Rep. Fritchey on School Vouchers, Ending Pay to Play and Gov. Blagojevich: Cable and Streaming
Jeff Berkowitz: Does it break the Governor’s pledge not to raise taxes if he has a Gross Receipts Tax?
*********************************************
State Rep. John Fritchey [D-Chicago]: Dan Hynes [Comptroller] has done the same thing. Jesse White [Secretary of State] supports it. Lisa Madigan [Attorney General] supports it. I think it would look very [pause] troubling if the Governor did not support this.
Jeff Berkowitz: So, you are predicting the Governor would sign it?
*******************************************************************
Rep. John Fritchey: I have said repeatedly. I have said publicly and on this show that I am happy to entertain any school voucher proposal to take a look at it. I don’t presume to have all the answers...
**************************************************************
Tonight's City of Chicago edition of "Public Affairs," airing through-out the City at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 [CANTV], features State Rep. John Fritchey [D-Chicago] discussing Blagojevich's Gross Receipts Tax, Acquisition based real estate assessments, school vouchers and charter schools, stopping Pay to Play, and much, more with show host and legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz. You may also [Go Here to watch tonight's City Edition show with State Rep. Fritchey, this week's suburban edition show with State Rep. Julie Hamos, as well as other shows with such notables as Obama, McCain, Giuliani, Barrett, Chico and many others on your computer; Don't let the "Listen," prompt fool you-- you can watch and listen to the show; you can drag the dial on the bottom of the screen to watch only certain portions of the thirty minute shows; trouble accessing our cinema page on your computer? Try I-Tunes: the same Public Affairs shows are also available there].
******************************************
The "Public Affairs," cinema page gives you a choice of more than twenty-five episodes of “Public Affairs," to watch on your computer including tonight's City show with Rep. Fritchey. The cinema page also has this week's suburban show with Rep. Hamos [D-Evanston] and recent shows with Ralph Martire, Ald. Berny Stone, Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool [D-Chicago], Sen. Garrett [D-Lake Forest], Sen. Syverson [R-Rockford], Metropolitan Planning Council President MarySue Barrett, Phantom of the City Council--Brendan Reilly, State Rep. Paul Froehlich, Eric Zorn-Dan Proft, John McCarron, Gery Chico, former State Sen. Steve Rauschenberger, Chicago Mayoral Candidate Dorothy Brown [D] and State Rep. Julie Hamos [D-Evanston], as well as interviews, discussions or remarks with or by U. S. Senators John McCain and Barack Obama, former NYC Mayor Rudy Giulianiand many, many more pols on our video podcast page[Go Here to Watch the Shows on your computer; you can drag the dial on the bottom of the screen to watch only portions of the thirty minute shows].
***************************************************
Go here for more about State Rep. Fritchey, tonight's show topics and another partial transcript of the show.
******************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Pay to Play. You’ve got legislation to end pay to play, would that be accurate?
State Rep. John Fritchey [D-Chicago]: Yes, House Bill 1. It’s an issue of Dan Hynes and myself. And, it would basically preclude people who do significant business with the state from being campaign contributors.
Jeff Berkowitz: Probably no chance that that would pass. I mean, look at all the legislators. They don’t want to limit contributions for themselves.
State Rep. John Fritchey: But, these are contributions to the [statewide] constitutional office-holders who oversee those contracts [issued by their office].
Jeff Berkowitz: Right. But, once you pass that legislation, it might filter down to them, so do you see the Illinois House rallying around this legislation?
State Rep. John Fritchey: Well, I will tell you that this piece and a companion piece—House Bill 8, which is lobbyist registration reform—I passed both of those bills out of committee last week, by unanimous vote and I would venture to say—maybe I am being a little quixotic here—that—
Jeff Berkowitz: You think it passes the House
State Rep. John Fritchey: In today’s political climate, I think it is very difficult for somebody to vote against this bill.
Jeff Berkowitz: It passes the Senate, too?
Rep. John Fritchey: I sure hope so.
