Friday, June 29, 2007

The PBS Democratic Presidential Debate: The silly season is here.

Last night’s Democratic Presidential Candidate debate, run by Tavis Smiley, was peculiar, at best. Tavis Smiley is no debate moderator, organizer, or what have you. He is the Paris Hilton of politics. However, Tavis has become PBS’ favorite black personality, and he has leveraged that into corporate sponsorships and into being almost a cult hero among media personalities, black leaders and Democratic Party leaders and activists.

Smiley does a half hour interview show every week day night on PBS, with the first fifteen minutes being a political or public policy interview and the last fifteen with a musician, actress, etc. Smiley is unabashedly a lefty, which means he fits in well with PBS management and talent. Like others on PBS, he makes little or no attempt to hide his bias, kissing those pols on the left [Saying at one point last night to Barack, “I love you man,”] and hissing at those on the right.

Smiley squandered almost the entire first half hour of his ninety minute network time last night with dribble, candidate still pictures and embarrassing promos of radio personality Tom Joyner, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, himself and others in the audience.

The whole debate consisted of answers to eight questions from three journalists “of color,” and a civilian who somehow won the right to ask the first question [get it? kind of like throwing out the first ball]. The civilian was black and nationally syndicated columnist Ruben Navarette, Jr. I imagine is Hispanic. Michel Martin, from NPR, appears black. Nationally syndicated columnist DeWayne Wickham I would guess is black, but I really don’t know. This reporter wouldn’t usually make such a big deal of guessing the journalist’s race or color, but that was the theme of the debate and evening—Color—and I understand that included having only journalists “of color” asking questions.

Somebody who organizes these things decided last night and the September 27 Republican Debate would be all about Tavis Smiley, color and Tavis’ book, “The covenant with Black America. So, in short, if we are going to have ten, or so, Presidential debates before February 5, on which date the Presidential nominees should be selected, one tenth of those debates will have been devoted to a Tavis Smiley view of the world—as I said, color.

If the theme of the debate was issues of concern to minorities, or people of color, it does seem as if Hispanics and Asians were shortchanged, as little of the discussion last night seemed to relate specifically to issues of their color or their ethnicity. For example, nothing about immigration. I don’t know, but maybe Asians are considered to be a minority, but do not count as people of color. You see, this journalist would not have been of much help last night in focusing on color because he is old fashioned and believes in that dream of Dr. King of a time when “we would judge people by the content of their character, not the color of their skin.”

So, unless this journalist is watching a Tavis Smiley debate, I tend not to focus much on skin color. In a sense, you could say that Tavis does not seem to get King’s message, although Tavis often tells his viewers that King is the person he most admires, from history or otherwise.

Not verbatim, but the eight questions last night were generally as follows:
1. Is race still an issue?
2. Black high school graduates generally have higher unemployment rates than white high school dropouts. Why and what to do about that?
3. Blacks represent only about 17% of all Teens, yet they represent 69% of Teens with HIV Aids. Why and what to do about that?

For the above questions, Tavis asked each candidate to limit his or her answer to one minute. After the candidates had completed their responses to the third question, Tavis realized he was about 50 minutes into the show—and he asked each candidate to keep his or her answer to the following questions to thirty seconds. Tavis appeared to arbitrarily and inconsistently enforce the time limits, apparently ticking off Senator Dodd at one point, who in turn ticked off Tavis. Tavis, of course, declared himself the winner over Dodd. That was one of the show highlights.

4. Is Warren Buffett right that the rich are undertaxed?
5. According to FBI stats from 1996-2005, Blacks made up 29% of the people arrested and Whites made up 70% of the people arrested. Yet, the jail population was about 40% White and 38% black during that time period. Why is that and what should be done? [Ed. Note: Yes, it appears that the second set of numbers don’t add up. However that could be because Tavis and The Covenant with Black America make use of “Radical Math.”]
6. Should all of those New Orleans citizens who left New Orleans during Katrina be guaranteed a Right of Return under the U. N. Refugee Protocol [This was a Michel Martin wacko special].
7. A lot of Americans are concerned. about outsourcing. However, many companies don’t show any concern and say we live in a global economy and we must be competitive. Are you concerned about outsourcing and if so, what to do?
8. Darfur represents the United States’ second chance to prevent a genocide. In 1994, we did nothing to prevent the genocide of a half million people. Should we do something now in Darfur? If so, what?

The answers to the above didn’t vary much among the candidates, especially between the Tier one candidates: Hillary, Obama and Edwards. Generally, the candidates said:

1. Race matters;

2. The Feds need to spend more on everything, including getting everybody tested for AIDS; Black schools and teachers are not as good as those for whites. We should spend a lot more money on schools for everybody and all will be Okay. This being a Democratic Party debate, nobody mentioned charter schools or vouchers. Blacks need to be educated about the dangers of getting and passing on Aids to others. Everybody should be tested for Aids, including apparently little kids and those not at risk. We don’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings. Even Senator Biden said he got tested and he has never had sex.

3. Tax the rich. There are two Americas, including two school systems: One for the wealthy and one for everybody else. Seriously, John Edwards said this. We need to change that. Spend more on everything and raise the taxes on the rich. Rebuild New Orleans. Make sure everybody has everything they want. Make sure there is no outsourcing. Re-do all the trade agreements and essentially abolish international trade. Employ force and troops in Sudan. Shoot to Kill—just make sure you shoot the right people, following Dirty Harry’s suggestion.

Hillary won the debate again. She was the best prepared and gave the toughest answers. Most of the candidates talked about establishing a No Fly zone over Darfur, but only Hillary said: “If they violate the No Fly zone, shoot them down.” Seriously, she said that. Obama was, at best, second to Hillary. For example, he said a No Fly zone is important but then he started talking about trade opportunities, investing in Africa. Did he get confused again? Trade is the answer for Darfur? I don’t think so. Even for the Democrats, that doesn’t work.

The rest of the candidates were also-rans. Edwards, as has been remarked, seems to be going through the motions. Nobody takes Biden and Dodd seriously. Richardson continues to try to be farthest to the left, and his poll numbers are moving up, but he has a long way to go.

Dennis Kucinich has the best looking wife. Mike Gravel lectured us several times about ending the War on Drugs. Does that mean he wants to legalize all drugs? Or, just decriminalize all of them? Or, is Gravel just mad. Gravel actually ended the debate by saying, “The President has to have moral judgment and most of the people on the stage do not have moral judgment and have proved it by what they have done.”

It was a silly debate with a silly format, silly questions, silly answers and a silly ending. And, I don’t think Senator Gravel gets invited back.

For a more conventional and charitable review of the debate, go here
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Obama, McCain, Giuliani and Cox and many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Thursday, June 28, 2007

Mary Mitchell and MSM: Giving a pass on racism to Prof. Jeremy Levitt(NIU and FIU)

Links added and revisions made at 12:45 pm on Thursday
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In the context of race relations, sellouts compromise racial solidarity and group identity and integrity for perceived societal acceptance, adventure or mere escape by dating outside of their race or ethnic genre.

Professor Jeremy Levitt, Chicago Sun-Times, June 2, 2007
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Mary Mitchell, Chicago Sun-Times columnist, has written five columns in a row [See here], in the last two weeks, dealing with racism or alleged racism practiced by, in large part, whites against blacks. These columns have ranged from blacks being turned away from bars by whites under false pretenses; a black arguably unjustly convicted of raping a white woman; a white man being harassed by security for a Wal-Mart store because he was holding the hand of his young black daughter; and the media giving the benefit of the doubt to a white man suspected of killing his white wife and three children (The Vaughn family murders) in contrast to the media unfairly presuming guilt by a black man in the death of his white girlfriend and her fetus, which apparently the black man had fathered, along with another child of that woman (the Cutts-Davis murders).

Oddly, with all this attention to arguable racism, Mary Mitchell seems to give a pass during the last month to some arguable racism, bigotry or intolerance by a fellow, occasional columnist and self-described "rising young scholar," at the Chicago Sun-Times, Professor Jeremy Levitt.

Levitt, described by the Chicago Sun-Times as a Professor of Law at Florida International University and a Distinguished Scholar at Northern Illinois University, and a self-described African-American, recently penned these words when discussing which African-Americans should be characterized as “sell-outs.”
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How do we as African-Americans define selling out? Is it dating outside of our race? Is it the black Republican?
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Not long ago, I was eating lunch at a restaurant near downtown Chicago, and a young black man walked in with a scantily dressed white woman on his arm. They were both in their early 20s and dressed the part. I saw a few ''sisters'' sigh as they entered. Yes, the brother -- smiley gold teeth and all -- looked real proud to have ''Becky,'' and she seemed even prouder to be on a safari with her African guide. They sat down near me and spoke very loudly, apparently wanting all to hear. I overheard a young black woman say, ''It's bad enough that he is a sellout, but do they have to be so ignorant, too?'' I gave her a nod of approval.
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…In the context of race relations, sellouts compromise racial solidarity and group identity and integrity for perceived societal acceptance, adventure or mere escape by dating outside of their race or ethnic genre. To many, love gives no amnesty to selling out.

