Better than Kansas v. Memphis State: Rep.Lang w/Berkowitz on Obama-Rezko, King Blagojevich and Tax Swaps; Cable and Streaming
Jeff Berkowitz: …this house was listed at 1.95 million dollars, [Obama] got it for 1.6 million. When he bought that house…in 2005,…at that time people knew about Tony Rezko’s potential [legal] problems, knew there were federal investigations that involved him. Barack Obama apparently calls Tony Rezko... so some might say that Tony Rezko was doing a favor [for Barack Obama] because you want to know if somebody is going to have a separate side lot next to you, you want to know that person—just because you don’t want something inappropriate being developed next to your [house]. So, was [Obama] accepting a favor? There are U. S. Senate rules that prevent, don’t they, acceptance of favors from others that might influence [the Senator]...
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State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie): He certainly did not violate any rules of the U. S. Senate.
Jeff Berkowitz: We don’t know. Do we?
State Rep. Lou Lang: Well, if the United States Senate felt he broke some rules, we’d have heard about it by now. This happened three years ago and it’s been all over the—
******************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Let’s start that discussion right now. HB 750; it may change its number, but it is referred to as a tax swap... By some people’s view, it is a seven billion dollar [net] increase in taxes... Could you support something like HB 750, as I’ve described it?
********************************************************
Rep. Lou Lang: ... We need more money for schools but what schools are getting these dollars? ... unless the schools in the suburban area that I represent are getting their fair share, I would never be for such a bill. And, under some scenarios, they would actually get less money.
*****************************************************************
Tonight's City of Chicago and City of Aurora edition of "Public Affairs," features State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie), Part II. The show with Rep. Lang airs throughout the City of Chicago tonight at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 (CANTV) and in Aurora and surrounding areas at 7:30 pm on ACTV, Cable Ch. 10. The Aurora station, Aurora Community Television, Comcast Cable Ch. 10, reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery.
Turn on, Tune in and watch discussions about Senator Obama and Tony Rezko, Obama's long time friend and financial supporter ; Obama’s judgment and leadership capabilities; and the Presidential race; Education and tax swaps , King Blagojevich and much, much more. See here for a more detailed list of topics discussed on the show
*************************
You may also watch tonight's program (Lang, Part 2) here.
*************************************************************
This week's suburban episode of Public Affairs features Senator, Budgeteer and Deputy Republican State Senate Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont), discussing Barack Obama's judgment and leadership, state legislative budget issues and the Illinois Combine. You may watch the show here.
**********************************************************
A partial transcript of Tonight's City of Chicago and City of Aurora edition of Public Affairs [Lang, Part 2] is included, below:
*******************************************
Did Tony Rezko do Obama one big favor? A Senate Ethics violation? Could President Obama return the favor by pardoning Rezko? Would he?
Jeff Berkowitz: …this house was listed at 1.95 million dollars, [Obama] got it for 1.6 million. When he bought that house…in 2005,…at that time people knew about Tony Rezko’s potential [legal] problems, knew there were federal investigations that involved him. Barack Obama apparently calls Tony Rezko [then] and says—I need some advice, some counsel about this home. Rezko is a developer, Obama thought, so Rezko would know the market value. He did a “walk through,” [of the house]. Tony Rezko did, with Barack Obama. Tony Rezko['s wife] bought the side lot [to the house], which was sold as a separate parcel but historically had been sold together by each [prior] owner. It may have been a tough buy for Barack Obama, even though he was coming in to some coin then, he still didn’t have that much money, so some might say that Tony Rezko was doing a favor [for Barack Obama] because you want to know if somebody is going to have a separate side lot next to you, you want to know that person—just because you don’t want something inappropriate being developed next to your [house]. So, was [Obama] accepting a favor? There are U. S. Senate rules that prevent, don’t they, acceptance of favors from others that might influence [the Senator]. Barack Obama, himself, has described this general situation of the housing purchase as a boneheaded move. Right?
State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie): Correct.
Jeff Berkowitz: But, he made it. Again, last week, we talked about judgment and leadership. A judgment issue? Good judgment on the part of Barack Obama? If it is a boneheaded move, I guess it is not such good judgment.
State Rep. Lou Lang: He certainly did not violate any rules of the U. S. Senate.
Jeff Berkowitz: We don’t know. Do we?
State Rep. Lou Lang: Well, if the United States Senate felt he broke some rules, we’d have heard about it by now. This happened three years ago and it’s been all over the—
Jeff Berkowitz: It’s still coming out.