Jeff Berkowitz: The Governor signs it? …Would the Governor sign legislation that really had that kind of limitation [on Pay to Play]? How much did he bring in? 20 million dollars or so in the last general election?
Rep. John Fritchey: I think that if the Governor looks at the fact that State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, on his first day in office—he imposed restrictions on his office, unilaterally, by Executive Order.
Jeff Berkowitz: So, the Governor signs it, you think?
Rep. John Fritchey: Dan Hynes [Comptroller] has done the same thing. Jesse White [Secretary of State] supports it. Lisa Madigan [Attorney General] supports it. I think it would look very [pause] troubling if the Governor did not support this.
Jeff Berkowitz: So, you are predicting the Governor would sign it?
Rep. John Fritchey: I certainly hope he does the right thing, which would be to sign the bill.
******************************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: …Would you like to see the law changed to say [there could be] unlimited charter schools?
Rep. John Fritchey: I would love to see more charter schools.
Jeff Berkowitz: Would you say unlimited charter schools?
Rep. John Fritchey: Yes. Yes, I would. I want us to be at a point—charter schools are about innovation. Innovation breeds progress. That works in the private sector. That should work in our schools and I believe that’s a good idea.
Jeff Berkowitz: Would you agree with school vouchers and school choice? Have that as well? Have all three models out there: Charter Schools, School Vouchers and [traditional] Public Schools. See who does best. Whoever does best gets the students; they grow; the others decline.
Rep. John Fritchey: I have said repeatedly. I have said publicly and on this show that I am happy to entertain any school voucher proposal to take a look at it. I don’t presume to have all the answers. I do presume that I will go in there with an open mind which I think is more than some of our colleagues are doing.
***********************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Does it break the Governor’s pledge not to raise taxes if he has a Gross Receipts Tax?
Rep. John Fritchey: Well, if you are eliminating one tax and replacing it with another tax that has a multiple of revenues in there, I think that is one way that could be considered.
********************************************
State Rep. John Fritchey, as is airing tonight [8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21, CANTV] on the City of Chicago edition of Public Affairs. The show was recorded on February 25, 2007. You may also[watch the show with John Fritchey here].
***************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com
******************
*********************************************
State Rep. John Fritchey [D-Chicago]: Dan Hynes [Comptroller] has done the same thing. Jesse White [Secretary of State] supports it. Lisa Madigan [Attorney General] supports it. I think it would look very [pause] troubling if the Governor did not support this.
Jeff Berkowitz: So, you are predicting the Governor would sign it?
*******************************************************************
Rep. John Fritchey: I have said repeatedly. I have said publicly and on this show that I am happy to entertain any school voucher proposal to take a look at it. I don’t presume to have all the answers...
**************************************************************
Tonight's City of Chicago edition of "Public Affairs," airing through-out the City at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 [CANTV], features State Rep. John Fritchey [D-Chicago] discussing Blagojevich's Gross Receipts Tax, Acquisition based real estate assessments, school vouchers and charter schools, stopping Pay to Play, and much, more with show host and legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz. You may also [Go Here to watch tonight's City Edition show with State Rep. Fritchey, this week's suburban edition show with State Rep. Julie Hamos, as well as other shows with such notables as Obama, McCain, Giuliani, Barrett, Chico and many others on your computer; Don't let the "Listen," prompt fool you-- you can watch and listen to the show; you can drag the dial on the bottom of the screen to watch only certain portions of the thirty minute shows; trouble accessing our cinema page on your computer? Try I-Tunes: the same Public Affairs shows are also available there].
