CALIFORNIA YANKEE

Are Illinois politicians beyond redemption?

Political scandals are not exclusive to any one state – but Illinois seems to have perfected it. In fact, if you type "Illinois gov" into Google and the search engine auto-completes with "illinois gov jail." And for good reason – four of the state’s past seven governors have been sent to the big house, culminating in Governor Rod Blagojevich’s high-profile attempt to sell a departing Senator Obama’s Senate seat.

But, you don’t have to hold the top job in order to get in on the corruption. Meet Mike Jones, the Illinois lottery commissioner. Like many bureaucrats, Michael Jones' dream was apparently to work for the government, make high-level contacts and then cash out in the private sector. He succeeded on two of the three goals.

Unfortunately, his attempt to leave the Illinois state lottery and cash in on it going private did not work. So, he did what any unambitious entrepreneur would – he returned to government work.

As the local Chicago Fox affiliate uncovered, Jones’ plan meant steering contracts to his former firm, Independent Lottery Research. Governor Quinn, a Democrat, squashed those contracts – saying that even if nothing improper occurred, the appearance of impropriety was enough to go with someone else. What a breath of fresh air for Illinois.

However, Independent Lottery Research mysteriously and suddenly became Independent Gaming Research and, at Jones’ urging, received a contract that netted it $168,000 in a one-year period. Here’s the Fox report:

According to Fox 32, Mr. Jones also urged Texas to hire ILR, but his influence did not extend that far. Fox "also obtained emails from Jones to the head of the Texas Lottery, asking that his old company get a chance to bid on a contract. Jones says he was just trying to drum up business for an Illinois company."

The local Fox station helped shed light that actually caused Illinois lawmakers – both Democrats and Republicans – to call for an investigation. Bob Rita, a Democrat from outside Chicago and advocate of state gaming, was the first to call for an investigation.

We’ll have to watch to see how this one plays out before seeing whether there is hope for Illinois or its politicians – but the forecast does not look good.

Feds block ACORN's 'Assistance to Firefighters Grant'

In a correction to Wednesday's article, the Washington Times reports that the Obama administration say there is no chance that ACORN will get the $997,402 Assistance to Firefighters Grant it was awarded last month:

FEMA officials said Wednesday that the award was posted on the agency's Web site Sept. 4, several days before a widely publicized video sting prompted the House and Senate to vote to cut off funding to the group.

[. . . ]

"The group had not [cashed in the grant] and at that point we froze the money. ...

Louisiana Republican Senator David Vitter, who complained about the grant in a September 22 letter to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, said that he was "glad that DHS has 'frozen' these funds," but said the grant still needed to be formally withdrawn.

Thanks to Secretary Janet Napolitano for correcting this outrage.

Firefighters lose 'Assistance to Firefighters Grant' to ACORN

This Article has been Updated.

As President Obama renewed his effort to distance himself from his brotherhood of community organizers, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, more commonly known "ACORN," his Department of Homeland Security awarded the radical left-wing organization a nearly $1  million "Assistance to Firefighters Grant."

According to the Washington Times, such "Assistance to Firefighters Grant" are typically earmarked for fire departments. The ACORN firefighting grant made up almost 80 percent of the firefighting money earmarked for Louisiana.

Louisiana's Senator, David Vitter, asked Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to rescind the Assistance to Firefighters Grant awarded to ACORN:

September 22, 2009

The Honorable Janet Napolitano
Secretary
U. S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, DC 20528-0001

Dear Secretary Napolitano,

I was deeply disturbed to discover a recent grant notification from the U. S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, awarding $997,402 of taxpayer dollars to The ACORN Institute through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) for the FY 2008 Fire Prevention and Safety Program. I have had grave reservations about ACORN for some time, and these concerns have recently been heightened by the serious allegations of wrongdoing on the part of ACORN. I request that you rescind this grant based on a history of abuse of federal dollars by ACORN and their clear lack of expertise in this area.

Several Louisiana fire departments have voiced their serious concerns to me over the award of these funds to ACORN. We can all understand that there are never enough funds to allocate for all the deserving requests of fire departments, and each year there are many more requests than funds available. But when so many fire departments throughout the nation are struggling for funding for important and lifesaving projects, how is it that a non-fire department with no clear expertise in fire safety and prevention is given such a large award for fire safety?