Rep. Lou Lang: It’s been all over the press for some time. I don’t even know of any investigation that is going on about it. You know, sometimes when you have friends of—
Jeff Berkowitz: In the court of public opinion, though, did he do something… more than just a boneheaded move Is it too close for comfort to Tony Rezko because as you said, he’s a friend [of Obama’s], you don’t always cut away your friends, but on the other hand, you don’t necessarily have to engage in a transaction that involves them.
Obama and Rezko: Just a real estate transaction?
Rep. Lou Lang: I think people are overblowing this. It was a real estate transaction. Barack indicated that perhaps he didn’t use the world’s greatest judgment in pursuing the transaction. But, that’s all it was. A real estate transaction. There’s no evidence that any favors have gone from the U. S. Senator to Tony Rezko. There’s no evidence of any favors that will emanate from President Obama to Tony Rezko. I just think this is an overblown story. Bad judgment? Okay. But, it was only a real estate deal…
**********************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Who is Tony Rezko? Why is he a player? Why is he important? Why are we talking about Tony Rezko?
*******************************************************
Corporations don’t pay taxes, people do.
Jeff Berkowitz: So you agree, people pay taxes, not corporations?
Rep. Lou Lang: That’s what I believe.
Jeff Berkowitz: A tax on corporations falls on either the shareholders, the employees or the customers. There isn’t any other place to get it, right?
Rep. Lou Lang: That’s exactly right. Now, that is not to say that there isn’t room in our tax structure to have a higher tax on people or corporations. I am not advocating it. It’s a discussion we ought to have. But to start the discussion by saying when we tax a business, people are not affected is absurd. And, that’s the point of view Rod Blagojevich takes.
Is the Tax Swap, HB 750, just like the GRT?
Jeff Berkowitz: Let’s start that discussion right now. HB 750; it may change its number, but it is referred to as a tax swap. People say it really isn’t a tax swap because it talks about a slight reduction in real estate taxes and a major increase in the income tax [and expansion of the sales tax to cover services]. By some people’s view, it is a seven billion dollar [net] increase in taxes. Almost as much as the GRT [Gross Receipts tax proposed by Governor Rod Blagojevich that failed in the Statehouse last year, 107 to 0]. Could you support something like HB 750, as I’ve described it?
Rep. Lou Lang: Many years ago I voted for a tax swap but I have more knowledge now than I had then and I have to say while I still could vote for one, I’d have to know where the increase in revenue is going. So, let’s assume you do it. Let’s assume I could get past the public policy issue of should we do this or should we not do it. The question for me becomes: where is the money going and—
Jeff Berkowitz: But, let me throw in [this]. Usually, it is proposed as an increase in the increase in the income tax from the current [level], which is a three per cent across the board [i.e., proportional income] tax to a five per cent across the board tax. What I mean is that the tax rate does not vary with income level.
Rep. Lou Lang: Right.
Jeff Berkowitz: An increase from three percent to five percent in the tax on individual’s income. There also would be an increase in the corporate income tax. Could you see yourself supporting that, this year, 2008?
Where does the seven billion dollars in tax revenue go?
Rep. Lou Lang: It is possible, but not likely. Because, the problem is this. Even if I could get past the speed bump of moving the taxes up, then there is the question of where you are going to spend it. A lot of people who are for that notion say, well, education, right?
Jeff Berkowitz: It is said the current proposal ONLY has, of the seven billion dollar total tax increase, about one or two billion dollars for education. A lot of this is for roads, bridges—the kind of things that would be in capital projects.
Rep. Lou Lang: That’s all true. They want to use part of it for capital. But, let’s zero in on the education portion—
Jeff Berkowitz: Say it was one or two billion dollars more for education.
Rep. Lou Lang: Right.
Jeff Berkowitz: Of seven billion [dollars in new tax revenue]. Would that make it okay for you?
Rep. Lang to take a pass on the Tax Swap?
Rep. Lou Lang: Well, yes and no. We need more money for schools but what schools are getting these dollars? So, today, for instance, in the school districts I represent, they don’t get much money out of the school aid formula [the distribution of general state education funds to schools in low income areas]. They get their money out of what we call categoricals, e.g., transportation, textbooks, English as a second language, special education. And, unless the schools in the suburban area that I represent are getting their fair share, I would never be for such a bill. And, under some scenarios, they would actually get less money.