However, given the poor state of black America, I believe we should redefine if not expand the term. …

Based on this reality, perhaps we need to redefine selling out to castigate blacks who enable this condition. I mean blacks who are destroying our communities: the real terrorists. I mean those who murder, rape and molest, sell drugs, and gang-bang; those who keep our communities looking pillaged…. I mean black media that are raising a generation of young dummies on a diet of racially disparaging music and sleazy reality television.
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It's time to quit blaming others; to call a spade a spade, not a role model.

Professor Jeremy Levitt, Chicago Sun-Times, June 2, 2007. [See here].
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True, Professor Levitt does not stick, at least completely, to his definition of a black “sell-out,” as those blacks who date “outside their race or ethnic genre.” No, he “re-defines, if not expands his definition of a black sell-out,” to those blacks who “murder, rape and gang-bang,” as well as those blacks who “pimp a materialistic, misogynistic and violent culture to our youth.”

But, it doesn’t seem to this reporter that Levitt ever completely jettisons his own intolerance or racism against those blacks and whites who choose to date or marry each other. No, he just puts it aside for now because of the “poor state of black America.” Apparently, when socio-economic conditions improve in Black America, then Professor Levitt can go back to his rants about blacks “selling out,” by dating or marrying whites and other individuals dating "outside their race or ethnic genre." Yet, this racism goes unremarked upon by his colleague, Mary Mitchell, who has developed writing about racism into a cottage industry since Levitt published his column earlier this month.

Moreover, as far as this reporter can determine, no other journalist at the Sun-Times, or at its primary competitor, the Chicago Tribune, found Professor Levitt’s racism sufficiently noteworthy to write about. Indeed, this is even the case for a column written two weeks after Professor Levitt's column by Dawn Turner Trice in the Chicago Tribune. The topic of Trice’s column: Inter-racial unions, bi-racial people and a conference commemorating the 40th anniversary of the U. S. Supreme Court decision striking down miscegenation laws.

Perhaps Mitchell doesn’t read her own newspaper? Perhaps Trice doesn’t read columns in a competitor’s paper. Perhaps neither googles the words “racism,” or “misogynistic,” to look for relevant cites or authorities before publishing columns about same. Perhaps neither has editors who google those words before approving publication or making suggestions about such columns by Mitchell and Trice.

Or, perhaps there is another reason why Levitt’s racism or intolerance of bi-racial dating or marriage gets a pass from his mainstream media colleagues and their editors?

We discuss. You decide.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Obama, McCain, Giuliani and Cox and many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Frank Avila, Jr. on 4th CD, Blago, HDO and Corruption: Cable and Streaming

Jeff Berkowitz: Is the town of Cicero still mobbed up?

Frank Avila, Jr.: Yes.
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Frank Avila, Jr.:…I believe Gov. Blagojevich is thoroughly corrupt...
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This week’s suburban edition of Public Affairs features Frank Avila, Jr., an attorney, political campaign consultant who has counseled Republicans (Jack Ryan) and Democrats (Ald. Manny Flores) and ran, himself, for Cook County Water Reclamation District Commissioner in the March, 2004 Democratic Primary. The airing schedule for the suburban edition of “Public Affairs,” is included, below.
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The show with Frank Avila, Jr. also airs through-out the City of Chicago this coming Monday night [July 2] at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 [CANTV] and on Monday, July 2, 2007 at 7:30 pm on Aurora Community Television, on Comcast Cable Ch. 10 in Aurora and some surrounding areas.
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You may also watch the show with Frank Avila, Jr. on your computer at PublicAffairsTV.com. In addition to the Avila, Jr. show, additional recent shows posted on our video podcast site include last night's show in the City with Senator Sandoval shows featuring Republican Campaign Consultants and media personalities Dan Proft and Dan Curry, Roberto Maldonado, a Cook County Commissioner who is running in the 4th CD Democratic Primary in 2008, State Reps. Mary Flowers, Julie Hamos, Jim Durkin, Paul Froehlich and John Fritchey, former State GOP chairman Gary MacDougal, Presidential candidates Obama, Giuliani, McCain and Cox, and many other pols and opinion makers.
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Frank Avila, Jr. is an attorney, U. S. Army Reserve Captain, political consultant and politician. He helped elect his father, Frank Avila, Sr. [D-Chicago] to Cook County Water Reclamation District Commissioner in 2002 and Avila, Jr. narrowly lost a seat on that same Commission in 2004. Avila, Jr. helped Ald. Flores get on the ballot in 2003 and he helped Bob Fioretti [2nd Ward] and Pat Dowell [3rd Ward] win aldermanic seats in Chicago in 2007. He also consulted with Republican Jack Ryan when Ryan was thinking about running against Senator Durbin or for other offices in 2001-02.

Frank Avila, Jr. debates and discusses with show host and legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz the following questions and topics: Did Ald. Flores punish Avila, Jr. in 2004 for helping Flores get on the ballot in 2003? Do Ricky Munoz and Manny Flores qualify as “reformers?” Juan Andrade? Juan Ochoa? Is Ochoa Blago’s guy? What is reform?

Is HDO corrupt? Is Victor Reyes the head of HDO? Did Daley start HDO? Should the current Mayor of Chicago be called Boss Daley? Should there be guilt by membership in an organization? Is there guilt by joint membership in the HDO?

Should Blagojevich be indicted? In which fundraising schemes, if any, was he involved? Is Blagojevich corrupt? What, if anything, did Sen. Munoz and Angelo Torres have in common? Who sponsored Angelo Torres to be in charge of Hired Truck?

Is Cicero still mobbed up? Who is involved in that? How much is Cicero being billed for legal fees by one firm? Could it be Legit?

Are Hispanics generally socially conservative on Gays, Guns, God and abortion? Would Hispanics rate jobs and education as the most important issues to them. Do they favor School vouchers-school choice?

Who is running in 4th CD Dem Primary in February, 2008? Who will win? Is Ald. Flores the Barack Obama of the Hispanic community. What is the sixteen year legacy of Cong. Gutierrez? ********************************************************
A partial transcript of this week's suburban show is included directly below.
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Blagojevich and HDO: Thoroughly corrupt?

Frank Avila, Jr.:…I believe Gov. Blagojevich is thoroughly corrupt, so Juan Ochoa

Jeff Berkowitz: [Blagojevich] Thoroughly corrupt?

Frank Avila, Jr.:Thoroughly corrupt.

Jeff Berkowitz: Go ahead, Juan Ochoa is what?

Frank Avila, Jr.: Since Juan Ochoa is associated with Rod Blagojevich, although I like Juan Ochoa, personally, it is hard for him to separate himself from that corruption of Rod Blagojevich. Rod Blagojevich is a sociopath. He is a pathological liar. He’s thoroughly corrupt.

Jeff Berkowitz: Sociopath? These are pretty strong words.

Frank Avila, Jr.: Well, look at what he did to his own father-in-law-- Richard Mell. Look at how he has interacted with Speaker Madigan, the Republicans or anything else… Blagojevich and the truth are separated. But, similarly, like with HDO [Hispanic Democratic Organization], HDO is a thoroughly corrupt organization. It is an association that is connected to Heroin dealers, drug dealers, not because I say it, but because you have people who have pled guilty in federal court like George Prado, who have pled guilty on drug charges. Same thing with Angelo Torres- he has pled guilty—

Jeff Berkowitz: Hired Truck or Hired Tow.

Angelo Torres and Senator Munoz: Members of Two Six Gang?

Frank Avila, Jr.: Hired Truck. He was a member of the Two Six gang, which also Senator Munoz, Tony Munoz was a member of the two Six gang, a street gang in the City of Chicago…Tony Munoz and Angelo Torres…they were both members of the Two Six street gang. And, he was in charge of the Hired Truck program.

Jeff Berkowitz: Angelo Torres was?

Frank Avila, Jr.: Angelo Torres.

Jeff Berkowitz: Nobody seems to know who put him there [head of Hired Truck].

Senator Munoz sponsored Angelo Torres?

Frank Avila, Jr.: Well everybody knows who put him there and I’ve told this Mara Georges. Victor Reyes [See here] was in charge of all jobs and his sponsor was Tony Munoz…HDO probably had a thousand jobs they got through politics. Everybody knows that…

Jeff Berkowitz: : So, the sponsor was Tony Munoz?

Frank Avila, Jr.: Tony Munoz was the Sponsor.

Jeff Berkowitz: Of who?

Frank Avila, Jr.: Of Angelo Torres.