I am familiar with many fire departments in Louisiana that are in dire need of funds for many worthwhile programs, and I’m sure that is the case throughout the country. These firefighters that put their lives on the line for the safety of their communities deserve a full explanation of this award.

Again, I request that you immediately rescind this funding to a group that has a long and clear history of abusing federal dollars and reward these monies to a more deserving group of first responders. Thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

David Vitter
United States Senate

As of Tuesday afternoon the Department of Homeland Security had not yet responded to Senator Vitter's letter.

The grant to ACORN's Louisiana office became public on Oct. 2, less than three weeks after the House and Senate voted to cut off ACORN funding after ACORN employees were caught on video as they gave advice on how to skirt federal laws to buy a home to use as a brothel and how to cloak the status of underage "sex workers."

The Senate voted to cut off funding for ACORN in response the latest ACORN scandal on September 14, 2009. the House did the same three days later. The two bills will have to be combined before a final vote takes place.

It's time for the Democrat -controlled Congress to get its act together and prevent any more federal money going to ACORN.

I know Obama told community organizers they would shape his presidency. But I didn't expect his administration to give ACORN even more taxpayer dollars, not after all of ACORN's fraudulant voter registration and the brouhaha over efforts to include even more federal money to community organizing groups like ACORN in the big $700 billion bailout bill that Obama voted for during the heat of the Presidential campaign.

UPDATE: Feds have blocked ACORN's Assistance to Firefighters Grant.

Senators want hearing on Obama's firing of inspector general

Two Republican senators, Mike Enzi of Wyoming and Orrin Hatch of Utah, asked for a congressional hearing to look at whether President Obama acted appropriately when he fired the national service agency's inspector general earlier this month.

In what has become known as Walpin-Gate, Obama fired Gerald Walpin, the inspector general who investigates AmeriCorps and other programs that are part of the Corporation for National Community Service. Obama said he lost confidence in Walpin after Walpin's investigation found misuse of federal grants by a nonprofit education group led by Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, who is an Obama supporter.

Walpin has some important friends coming to his defense. Some 145 of them, including former federal judges and even Democrats like Bernie Nussbaum, former President Clinton's first White House counsel.

There is a lot more to this story. The FBI has opened an investigation into Mayor Johnson's group giving credence to the Walpin's work.

Obama's Senate seat to stay vacant

Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, the second-ranking Democrat in the Senate, says president-elect Obama's Senate seat will stay vacant until Democrat Governor Blagojevich is removed and a new appointment can be certified:

"At this point we've clearly reached an impasse," Durbin told reporters at his Chicago office.

That's Democrat speak for the courts don't see things our way.

Durbin also said the "Senate cannot waive a 125-year-old rule requiring the signatures of both the governor and the secretary of state on any election or appointment."

Unbelievably, Durbin, made his comments after the Illinois Supreme Court ruled against the Senate Democrats. In its decision, the court found that Senate Rule II, the rule that Reid and Durbin cited as justification for the Democrat's refusal to seat Senator Burris, is merely a recommendation, not a requirement the "Senate cannot waive":

As their name indicates, these forms are merely recommended. State officials are not required to adopt them, but “they may use [them] if they see fit.” Standing Rule II, United States Senate, Committee on Rule & Administration.

In any event, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White signed a separate statement on Friday certifying that Burris' appointment letter was legally filed with the state. The Illinois Supreme Court decision and Secretary of State certification aren't good enough for Reid and company:

But aides to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said it was not clear if White's statement would meet the Senate's 125-year-old certification requirement.

That's Democrat speak for we don't see things the court's way.

The bottom line here is that the Democrats were afraid to call a special election and let the voters decide who should replace Obama because a Republican might have won the seat. Now, the Democrats are afraid to accept Senator Burris because a Republican might be able to beat Burris in 2010.

Baltimore mayor indicted on theft, perjury charges

More Democrat culture of corruption.

Baltimore Democrat Mayor Sheila Dixon was indicted Friday on charges she accepted illegal gifts, including travel, fur coats and gift cards intended for the poor that she allegedly used instead for a holiday shopping spree:

A grand jury indicted Dixon on 12 counts, including four counts of perjury and two counts of theft over $500. She was also charged with theft under $500, fraudulent misappropriation by a fiduciary and misconduct in office.