******************************************
The "Public Affairs," cinema page gives you a choice of more than twenty-five episodes of “Public Affairs," to watch on your computer including tonight's City show with Rep. Fritchey. The cinema page also has this week's suburban show with Rep. Hamos [D-Evanston] and recent shows with Ralph Martire, Ald. Berny Stone, Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool [D-Chicago], Sen. Garrett [D-Lake Forest], Sen. Syverson [R-Rockford], Metropolitan Planning Council President MarySue Barrett, Phantom of the City Council--Brendan Reilly, State Rep. Paul Froehlich, Eric Zorn-Dan Proft, John McCarron, Gery Chico, former State Sen. Steve Rauschenberger, Chicago Mayoral Candidate Dorothy Brown [D] and State Rep. Julie Hamos [D-Evanston], as well as interviews, discussions or remarks with or by U. S. Senators John McCain and Barack Obama, former NYC Mayor Rudy Giulianiand many, many more pols on our video podcast page[Go Here to Watch the Shows on your computer; you can drag the dial on the bottom of the screen to watch only portions of the thirty minute shows].
***************************************************
Go here for more about State Rep. Fritchey, tonight's show topics and another partial transcript of the show.
******************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Pay to Play. You’ve got legislation to end pay to play, would that be accurate?
State Rep. John Fritchey [D-Chicago]: Yes, House Bill 1. It’s an issue of Dan Hynes and myself. And, it would basically preclude people who do significant business with the state from being campaign contributors.
Jeff Berkowitz: Probably no chance that that would pass. I mean, look at all the legislators. They don’t want to limit contributions for themselves.
State Rep. John Fritchey: But, these are contributions to the [statewide] constitutional office-holders who oversee those contracts [issued by their office].
Jeff Berkowitz: Right. But, once you pass that legislation, it might filter down to them, so do you see the Illinois House rallying around this legislation?
State Rep. John Fritchey: Well, I will tell you that this piece and a companion piece—House Bill 8, which is lobbyist registration reform—I passed both of those bills out of committee last week, by unanimous vote and I would venture to say—maybe I am being a little quixotic here—that—
Jeff Berkowitz: You think it passes the House
State Rep. John Fritchey: In today’s political climate, I think it is very difficult for somebody to vote against this bill.
Jeff Berkowitz: It passes the Senate, too?
Rep. John Fritchey: I sure hope so.
Jeff Berkowitz: The Governor signs it? …Would the Governor sign legislation that really had that kind of limitation [on Pay to Play]? How much did he bring in? 20 million dollars or so in the last general election?
Rep. John Fritchey: I think that if the Governor looks at the fact that State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, on his first day in office—he imposed restrictions on his office, unilaterally, by Executive Order.
Jeff Berkowitz: So, the Governor signs it, you think?
Rep. John Fritchey: Dan Hynes [Comptroller] has done the same thing. Jesse White [Secretary of State] supports it. Lisa Madigan [Attorney General] supports it. I think it would look very [pause] troubling if the Governor did not support this.
Jeff Berkowitz: So, you are predicting the Governor would sign it?
Rep. John Fritchey: I certainly hope he does the right thing, which would be to sign the bill.
******************************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: …Would you like to see the law changed to say [there could be] unlimited charter schools?
Rep. John Fritchey: I would love to see more charter schools.
Jeff Berkowitz: Would you say unlimited charter schools?
Rep. John Fritchey: Yes. Yes, I would. I want us to be at a point—charter schools are about innovation. Innovation breeds progress. That works in the private sector. That should work in our schools and I believe that’s a good idea.
Jeff Berkowitz: Would you agree with school vouchers and school choice? Have that as well? Have all three models out there: Charter Schools, School Vouchers and [traditional] Public Schools. See who does best. Whoever does best gets the students; they grow; the others decline.
Rep. John Fritchey: I have said repeatedly. I have said publicly and on this show that I am happy to entertain any school voucher proposal to take a look at it. I don’t presume to have all the answers. I do presume that I will go in there with an open mind which I think is more than some of our colleagues are doing.
***********************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Does it break the Governor’s pledge not to raise taxes if he has a Gross Receipts Tax?
Rep. John Fritchey: Well, if you are eliminating one tax and replacing it with another tax that has a multiple of revenues in there, I think that is one way that could be considered.
********************************************
State Rep. John Fritchey, as is airing tonight [8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21, CANTV] on the City of Chicago edition of Public Affairs. The show was recorded on February 25, 2007. You may also[watch the show with John Fritchey here].
***************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com
******************
<< Home