Jeff Berkowitz: And, you told that to Mara Georges [Chicago Corporation Counsel]

Frank Avila, Jr.: I’ve told that to Mara Georges.
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Half dozen Liberal Dems running in the 4th CD?

Jeff Berkowitz: We just mentioned a bunch of folks [running or possibly running in the 4th CD]; if you run down that list: Ricky Munoz, Manny Flores, Roberto Maldonado, George Cardenas, Danny Solis, Susana Mendoza—maybe not so much Mendoza, we’ll see, but those folks, pretty much down the line liberal Democrats, wouldn’t you say?

Frank Avila, Jr.: Yes.

Jeff Berkowitz: So, if you ran, you’re a conservative Democrat, so if you ran, wouldn’t you say in a field of six or seven [in the 4th CD Democratic Primary], Frank Avila, Jr. would have a heck of a chance?

Frank Avila, Jr.: I might, but in the federal law, you can’t lend me about a couple hundred thousand dollars, it’s too expensive.

Jeff Berkowitz: You have to spend your time getting the contributions $2300 at a shot.

Frank Avila, Jr.: Yes and that’s a very difficult thing to do.

Jeff Berkowitz: But, Ricky Munoz can do it. Manny Flores can do it. Why can’t Frank Avila, Jr.?

Frank Avila, Jr.: They’re elected officials. I’m focusing on my law practice. It’s not an easy thing.

Susana Mendoza, a social conservative in the 4th CD race?

Jeff Berkowitz: But, there could be, you don’t know of anybody who would be socially conservative

Frank Avila, Jr.: Well, I think Susana Mendoza is—

Jeff Berkowitz: She would be the person?

Frank Avila, Jr.: She is pro- Death penalty.

Jeff Berkowitz: She was a few years ago. We don’t know [where she is on that now]. She hasn’t spoken about it lately.

Frank Avila, Jr.: That’s true. I haven’t talked to her about that lately, but she has been pro school choice in the past. Manny Flores is also pro-school choice.

School Vouchers: Popular in the 4th CD?

Jeff Berkowitz: On this very show, he talked about school vouchers in a very complimentary way.

Frank Avila, Jr.: Yes.

Jeff Berkowitz: Said it was something he would look at and consider.

Frank Avila, Jr.: Right.

Jeff Berkowitz: And, so forth. Maybe he was even stronger on that. He [Ald. Flores] may have even said he actually favored school vouchers—we’ll take a look at the tape or transcript.

Frank Avila, Jr.: He spoke favorably. I don’t know to what extent. People change once they run for federal office.

Jeff Berkowitz: All right, so who wins that race? Frank Avila, Jr., make a prediction, 4th CD Democrat Primary, February 5, 2008.
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Senator Sandoval’s alliance with the Cicero Republican Organization?

Frank Avila, Jr.: …Eddie Garza worked for the City of Chicago, worked on Ald. Burke’s committee and he ran against State Senator Sandoval[D-Chicago][For more about Sen. Sandoval and his statements on last week's "Public Affairs," See here and here].; [Garza] lost and I believe—

Jeff Berkowitz: But, Sandoval got a lot of help from Cicero [the Republican Organization] and Berwyn. They were important in that election [‘06’]; is that what you are saying?

Frank Avila, Jr.: Yes.

Cicero mobbed up?

Jeff Berkowitz: Is the town of Cicero still mobbed up?

Frank Avila, Jr.: Yes.

Jeff Berkowitz: You think so?

Frank Avila, Jr.: Yes.

Jeff Berkowitz: Who is a part of that?

Past Connections to mobster Rocco Infelise

Frank Avila, Jr.: I think you have a lot of connections to Melrose Park. You have Larry Dominick admitting that he would meet with, or at least had met with Rocco Infelise who is in jail now [Seems to be deceased], a main member of organized crime. You have a law firm there now, based on my information and belief, that is making more money than Ed Vrdolyak made. There were about eighteen law firms there [contracting with Cicero] before.

Jeff Berkowitz: What is the name of that law firm [making more than Vrdolyak made]?

Frank Avila, Jr.: I have to double check the law firm. I didn’t bring the information.

Jeff Berkowitz: Giglio [pronounced Julio]?

Frank Avila, Jr.: Actually, exactly.

Cicero and law firm revenues?

Jeff Berkowitz: Giglio and Del Galdo, is that the law firm to which you are referring?

Frank Avila, Jr.: Giglio And Del Galdo, yes.

Jeff Berkowitz: Joe Giglio and Mike Del Galdo?

Frank Avila, Jr.: Right.

Jeff Berkowitz: And, you are saying what about that law firm?

Frank Avila, Jr.: They are making more money than Ed Vrdolyak made in the Vrdolyak law group or Ed Vrdolyak, Ltd.

Jeff Berkowitz: How much are they making?

Frank Avila, Jr.: I believe there are legal contracts-- but I would want to check these numbers-- up or about 4 million dollars.

Jeff Berkowitz: Per year?

Frank Avila, Jr.: Per year.

Jeff Berkowitz: And, Vrdolyak was about one and one-half to two million dollars?

Frank Avila, Jr.: Well, they had eighteen law firms before that no given year would exceed—

Jeff Berkowitz: Possible that Cicero is doing that much in legit legal fees?

Frank Avila, Jr.: I think it is absurd.

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Frank Avila, Jr., as he is airing this week on Public Affairs in 35 Chicago Metro suburbs [See below for the suburban airing schedule] and as will be airing on Monday, July 2, 2007, 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21, CANTV on the City of Chicago edition of Public Affairs and on Monday, July 2, 2007 at 7:30 pm on Aurora Community Television, on Comcast Cable Ch. 10 in Aurora and some surrounding areas. The show was recorded on June 16, 2007.[You may also go here to watch Frank Avila, Jr. [D-Chicago] on PublicAffairsTV.com].
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In twenty-five North Shore, North and Northwest suburbs, the "Public Affairs," show airs every Tuesday night in the regular weekly Public Affairs slot, 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Ch. 19 or 35, as indicated, below.

In ten North Shore suburbs, the Public Affairs show airs three times each week in its regular slots at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Ch. 19, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, as indicated, below. ********************************************************
The suburban episode of Public Affairs with guest Frank Avila, Jr. airs Tonight :

at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, parts of Inverness, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Wilmette

And at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 35 in Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Glenview, Golf, Des Plaines, Hanover Park, Mt. Prospect, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights, Schaumburg, Skokie, Streamwood and Wheeling.

and this week on Monday night, Wednesday night and Friday night at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Obama, McCain, Giuliani and Cox and many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Can State GOP get past Froehlich-Dillard ?

Revised and links added on Tuesday at 10:45 am

Yesterday’s double hit taken by the State GOP leadership would, for a normal political party, be a downer. One, State Rep. Froehlich’s [D-Schaumburg] defection to the Dems can’t be viewed as a plus to a Republican State House that was already down by a net seven seats to the Dems. Two, having your, until recently, DuPage Connty Republican Chairman [the most important Republican County] and current State Senator, Kirk Dillard, place himself in an ad praising Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama can’t be reassuring to any of the Republican presidential candidates. That is especially true for Senator McCain, who has been “endorsed,” by Senator Dillard.

State GOP leaders? Who would lay claim to or at least be unable to deny that title? It would seem as if the ruling triumvirate would now be made up of State House GOP leader Tom Cross, State Senate Republican leader Frank Watson and State GOP Chairman Andy McKenna, Jr.

Cross, Watson and McKenna have the State GOP leadership positions, by default. Former Speaker Hastert is thought to be ready to announce in August, if not sooner, that he will not seek re-election to his House seat. 10th CD Congressman Mark Kirk [Highland Park], once thought to be a wunderkind of the Illinois Republican Congressional delegation, now is praying that he can hold onto his seat in 2008. Freshman Cong. Roskam [Wheaton], having won by only two percent, is in no position to lay claim to the title of Party Leader. Longtime Cong. LaHood [Peoria] appears to be in search of an exit strategy, not a leadership position. Illinois’ RNC honcho and friend of Rove, Bob Kjellander, is badly wounded from his closeness to, if not involvement with, those who have been indicted or are being investigated and thus he hopes he can quietly make it through ’08, without taking any additional hits.

But, because the Illinois GOP Party’s motto has to be, “Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up To Me,” who knows what the Party leaders really felt. Perhaps just another day at the office—just like the Bears dealing yet again with Tank Johnson’s continued run-ins with the Law. However, for the Bears, their solution was simple: sever the infringing team member. For the Illinois GOP leaders, they could, at most, mumble some words mildly critical of Froehlich and Dillard and hope this would be at most, a two-day story.