The State Prosecutor's Office, which has been investigating corruption at City Hall for nearly three years, said Dixon received holiday gift cards for four years from several people. Prosecutors said the gift cards were to be distributed to needy families, but were instead used by Dixon to buy electronics -including an Xbox, a PlayStation 2 and a camcorder - clothes and other merchandise and also handed out to members of her staff.

Dixon said she has done nothing wrong and said she would not step down:

"I will not let these charges deter me from keeping Baltimore on the path that we have set."

According to the Associated Press, the indictment describes Dixon taking money from Lipscomb and using it to buy expensive gifts and staying at "lavish" hotels in New York City, Chicago and Colorado.

The most disgusting allegation is that Dixon stole gift cards that were supposed to be distributed to needy families.

The AP keeps up its biased media image by burying the fact that Dixon is a democrat in the eleventh paragraph. I wonder where that party affiliation would have been revealed if Dixon were a Republican.

AP Photo/Rob Carr

Senate Dems lose legal fight with Senator-designate Burris

Illinois' highest court has ruled that the certificate of appointment for Roland Burris, the Chicago Democrat appointed by impeached Democrat Governor Blagojevich to replace Barack Obama, does not require the secretary of state’s signature.

CNN Senior Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash reports that after losing this legal battle with Burris, the
Senate's Democrat leaders are weighing their options:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Illinois senior Sen. Dick Durbin had been very clear that their path to seating Burris began with the signature of Secretary of State Jesse White, citing a Senate rule from 1884 that seems to require it.

The Illinois State Supreme Court disagreed.

No further action is required by the Secretary of State or any other official to make the Governor’sappointment of Roland Burris to the United States Senate valid under Illinois law.

You can read the court's entire decision here.

There is another legal fight pending over Blagojevich's appointment of Burris. Judicial Watch, has filed a lawsuit against the United States Senate for denying Burris his "rightful position as the junior Senator from Illinois."

Illinois House votes to impeach Blagojevich

The Illinois House voted to impeach Democrat Governor Rod Blagojevich. The vote was 114 yes, 1 no, 1 not present.

A 67-page report underpinning today’s vote said the governor should be removed for “scheming to obtain a personal benefit for the Senate appointment” and engaging in “abuse of office of the highest magnitude.”

Blagojevich now faces a trial in the state senate. According to

The trial will start about a week after Obama is inaugurated.

Blagojevich is first Illinois governor to be impeached.

Panel recommends Blagojevich's impeachment

A legislative committee on Thursday recommended the impeachment of Illinois Democrat governor Rod Blagojevich:

The 21-member House committee -- 12 Democrats and nine Republicans -- voted unanimously to recommend impeachment and conviction, along with the governor's removal from office and a ban on his ever holding public office in the state again.

The committee cited widespread abuse of power including the allegations Blagojevich tried to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.

If the committee's recommendation is accepted and the Illinois House of Representatives votes to impeach Blagojevich, he would be tried in the state Senate and face removal from office if convicted.

Richardson withdraws as Obama's Commerce Secretary designate

NBC News reports Obama's Commerce Secretary designate, Governor Bill Richardson has withdrawn his name for the position, citing a pending investigation into a company that has done business with his state:

Obama said Sunday he accepted Richardson's decision to withdraw with 'deep regret.'

"Governor Richardson is an outstanding public servant and would have brought to the job of Commerce Secretary and our economic team great insights accumulated through an extraordinary career in federal and state office," Obama said.

The investigation is part of a broad national federal exploration of "pay-to-play," in which government officials reap financial or other benefits in return for state business. The most infamous part of the federal probe is the recent arrest of Illinois Democrat Governor Blagojevich.

I have never thought much of Bill Richardson. I can't get past the Wen Ho Lee scandal at the Los Alamos National Laboratory when Bill Richardson was energy secretary.

The necessity of Richardson's withdrawal, is further evidence that Obama's poor judgment about whom he chooses to associate with, folks like the still unrepentant terrorist Bill Ayers and Reverend Wright with will cause the Obama presidency problems.

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