on the disclosure. David Hoffman, a Giannoulias opponent in the U.S. Senate race, used the issue to bolster his claim that the 33-year-old treasurer lacks experience. "The last thing we need in the Senate is someone too inexperienced and reckless to protect money hardworking citizens of Illinois invested in order to provide their children with an education," Hoffman said. And Justin Oberman, who is running for state treasurer against Giannoulias chief of staff Robin Kelly, accused the pair of "a cavalier attitude toward their stewardship of the Bright Start funds." Giannoulias’ camp defended the overall strength of Bright Start and condemned attempts to "politicize" the issue. HOT WATER Chicago Public School officials are going after a state lawmaker for back rent and trying to evict her. Rep. Monique Davis, D-Chicago, has housed her district office for years in a building owned by the school system. But a recent report by the system’s inspector general indicated she hasn’t paid rent in years. The inspector concluded that she owes $500,000 in rent, leaseholder taxes and penalties. Davis told the Chicago Sun-Times that she hadn’t done anything wrong. ALLIES Bob Schillerstrom, a Republican candidate for governor, picked up the endorsement of Personal PAC, a political committee that supports abortion rights. Schillerstrom, president of the DuPage County board, is the only candidate in the crowded Republican field to back abortion rights, which he says is further evidence that he’s the only true moderate in the race. MERRY CHRISTMAS Voters in one part of East St. Louis got a small gift and a political appeal, all in one convenient package. Will McGaughy sent out letters reminding people that he was running for Democratic precinct committeeman. Each of the 500 letters also included a "keepsake" $2 bill. McGaughy, 76, told the Belleville News-Democrat, that he’s been sending out the bills for years and there’s nothing wrong with it. But his opponent, Tom Dancy, said that this time McGaughy’s Christmas letter also talked about his bids for committeeman and state representative. Dancy says talking politics and handing out money at the same time amounts to buying votes. SPEAKING UP Burris delivered a holiday poem about health care on the floor of the U.S. Senate. Here it is, in full: ‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the Senate The Right held up our health bill, no matter what was in it. The people had voted they mandated reform But Republicans blew off the gathering storm. "We’ll clog up the Senate!’ they cried with a grin, "And in midterm elections, we’ll get voted in!’ They knew regular folks needed help right this second But fundraisers, lobbyists and politics beckoned. So, try as they might, Democrats could not win Because their majority was simply too thin. Then, across every state there arose such a clatter The whole Senate rushed out to see what was the matter! All sprang up from their desks and ran from the floor Straight through the cloakroom, and right out the door. And what in the world could be quite this raucous? But a mandate for change! The Democratic Caucus! The President, the Speaker, and of course Leader Reid Had answered the call in our hour of need. More rapid than eagles the provisions they came," And they whistled, and shouted, and called them by name: "Better coverage! Cost savings! A strong public plan! Accountable options? We say ‘yes we can!’ No exclusions or charges for pre-existing conditions! Let’s pass a bill that restores competition!" The Democrats all came together to fight For the American people, that Christmas Eve night. And then, in a twinkling, I heard under the dome The roll call was closed! It was time to go home! Despite the obstructionist tactics of some, The filibuster had broken the people had won! A good bill was ready for President Obama, Ready to sign, and end health care drama. And Democrats exclaimed, as they drove out of sight: "Better coverage for all, even our friends on the right!" Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.

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