And, they might make it. Taking them in reverse order, Senator Dillard is known as the “Let’s make a deal,” guy in Illinois politics. A few years back he was accused by a senate colleague, or two, of selling his caucus down the river for a few shekels from the Governor for his District when Blagojevich needed a few Republican votes. Indeed, Sun-Times columnist Lynn Sweet told Hardball’s Chris Matthews last night, “Look, it is a good investment for him [Dillard] because no matter what happens, Barack Obama at the least is going to be a Senator from Illinois and he is going to have one big chit owed to a Republican State Senator.”

In short, the Obama ad can be viewed as just another case of Dillard cutting a deal for himself at the expense of his Party. Not a plus for the State GOP, but not a major body blow-either for the State GOP or the eventual Republican Presidential Candidate.

Froehlich’s defection, on its face, is more problematic. One, unless Leader Cross wanted this to happen, there is the organizational sloppiness from Froehlich’s accusation that he couldn’t get an appointment last week to discuss this with Cross-- but Speaker Mike Madigan found time to meet with Froehlich.

Doubtful that Cross could have turned this around, but if no other reason than PR, leaders should at least match their counterparts in being accessible to their members, especially those who are defecting.

Two, the perhaps underlying reason for the move, the previous Republican District voting for Ds can’t be comforting to the Party leaders. 2nd Term 8th CD Democratic congresswoman Bean won Froehlich’s District in 2006 by almost 20 points over her Republican opponent, McSweeney, and Democratic 6th CD congressional candidate Duckworth won it in her losing effort against Peter Roskam.

Three, with the additional seat, Democrats in the State House move to a 67-51 majority, or an 8-vote net margin. That means the Dems need pick up only four Republican votes in the over-time legislative session to get to the three fifth supra-majority needed to pass a budget, making the Republicans even less relevant than they were yesterday.

Four, over the last half year, Froehlich has blasted the state Republicans for being on the wrong side of social justice and seems relieved to no longer have to explain his ties to President Bush.

That having been said, the State GOP might reasonably be able to write off Froehlich as sui generis, i.e., a problem that exists only with Froehlich and his District.

One, people say Froehlich was a conservative, but if he was, that had changed dramatically in recent years. So, given those changing views of Paul’s, he would not be comfortable as a Republican. That is, he was not, at the core, even a moderate Republican, but increasingly a Democrat [See here]

Two, earlier this year Froehlich ran away from school vouchers-school choice [See here], even though that concept is very popular with Hispanics, an ethnic group whose growth in his District Froehlich claimed was behind his decision to embrace in-state tuition and drivers licenses for illegal immigrants. In contrast, Hispanic, Democratic State Senator Martin Sandoval [Chicago], representing a substantial Hispanic population, has embraced school vouchers, which are hated, with a passion, by the teachers unions. As a former teacher, perhaps you could take the pol out of former teacher Froehlich, but not the teachers' union out of the current pol, Paul Froehlich.

Three, it has been rumored Froehlich faced, in 2008, another and more serious Republican Primary challenge due to his inability to support his caucus. Maybe Froehlich jumped before he would have been pushed, saving the Republican Party some unnecessary internal warfare.

Four, Froehlich either was differing or was soon to be differing with his party on the environment, on taxes, on education funding, on capital punishment, spending and issues of justice.

In short, maybe Froehlich was no longer a Republican who would run well with his Party, or in his District. If so, the Republican Party can say thanks to Paul for easing the transition to a new Republican in his District, one who beats Paul next Fall, assuming Paul can win his Democratic Primary.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Obama, McCain, Giuliani and Cox and many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Monday, June 25, 2007

Senator Martin Sandoval [D-Chicago] takes the Backpack: Cable and Streaming

State Senator Martin Sandoval [D-Chicago], is the featured guest on tonight’s [June 25] City of Chicago edition of "Public Affairs," airing at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 [CANTV] throughout the City of Chicago. Senator Sandoval is also featured on the Aurora edition of Public Affairs, airing at 7:30 pm in Aurora and some surrounding areas on Aurora Community Television, Comcast Cable Ch. 10. The Aurora station reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery.

For a partial transcipt of tonight's show, a summary of tonight's show topics and more about Sen. Sandoval, go here.

Senator Sandoval ia a fifth year State Senator from the Southwest Side of Chicago. Unlike most state pols, Sandoval came out of more than fifteen years in the federal government to accept a nomination by Governor George Ryan to a position as a commissioner on the Water Reclamation District Board, which he held until he was elected to the State Senate in 2004.
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You can also watch Republican Presidential Primary Candidates McCain, Giuliani and Cox, Democratic Presidential Primary Candidate Obama and many more pols, opinion makers and opinion shapers, e.g., tonight's show with Senator Sandoval, this week's suburban edition of Public Affairs with political campaign consultant and pol, Frank Avila, Jr., as well as prior shows with MarySue Barrett, President of the Metropolitan Planning Council, Cook County Commissioner Roberto Maldonado [D-Chicago], State Reps. Jim Durkin [R-Western Springs], Mary Flowers [D-Chicago], Linda Chapa LaVia [D-Aurora] and Julie Hamos [D-Evanston], Republican Campaign Consultants Dan Proft and Dan Curry on your computer by going to PublicAffairsTv.com
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Another partial transcript of tonight's show is included directly, below.
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Sandoval exercises choice as a parent and he suggests school choice for other parents.

Jeff Berkowitz: Take $12,000 [which is what is spent per student, per year in the Chicago Public Schools] and put it in this backpack. [We have] 420,000 students, we get ourselves 420,000 backpacks. Senator Sandoval, would you like to give each parent in the City of Chicago one of these backpacks. There is $12,000 in each backpack. Strap it on the kid. If the kid at the parent’s direction goes out of the public school to a private school, out goes the kid, out goes the backpack, out goes the cash; If, on the other hand, the parent is happy with the public school, the kid stays where he is and the cash stays in the public school. Do you want to give that school choice to every parent in the City of Chicago? Would you like to do that? Take that backpack?

Senator Martin Sandoval: (D-Chicago): Sure, absolutely.

Jeff Berkowitz: You would give them that choice?

Senator Martin Sandoval: Absolutely.

Jeff Berkowitz: You sign on to that?

Senator Martin Sandoval: I think I am for more choice. Although I support the Chicago Public Schools-- and they need to get every dollar they can to keep those schools operating and running well, but nonetheless, I think that as an option, we should start looking at—

Jeff Berkowitz: School Vouchers-School Choice? You would sign up?

Senator Martin Sandoval: We should embark on having some form of a pilot program for vouchers for parochial schools.

Jeff Berkowitz: You would support that?

Senator Martin Sandoval: Absolutely.
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Blago’s Healthcare Insurance program is a little large

Jeff Berkowitz: The Governor is pushing health care access for everybody [healthcare insurance]. Is he right on that? Would you support the Governor on that?

Senator Martin Sandoval: I would support the Governor. I think that last year we decided to support his All Kids program—health insurance for all kids. I believe that his program is a little—a little large. I believe that somewhere in between

Jeff Berkowitz: You would prune it down? A little less ambitious?

Senator Martin Sandoval: A little less ambitious. A little more palatable program would be a good thing for Illinois.
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State Senator Martin Sandoval [D-Chicago], interviewed on Public Affairs on June 16, 2007 and as is airing tonight in Chicago [8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21] and Aurora and surrounding areas [7:30 pm on ACTV, Comcast Cable Ch. 10], and as is streaming on computer at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Obama, McCain, Giuliani and Cox and many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Blagojevich and the four Tops: Agreement?

Agreement in Principle

Everybody has been speaking about the “Agreement in Principle,” between the Governor and Speaker Mike, Senate President Jones, Republican Senate Leader Watson and Republican House Leader Cross as if there pretty much is an agreement not to shut down State Government on July 10, or so-- at which time the State Government would not have funds to meet its new fiscal year payroll, barring some action by the powers that be--- in Springpatch.

But, what is that Agreement? Indeed, is there an Agreement? That was pretty much the starting point for Berkowitz’s “Public Affairs,” interview with Deputy Republican Senate Leader Christine Radogno [R-Lemont] taped yesterday and to air in the suburbs next week.

The five ring circus in Springpatch; Obama and Giannoulias

The discussion during the half hour show covers a much broader range of territory than the “Agreement,” including the five ring circus in Springpatch; how those circus rings may shape the final eleven month, or shorter, budget; comparisons between some of the current views of State Treasurer Giannoulias, such as they are, and his former opponent, Senator Radogno; Ideas and positions of Senator Radogno on education funding and true education reform; and some reflections by Senator Radogno on her state senate colleague for eight years-- now U. S. Senator and Presidential Candidate Barack Obama.

Senator Radogno [R-Lemont] is in her 11th year of representing a good chunk of Chicago’s far southwest suburbs, spread among portions of Will, DuPage and Cook counties [and portions of the 3rd CD, 11th CD and 13th CD]. As the Republican candidate for Treasurer in ’06, Radogno outperformed, by any measure, the other Republican statewide candidates, including gubernatorial candidate Judy Baar Topinka. Indeed, had she not been outspent three to one, or so, by the wealthy family and friends of Obama wunderkind Alexi Giannoulias, many knowledgeable observers believe she would have been an easy winner—even with Alexi’s peculiar, strong backing of Illinois’ then Junior Senator and now presidential candidate, Barack Obama.
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Craft a budget in a week?

State Senator Christine Radogno: …[T]here is an agreement in principle among the Leaders and Governor not to shut down State Government. Now the question is: do we just extend the ‘07” budget with no increases of any sort or do we actually craft a budget for one month that may be a little bit different than what the ’07 level,’ was. There is not yet agreement on that. That’s something we are going to be discussing this week.

Jeff Berkowitz: …Who is the “we” ?

This week’s Players:

Senator Christine Radogno: Well, the Leaders [Madigan, Jones, Watson, Cross] and the Governor will be discussing it and then there is sort of a second tier of people involved called the budgeteers- who are members from each caucus who actually sort of crunch the numbers along with staff and I am one of those individuals.

Jeff Berkowitz: …Who are the other budgeteers?

Senator Christine Radogno: It would be Donne Trotter [D-Chicago] from the Senate Democratic Caucus, …Garry Hannig [D-Gillespie] from the House Democratic Caucus and Mark Beaubien [R-Wauconda] from the House Republicans.

Jeff Berkowitz: So, we are taping this on Sunday [June 24], you’ll be going down to Springfield after our show to talk with the Budgeteers?

Senator Christine Radogno: Correct.

Jeff Berkowitz: Then the Leaders will be meeting when?

Senator Christine Radogno: Most likely Tuesday or Monday afternoon.

Keeping the Pressure on the General Assembly

Jeff Berkowitz: So, what is your druthers, would you like to see the next 30 days continue on the 07 budget, or somewhat different.

Senator Christine Radogno: …I think the one thing we don’t want to do is pass a budget that relieves the pressure on the General Assembly to get a twelve month, or in this case, an eleven month spending plan in place…I don’t think what we want to do is pass a plan such that people say, “Well, this month was Okay, let’s go do another month in August, and maybe one more in September and just sort of limp along…I want to get a budget passed that will support state services, essential state services but keep the pressure on to get the job done.
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Pressure: Radogno style

Jeff Berkowitz: …[Y]ou want to keep pressure on, but what would the one month budget look like?

Senator Christine Radogno: It would be pretty much flat- as to what people got in June. I mean…let’s keep people sort of hungry and—

Jeff Berkowitz: So, use the past budget essentially without the increases--

Senator Christine Radogno: Right, yes.

Jeff Berkowitz: That are reflected in the Speaker Mike Madigan twelve month budget [that passed the House in May]?

Senator Christine Radogno: Yes.

How it will play out in Springpatch.

Jeff Berkowitz: Have you spoken with your Republican colleague from the House? Rep. Beaubien?

Senator Christine Radogno: Not about this. We will be meeting tomorrow [Monday] at 10:00 am.

Jeff Berkowitz: So, you don’t know what his views are?

Senator Christine Radogno: No, I don’t.

Jeff Berkowitz: Would you be speaking before to present a united Republican front?

Senator Christine Radogno: We may be. Of course, I will be talking with my Leader [Senator Frank Watson (R-Greenville)] and gathering information from my Caucus because that is sort of how it works. Each Caucus gets their ideas together and then sends the folks to the table to negotiate on behalf of the caucuses-- so before I make any commitments, clearly I need to talk with my Leader and caucus.
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Senator Radogno [R-Lemont], as taped on Sunday, June 24, 2007 and as will air on the Suburban edition of “Public Affairs,” next week and on the City of Chicago edition and Aurora edition of Public Affairs on Monday, July 9 and can be watched later this week on your computer at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Obama, McCain, Giuliani and Cox and many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Thursday, June 21, 2007

Former Attorney General Jim Ryan and Ralph Martire: Strange Bedfellows?

Jeff Berkowitz: Implicitly, you support the notion of a 5.5 billion dollar net increase in taxes, right?

Former Republican Attorney General Jim Ryan: Right. In principle, I support HB 750, right.
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Jeff Berkowitz: Have you looked at the CTBA Board and would you say it is a balanced board.

Jim Ryan: Well, I would say it is certainly a more liberal and Democratic leaning board, yeah.

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Martire's CTBA, Balanced and Bi-Partisan?

Ralph Martire, Executive Director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability (“CTBA”), often portrays his organization as balanced and bi-partisan. However, this past Sunday night, when Martire was a guest on Tom Roeser’s Political Shootout radio program [WLS, 890 AM Radio, 8:00 pm], Tom Roeser argued that despite a few token Republicans [RINOs?] on the CTBA Board, CTBA is a organization dominated by liberals. Tom supported that assertion by stating that the Board included the Presidents of the Illinois AFL-CIO and the Illinois Federation of Teachers, as well as the Legislative Director of SEIU, Local 1 and the Director of Research and Employee Benefits for AFSCME council 31. See here [Martire,Topinka and Tax Swaps] and also, here.

Martire himself almost won a seat on the Cook County Board, running as the darling of the Lake Front liberals, e.g., Tax Swapper Dawn Clark Netsch, and coming in second in his 1998 Democratic Primary against the winner and candidate of the Regular Democratic Organization, Mike Quigley, as well as three other candidates. Martire, over the years, has supported and worked for a long list of Democrat, liberal candidates.

Martire's CTBA, a shill for Unions?

Roeser argued further that Martire’s group is a “Pro-Union, Pro-Teachers’ Union, special interest group in the same way that the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce and the Illinois Manufacturers Association are pro-business special interest groups. Indeed, Martire brags about being the architect of the Tax Swap HB 750 legislation for Senator Meeks, legislation which is sponsored and supported by many others, including the teachers unions.

GRT and HB 750: Big differences for unions and Martire?

Martire, sounding a bit indignant, fired back that the CTBA took a stand against the Gross Receipts Tax ("GRT"), which he said the unions supported. Of course, that argument is a bit weak as the state house voted 107-0, in a non binding vote, against the GRT. Would Martire argue that, based on that vote, we could infer that none of those 107 state reps. are aligned with teachers’ unions or unions, more generally.

Martire, Political Shoot-out and Full Disclosure

Further, Martire failed to disclose to the Roeser radio audience that the CTBA’s website previously cited, with apparent approval, a proposal to modify the GRT by lowering the tax rate for transactions and supplementing the GRT with an income tax increase. One imagines the unions, in general, would not be terribly opposed to that type of a modified GRT.

Indeed, it appears that union opposition to the GRT was more about whether the GRT could be passed than any great philosophical dispute with CTBA. In other words, the CTBA and unions were, in this instance, similar to siblings in the same family who all wanted a massive tax increase and simply differed in their opinion as to which kind of tax was politically feasible. Does Martire contend that the unions really care if Martire’s HB750 brought six billion dollars into the state’s coffers, as opposed to the GRT bringing in six billion dollars. Doubtful. If that is all Martire has, it would appear Roeser wins his argument that Martire is as much a shill for unions as the Chamber and IMA are for business.

Martire trots out his prize catch: former Attorney General Jim Ryan

But, Martire had more ammo and he used it. During the next show break on Political Shoot-out, Martire told Roeser that Jim Ryan is on the CTBA Board and Tom disclosed that for Ralph when the show resumed. Roeser said that Jim Ryan was “a good Republican,” and that “Ralph wanted to point out …that it is not a left wing commie organization when you have a guy like that on your Board,” and the show moved on.

Jim Ryan's decision to support Martire, CBTA and HB 750

However, Ryan’s decision to join CTBA does seem puzzling. Unlike the one or two other clearly identifiable Republicans on the CTBA board [a CTBA staffer advised Public Affairs that CTBA is not aware of the party affiliation of its board members], Jim Ryan has generally been thought to be a conservative. And, conservatives are not generally known for supporting massive tax increases. [As an aside, since Jim Ryan joined the CTBA board months ago, why isn’t Ryan listed as a board member on the CTBA web site? A CTBA staffer advised Public Affairs that the omission is simply a matter of insufficient staff time to make the change during the last few months that Ryan has been on the board.]

Jim Ryan's 2002 Run for Governor

Yet, Jim Ryan has his critics and doubters. When he ran in 2002 in the Republican Gubernatorial Primary, Jim Ryan drew vigorous opposition from the right [Senator Pat O’Malley] as well as from the left [Lt. Gov. Corinne Wood], winning that race with 44% of the vote, with the remainder being split fairly evenly between his competitors, perhaps putting Jim in the position as a centrist.

When Jim Ryan ran for Governor in the general election against Rod Blagojevich, perhaps the greatest negative Jim had was that he had the misfortune to have the same last name as then Governor George Ryan, who had the stench of corruption all around him and perhaps on him during Jim Ryan’s campaign. George Ryan, of course, was indicted and convicted of public corruption charges after leaving office.

On economic matters, there were not many who labeled Jim Ryan as a tax increaser and he states, below, that he had taken the same pledge, in 2002, as Rod not to raise the income or sales tax.

Jim Ryan, Ralph Martire and School Choice

Moreover, Jim Ryan was quite positive about Charter Schools in 2002, while Martire seems, at best, lukewarm on that bit of reform [although he may claim otherwise]. Further, Martire is almost “a man possessed,” in his opposition to school vouchers-school choice. This is in sharp contrast to his new board member, Jim Ryan, who speaks favorably about the concept of school vouchers, below.

So, what gives? Why would Jim Ryan sign up with Ralph Martire and CTBA? It is certainly not for political reasons as he said he is “out of politics now.” Former Illinois Attorney General and DuPage County State’s Attorney Jim Ryan is now a Distinguished Fellow with Benedictine University, spending his time teaching classes, organizing and running symposia and variety of other tasks devoted to promoting and stimulating discussion of public policy issues and getting students involved in government, politics and public policy.

Jim Ryan to Rod Blagojevich, "Have you no Shame?"

Both in and out of politics, Jim Ryan has always been known for his measured speech, civility and integrity. Yet, he can be as tough, as anyone, when warranted. The most memorable exchange from the 2002 Gubernatorial campaign was when Jim Ryan turned to then Democratic candidate Rod Blagojevich at the WTTW debate and said, with the two candidates literally inches from each other and in response to what Jim Ryan thought were baseless assertions by Blagojevich, “Have you no shame, Rod.” For a moment, Rod seemed stunned and speechless. For a moment, it seemed as if Jim Ryan , might follow-up by punching Rod in the face. He didn’t and, as they say, the rest is history.

Jim Ryan signs up with Ralph Martire and CTBA. Why?

So, again, why would Jim Ryan sign up with Ralph Martire and CTBA?
We discuss, you decide. Take a listen to excerpts of Berkowitz’s phone interview with Jim Ryan on Tuesday.

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Martire woos Jim Ryan:

Jim Ryan: I am on the Board. Ralph asked me a few months ago and I had had Ralph out to the University [Benedictine] a couple of times—I hosted a forum on Education Finance Reform, a year ago, or so, and the bill he talked about was the bill he wrote for Senator Meeks. Then, I had him speak for one of my classes at the University and he asked me to join the Board and I said I would.

Jim Ryan (Cont): “I did support HB750, [although] I think it is a moot issue…” “I think the idea of some permanent revenue stream for education and ultimately for health care is very important for our state and I do think we have a revenue problem…” “We still have…probably over a three billion dollar budget deficit again in the State…”

Jim Ryan: Someone has to bite the bullet

Jim Ryan(cont): I am out of politics…but the Governor should…do everything in his power to reduce waste and unnecessary spending but even if he did that… I still think that it is ultimately not going to be enough money; we have, we at least did have, about 1.6 million people in the state without health insurance. I think that is a big problem. I did make the same pledge that he [Blagojevich] made during the campaign, which was not to raise general taxes, but it was also with the idea that you have to go in and ferret out waste and his administration has been criticized by the Auditor General for a lot of things so I just think we keep deferring, we keep putting off and borrowing and borrowing and never addressing the real needs of our state and I think someone has got to bite the bullet and do that.

Jim Ryan supports a 5.5 billion dollar tax increase

Jeff Berkowitz: As a member of the CTBA Board and I realize you are saying that legislation doesn’t generally go thru exactly as proposed, if somebody says to you that Board is supporting HB 750

Jim Ryan: I am comfortable saying I support it.

Jeff Berkowitz: Implicitly, you support the notion of a 5.5 billion dollar net increase in taxes, right?

Jim Ryan: Right. In principle, I support HB 750, right.

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Jim Ryan and Charter Schools:

Jeff Berkowitz: Some say if you are going to spend more on education, you should have true reform-

Jim Ryan: I agree with that.

Jeff Berkowitz: And, one type of reform would be lifting the cap on the number of charter schools, right now they are capped at 30 in Chicago and 60 across the State. Some would like to remove the caps completely and that might be one part of a trade for more spending. Would you agree with that?

Jim Ryan: Yes.

Jeff Berkowitz: Unlimited? Cities and other areas in Illinois could have as many charter schools as they wanted?

Jim Ryan I don’t know about lifting it and having no cap but I certainly think education reform should be part and parcel of giving education more money. And, I think charter schools appear to be working so I think that’s a good idea.

Jim Ryan and School Vouchers:

Jeff Berkowitz: What about school vouchers, school. Let people in Chicago take their total tax expenditures of about $12,000 per kid per year…would you be in favor of a school voucher that allowed parents to take that $12,000 and [spend it at the school of their choice].

Jim Ryan: I think school vouchers make sense but whether or not this State, this legislature, being realistic—I don’t know that it is ever going to happen but I am not philosophically against it.

Jeff Berkowitz: But, Ralph Martire, is he the Executive Director of the CTBA?

Jim Ryan: Yes.

Martire, Jim Ryan and School Vouchers, an uneasy Marriage? :

Jeff Berkowitz: You know, he is unequivocally opposed to school vouchers. I think it would be fair to say Martire is virulently opposed

Jim Ryan: Yes.

Jeff Berkowitz: He argued vigorously against school vouchers on my show. So, does that give you some discomfort about going on the CTBA board?

Jim Ryan: No, I admire and respect Ralph a lot…That doesn’t mean we are going to agree on every issue…Whether he is or isn’t for vouchers, the idea of giving parents choices is a good idea—whether or not it will ever happen—when I was running, I just concluded that with the unions and the number of Democrats we have in this state, it is unlikely.

Jim Ryan and the Heartland Institute Board?

Jeff Berkowitz: Well, would you go on the Board, say, of the Heartland Institute, which actively promotes school vouchers and school choice? If they wanted you, would you go on that Board to show that you are balanced?

Jim Ryan: I think being on the Board, Ralph knows this, doesn’t mean that I sign off on everything Ralph agrees on—I mean that would be silly. I am 61 years old. He knows that is not going to happen.

Jim Ryan's decision to join CTBA Board :

Jeff Berkowitz: What does it mean being on that Board. What are your obligations?

Jim Ryan: Attend the meetings. Voice my opinion when they want it or when I think I need to say something, but I have only been to a couple of meetings. I hope to be active and to be able to make a contribution.

Jeff Berkowitz: What’s the primary criteria when you make the choice to be on a Board like that, or not?

Jim Ryan: Well, first of all I think Ralph is a smart guy, I think he is honest and I was impressed with him [when he was] at the University. He asked if I would do this, participate and I said I would and I think it is important for the Board to have some balance.

Martire's CTBA, liberal and Democratic leaning

Jeff Berkowitz: Have you looked at the CTBA Board and would you say it is a balanced board.

Jim Ryan: Well, I would say it is certainly a more liberal and Democratic leaning board, yeah.

Jeff Berkowitz: So, do you think you are providing balance by putting yourself on the Board?

Jim Ryan: Only time will tell. I hope so.

Jeff Berkowitz: Is that your effort? To provide some balance?

Jim Ryan: I am just going to say what I believe. And, whether Republicans like it, that’s fine. And, if they don’t, they don’t. But, the Republican Party doesn’t agree on a lot of issues. People in the Republican Party [that is].
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Jeff Berkowitz phone interview with former Attorney General Jim Ryan, June 19, 2007
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Obama, McCain, Giuliani and Cox and many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Sen. Sandoval on the Budget Impasse, Reform, HDO and Border Control: Cable and Streaming

State Sen. Martin Sandoval [D-Cicero]: We need to strengthen our border security.

Jeff Berkowitz: So, you don’t want these illegal aliens coming across the border?
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Jeff Berkowitz: Al Sanchez, [former Chicago] Streets and Sanitation Commissioner, would you say that he is a part of the American Dream, too?

State Sen. Martin Sandoval: Absolutely, Al Sanchez, regardless of his current situation—
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This week’s suburban edition of Public Affairs features Martin Sandoval, a 5th year Democrat State Senator representing portions of the Southwest Side of Chicago, Cicero and Berwyn. The airing schedule for the suburban edition of “Public Affairs,” is included, below.
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The show with Senator Sandoval also airs through-out the City of Chicago this coming Monday night [June 25] at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 [CANTV] and on Monday, June 25, 2007 at 7:30 pm on Aurora Community Television, on Comcast Cable Ch. 10 in Aurora and some surrounding areas.
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You may also watch the show with Senator Sandoval on your computer at PublicAffairsTV.com. In addition to the Sandoval show, additional recent shows posted on our video podcast site include next week's show in the suburbs with Frank Avila, Jr., a campaign consultant, politician and attorney at law, shows featuring Republican Campaign Consultants and media personalities Dan Proft and Dan Curry, Roberto Maldonado, a Cook County Commissioner who is running in the 4th CD Democratic Primary in 2008, State Reps. Mary Flowers, Julie Hamos, Jim Durkin, Paul Froehlich and John Fritchey, former State GOP chairman Gary MacDougal, Presidential candidates Obama, Giuliani, McCain and Cox, and many other pols and opinion makers.
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Senator Martin Sandoval [D-Cicero], 43, previously was with U. S. government agencies for 16 years. He was a Cook County Water Reclamation District Commissioner for three years, initially appointed to the position in 1999 by Governor George Ryan.

Sen. Sandoval is in his 5th year as a State Senator, where he is Vice-Chair of the Local Government committee. He graduated from Quigley Preparatory Seminary, South, which includes among its alums many notable politicians, e.g., former State Senate Presidents Tom Hynes and Phil Rock. Senator Sandoval also received a degree from Loyola University of Chicago, where he majored in Psychology. His district includes portions of the Southwest Side of Chicago, Cicero and Berwyn. Sen. Sandoval lives in Gage Park with his wife and three children.

Senator Sandoval debates and discusses with show host and legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz the following questions and topics: is Sandoval a reformer? Ricardo Munoz? Manny Flores? Juan Andrade? Juan Ochoa? Is reform about fighting public corruption? If not, what is reform?

Is Mayor Richard M. Daley Chicago’s best Mayor ever? Do Vic Reyes and Al Sanchez embody the American Dream? Who helped elect Senator Sandoval? Does Sandoval stand by Reyes and Sanchez? Is President Dominick bringing reform to Cicero? Do Blagojevich, Madigan, Jones and Daley make up a four ring Budget circus in Springfield. Did the Illinois Democrat Party fail its constituents at the end of May? If a budget is not passed and signed by the Governor by July 10, will there be a State Government shut-down?

Would Senator Sandoval support an income tax increase? A tax swap?

HB 750? School vouchers? More Charter Schools in Chicago? Four new Casinos in upstate Illinois? The Governor’s Health Insurance Program?

Does Sandoval’s senate district have the most over-crowded schools in Chicago? A solution on the horizon? Do kids in Mexico have a better education than kids on the Southwest side of Chicago?

Does Senator Sandoval want to stop immigrants from coming into the Southwest Side of Chicago? Does he want stronger border controls? Stronger interior controls on employers to prevent hiring of illegal immigrants?

Who does Senator Sandoval support in the 4th Cong. Dist. race? Cong. Gutierrez? Ricky Munoz? Flores? Maldonado? Gardenas? Solis? Mendoza? Sandoval? Biggest issue in the 4th CD race? And, much, much more.
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A partial transcript of this week's suburban show is included directly below.
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Mayor Daley v. "the real Mayor Daley"

State Sen. Martin Sandoval [D-Cicero]: I think what Mayor Daley has done for the City of Chicago is a great thing. He is the greatest Mayor that ever has governed in Chicago—

Jeff Berkowitz: Even greater than his dad?

State Sen. Martin Sandoval: Even greater than his dad because …he has had a tougher challenge to be more receptive to the diversity of Chicago…
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Hispanic Daley Organization?

Jeff Berkowitz: How does HDO figure into that—that would be the Hispanic Democratic organization, some would say that Mayor Daley is behind it—some call it the Hispanic Daley organization. Are you a member of HDO and what’s the right answer there?

State Sen. Martin Sandoval: Listen, whether you are a member of the 14th Ward organization, member of the 23rd Ward organization, member of the IVI…everyone has values, everyone organizes around those values…I am very proud to represent the people on the SW side of Chicago.

Jeff Berkowitz: But, are you a part of HDO?

State Sen. Martin Sandoval: No.

Jeff Berkowitz: Were you ever a part of HDO?

State Sen. Martin Sandoval: I have always been running with the support of Mike Madigan, Ed Burke, Rich Daley, Larry Dominick. I am part of the SW side of Chicago.

Jeff Berkowitz: Are those folks all HDO, would you say?

State Sen. Martin Sandoval: Those folks are all about working people.

Vic Reyes, living the American Dream?

Jeff Berkowitz: Vic Reyes, is he a part of HDO?

State Sen. Martin Sandoval: Vic Reyes is a good friend of mine. He did great work in the City of Chicago. The Mayor thinks he is a great guy. I went to high school with him. He is a prominent lawyer. He is a big part of—he is a success story. In Illinois.

Jeff Berkowitz: Vic Reyes, is he under investigation by the Feds now?

State Sen. Martin Sandoval: I have no idea.

Jeff Berkowitz: You don’t know? You haven’t talked with him?. You don’t have an opinion on that?.

State Sen. Martin Sandoval: I have no idea.

Jeff Berkowitz: But, you are not trying to disassociate yourself in anyway from Vic Reyes at this point?

State Sen. Martin Sandoval: No, no. Victor Reyes is a good friend of mine. I went to school with him and he is a prominent lawyer, lobbyist, businessman and he is reflective of the American Dream. Here is a young man that came from Mexico, didn’t know the language, learned the language and got a law degree, is a lawyer and was part of the Daley administration. That’s the American dream.

Al Sanchez, lived the American Dream?

Jeff Berkowitz: Al Sanchez, [former Chicago] Streets and Sanitation Commissioner, would you say that he is a part of the American Dream, too?

State Sen. Martin Sandoval: Absolutely, Al Sanchez, regardless of his current situation—

Jeff Berkowitz: What’s his current situation?

State Sen. Martin Sandoval: Well, he has some issues with some investigations, but nonetheless--

Jeff Berkowitz: He’s been indicted. [See also, here]

State Sen. Martin Sandoval: Al Sanchez—

Jeff Berkowitz: Has he been indicted?

State Sen. Martin Sandoval: Al Sanchez was a great Commissioner at Streets and Sanitation.

Jeff Berkowitz: He was?

State Sen. Martin Sandoval: Absolutely.

Jeff Berkowitz: But, he has been indicted now, right?

State Sen. Martin Sandoval: Well, I think that—

Jeff Berkowitz: Improper use of personnel on City time and things of that type? Is that what the allegation is?

State Sen. Martin Sandoval: Al Sanchez did a great job as a public servant –

Jeff Berkowitz: So, you stand by Al Sanchez?

State Sen. Martin Sandoval: I stand by men who have served their communities well.

Jeff Berkowitz: Did those folks help you? Would you say that Vic Reyes and Al Sanchez helped you when you had to get elected?

State Sen. Martin Sandoval: I get help from Ed Burke, Rich Daley, Zalewski, Bill Lipinski, Larry Dominick—

Jeff Berkowitz: So, all of those folks, but also including Reyes and Sanchez?

State Sen. Martin Sandoval: Absolutely.

Jeff Berkowitz: They were a part of it. And, Larry Dominick, the current village President [in Cicero]?

State Sen. Martin Sandoval: Absolutely. Absolutely.
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Pass a Budget?

Jeff Berkowitz: Would you say that a budget will pass the state legislature and be signed by the Governor …by June 30th ?

State Sen. Martin Sandoval: I am not that optimistic that by June 30th we will pass a budget. It will go further than that.
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State Sen. Martin Sandoval: I think there will be an effort in upcoming weeks to come up with a 30 day budget to keep government operating--for which I don’t know if necessarily the votes exist, even for that.

Jeff Berkowitz: Would you support that?

State Sen. Martin Sandoval: If the needs of the southwest side are being met. If the needs in education, school construction, transportation and property tax relief. If those are some of the…commitments that are made by the leaders, then I am for that. But, if they are not on the table, then I am not for—
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Casino expansion?

Jeff Berkowitz: Four new casinos, do you support that?

State Sen. Martin Sandoval: I am for expansion—a comprehensive gaming bill.

Jeff Berkowitz: He [Senate President Jones] has four new casinos [in his bill]. Would you support four new casinos?

State Sen. Martin Sandoval: I am supportive of four casinos
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More border control?

State Sen. Martin Sandoval: We need to strengthen our border security.

Jeff Berkowitz: So, you don’t want these illegal aliens coming across the border?

State Sen. Martin Sandoval: No, I don’t. I don’t want immigration from any country coming into the Southwest side of Chicago because every time another immigrant comes to the Southwest side of Chicago, it further exacerbates the overcrowding of our schools, the congestion on our streets, the public safety, absolutely, we need stronger borders
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Senator Martin Sandoval, as he is airing this week on Public Affairs in 35 Chicago Metro suburbs [See below for the suburban airing schedule] and as will be airing on Monday, June 25, 2007, 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21, CANTV on the City of Chicago edition of Public Affairs and on Monday, June 25, 2007 at 7:30 pm on Aurora Community Television, on Comcast Cable Ch. 10 in Aurora and some surrounding areas. The show was recorded on June 17, 2007.[You may also go here to watch Sen. Sandoval [D-Chicago] on PublicAffairsTV.com].
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In twenty-five North Shore, North and Northwest suburbs, the "Public Affairs," show airs every Tuesday night in the regular weekly Public Affairs slot, 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Ch. 19 or 35, as indicated, below.

In ten North Shore suburbs, the Public Affairs show airs three times each week in its regular slots at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Ch. 19, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, as indicated, below. ********************************************************
The suburban episode of Public Affairs with guest State Senator Martin Sandoval [D-Chicago] airs Tonight :

at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, parts of Inverness, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Wilmette

And at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 35 in Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Glenview, Golf, Des Plaines, Hanover Park, Mt. Prospect, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights, Schaumburg, Skokie, Streamwood and Wheeling.

and this week on Monday night, Wednesday night and Friday night at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Obama, McCain, Giuliani and Cox and many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Monday, June 18, 2007

Backpacking with State Rep. Flowers, Cable and Streaming

Jeff Berkowitz: ...I am getting a little lost here, why is it a parent could be made worse off by that choice? Because they can stay in the public school if they want—but if they want to try the private school, they can, so how are they made worse off. If they stay in the public school, their situation is the same. If they want to try the private school, they have another choice.

State Rep. Mary Flowers: Because the public school system is the only school system that has to accept all children. Okay? So, private schools can cherry pick, they can get the best of the best.
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State Rep. Mary Flowers [D-Chicago], is the featured guest on tonight’s [June 18] City of Chicago edition of "Public Affairs," airing at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 [CANTV] throughout the City of Chicago. Rep. Flowers is also featured on the Aurora edition of Public Affairs, airing at 7:30 pm in Aurora and some surrounding areas on Aurora Community Television, Comcast Cable Ch. 10. The Aurora station reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery.

For a partial transcipt of tonight's show ,a summary of tonight's show topics, and more about Rep. Flowers, Go here.
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You can also watch Republican Presidential Primary Candidates McCain, Giuliani and Cox, Democratic Presidential Primary Candidate Obama and many more pols, opinion makers and opinion shapers, e.g., tonight's show with Rep. Flowers, soon this week's suburban edition of Public Affairs with State Sen. Martin Sandoval [D-Cicero], and currently, recent shows with MarySue Barrett, President of the Metropolitan Planning Council, Cook County Commissioner Roberto Maldonado [D-Chicago], State Reps. Jim Durkin [R-Western Springs], Linda Chapa LaVia [D-Aurora] and Julie Hamos [D-Evanston], Republican Campaign Consultants Dan Proft and Dan Curry on your computer by going to PublicAffairsTv.com
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Another partial transcript of tonight's show is included directly, below.
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CPS spends about $12,000 per kid per year [or more]

Jeff Berkowitz: What do we spend. It is about $12,000 per kid per year in the Chicago Public Schools ("CPS").

State Rep. Mary Flowers[D-Chicago]: Oh, I doubt that. I doubt that. I am talking about $4,000 or $5, 000.

Jeff Berkowitz: The budget for the CPS is about 5 billion dollars [Actually, the number has gone up]. You know that, right?

State Rep. Mary Flowers: Right.

Jeff Berkowitz: CPS has about 420,000 students. Now, divide 420,000 into 5 billion dollars and the number you come up with…it’s about $12,000 per kid, per year.

State Rep. Mary Flowers: Those monies go for administration, to pay for lights—

Jeff Berkowitz: Yes, but I am talking—total expenditures per kid per year-- $12,000.

State Rep. Mary Flowers: Right.

Jeff Berkowitz: Some of those monies go to classroom [instruction], some go to the things you mention. $12,000 per kid per year.

State Rep. Mary Flowers: Ummm.

Jeff Berkowitz: That’s a lot of money.

State Rep. Mary Flowers: Lot of money.

Jeff Berkowitz: Not as much as is spent in Winnetka, Glencoe, Arlington Heights, and in certain other parts of the state, but still in those areas, they are probably pushing $16,000 or $17,000 per kid, per year, even at the grade school level [K-8]….

State Rep. Mary Flowers: Right.

The backpack proposal: School Vouchers-School Choice

Jeff Berkowitz: So, here is the proposal. We take this symbolic $12,000, which we spend per kid per year and we put it in a backpack. We then get 420,000 backpacks for each of those kids in the CPS and we put $12,000 in each backpack [so if a family has two kids, they get two backpacks or a total of $24,000 per year for their two kids]. Let me ask you, State Rep. Mary Flowers, would you like to offer each of the kids in your District and indeed throughout the City of Chicago one of these backpacks? The parents could take that backpack and strap it on their kid and if the parents are happy with their public school, and there are a number of schools in the CPS that are performing, the kids turns around and goes back to the public school; the kid stays there, the backpack stays there, the cash stays with the public school—no change; but if the parents would like to send the kid to the private school of their choice, out goes the kid, out goes the backpack, out goes the cash and maybe that private school can do better than the public school in educating the kid—and if they don’t, the parents can always send the kid back to the public school. So, you want to give the parents that backpack?

State Rep. Mary Flowers: No.

Jeff Berkowitz: You don’t want to take the backpack?

State Rep. Mary Flowers: No.

Jeff Berkowitz: I didn’t think so.

Why State Rep. Flowers rejects school choice:

State Rep. Mary Flowers: Let me tell you the reason why. Because, once again, some charter schools are doing fine, some are not. Some private schools are doing fine, some are not. When you take into consideration the funding of education, it’s not only about the $12,000, there is the continuity of education. A report was done recently that Chicago has a shorter school day. I do know that in some schools, there is not two consecutive weeks of education—

Why not help as many students as you can?

Jeff Berkowitz: Let me just interrupt to say we are going to continue to speak as the credits roll, but I very much want to thank our guest ….for coming out here…so go ahead, I didn’t mean to interrupt but I am getting a little lost here, why is it a parent could be made worse off by that choice? Because they can stay in the public school if they want—but if they want to try the private school, they can, so how is it that they are made worse off. If they stay in the public school, their situation is the same. If they want to try the private school, they have another choice.

State Rep. Mary Flowers: Because the public school system is the only school system that has to accept all children. Okay? So, private schools can cherry pick, they can get the best of the best.

Jeff Berkowitz: Assuming you are right [Although, it is not clear why all students couldn’t choose to go to a private school], so a number of kids get out and make themselves better off

State Rep. Mary Flowers: Right.

The Oprah Winfrey analogy:

Jeff Berkowitz: Other kids stay in the public school. They are not worse off. They are in the public school where they were before. So, if you wanted to help a thousand kids, and it turns out you could only help five hundred kids—what are you going to say, Don’t help the five hundred? Would you say to Oprah Winfrey when she helped some girls in Africa—“You couldn’t help everybody in Africa, Oprah, so why did you bother to help that small number of girls.” You didn’t say to Oprah, did you?

State Rep. Mary Flowers: But, these are taxpayer dollars that is funding this educational system. So, therefore, we have to make this right.

Jeff Berkowitz: [My argument holds] even more, it is their money. Give them a choice. Let those people go.

Incarcerate?

State Rep. Mary Flowers: We are spending $32,000 to incarcerate. It doesn’t matter what zip code you come from. But, for some reason, it matters the zip code you come from as far as the funding that we spend on our children in the City of Chicago.

Jeff Berkowitz: Help the kids that are there now and then you’ll, later, address the other problems: improve employment, deal with immigration, lower incarceration rates. Listen to what Chicago Sun-Times columnist Monroe Anderson wrote [about immigration hurting low income blacks]. You’re against immigration?

State Rep. Mary Flowers: Education—

Monroe Anderson, Flowers and Immigration:

Jeff Berkowitz: Are you against immigration?

State Rep. Mary Flowers: It is not so much that I am against immigration. It is the how—

Jeff Berkowitz: Is that hurting blacks—

State Rep. Mary Flowers: It is the how—

Jeff Berkowitz: But, is immigration hurting blacks?

State Rep. Mary Flowers: Is immigration hurting blacks? Not legal immigration, no.

Jeff Berkowitz: But illegal immigration is? Because of low wages [low skilled immigrants are depressing wages for low skilled non-immigrants-- hurting Blacks, disproportionately, writes Anderson; he does not distinguish between illegal and legal immigration]

State Rep. Mary Flowers: Absolutely, because [illegal immigrants] bring down regular wages, all over, absolutely. Legal immigration? I have no problems with. I am for good education. I am for legal immigration.
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State Rep. Mary Flowers [D-Chicago], interviewed on Public Affairs on June 3, 2007 and as is airing tonight in Chicago [8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21] and Aurora and surrounding areas [7:30 pm on ACTV, Comcast Cable Ch. 10], and as is streaming on computer at www.Public AffairsTv.com
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Obama, McCain, Giuliani and Cox and many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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