************************************************************
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 and McCain, former Presidential candidate Richardson-- and many other pols, including this week's suburban edition of Public Affairs with Deputy Republican Senate leader and State Senator Christine Radogno (R-Lemont), tonight's show with Rep. Lang in the City of Chicago and City of Aurora (Lang, Part 2) and last week's show with Rep. Lang in the City (Part 1) and our prior show in the City of Chicago, Aurora and 35 suburbs with WGN Political Pundit and Professor Paul Green at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
*********************************************
Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs Youtube page include this week's show in the suburbs with Senator and Deputy Republican Senate Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont), tonight's show in the Cities of Chicago and Aurora with Rep. Lang (Part 2), Last week's show in the Cities of Chicago and Aurora with Rep. Lang (Part 1) , our prior show in Chicago, Aurora and 35 Chicago metro villages with WGN Radio political pundit Paul Green, a prior show with Senator and likely 2010 Illinois Gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady,our show with former Sen. Rauschenberger, assessing Barack Obama, our prior show with Republican U.S. Senate Republican nominee Dr. Steve Sauerberg, discussing his Democratic opponent--Senator Durbin-- and domestic, cultural and foreign policy issues, our prior show featuring State Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston,IL), discussing Barack Obama, as well as various Illinois Budget issues (spending, mass transit, capital budget, education, gaming and taxes) and possible 2010 Illinois gubernatorial candidates and 2010 U. S. Senate candidates (assuming Obama moves up to President in 2008) , a discussion with State's Attorney for Cook County Republican nominee Tony Peraica; and Anita Alvarez, Chief Deputy to current State's Attorney for Cook County Dick Devine and now the Democratic nominee for State's Attorney of Cook County
*******************************************
State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie): He certainly did not violate any rules of the U. S. Senate.
Jeff Berkowitz: We don’t know. Do we?
State Rep. Lou Lang: Well, if the United States Senate felt he broke some rules, we’d have heard about it by now. This happened three years ago and it’s been all over the—
******************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Let’s start that discussion right now. HB 750; it may change its number, but it is referred to as a tax swap... By some people’s view, it is a seven billion dollar [net] increase in taxes... Could you support something like HB 750, as I’ve described it?
********************************************************
Rep. Lou Lang: ... We need more money for schools but what schools are getting these dollars? ... unless the schools in the suburban area that I represent are getting their fair share, I would never be for such a bill. And, under some scenarios, they would actually get less money.
*****************************************************************
Tonight's City of Chicago and City of Aurora edition of "Public Affairs," features State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie), Part II. The show with Rep. Lang airs throughout the City of Chicago tonight at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 (CANTV) and in Aurora and surrounding areas at 7:30 pm on ACTV, Cable Ch. 10. The Aurora station, Aurora Community Television, Comcast Cable Ch. 10, reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery.
Turn on, Tune in and watch discussions about Senator Obama and Tony Rezko, Obama's long time friend and financial supporter ; Obama’s judgment and leadership capabilities; and the Presidential race; Education and tax swaps , King Blagojevich and much, much more. See here for a more detailed list of topics discussed on the show
*************************
You may also watch tonight's program (Lang, Part 2) here.
*************************************************************
This week's suburban episode of Public Affairs features Senator, Budgeteer and Deputy Republican State Senate Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont), discussing Barack Obama's judgment and leadership, state legislative budget issues and the Illinois Combine. You may watch the show here.
**********************************************************
A partial transcript of Tonight's City of Chicago and City of Aurora edition of Public Affairs [Lang, Part 2] is included, below:
*******************************************
Did Tony Rezko do Obama one big favor? A Senate Ethics violation? Could President Obama return the favor by pardoning Rezko? Would he?
Jeff Berkowitz: …this house was listed at 1.95 million dollars, [Obama] got it for 1.6 million. When he bought that house…in 2005,…at that time people knew about Tony Rezko’s potential [legal] problems, knew there were federal investigations that involved him. Barack Obama apparently calls Tony Rezko [then] and says—I need some advice, some counsel about this home. Rezko is a developer, Obama thought, so Rezko would know the market value. He did a “walk through,” [of the house]. Tony Rezko did, with Barack Obama. Tony Rezko['s wife] bought the side lot [to the house], which was sold as a separate parcel but historically had been sold together by each [prior] owner. It may have been a tough buy for Barack Obama, even though he was coming in to some coin then, he still didn’t have that much money, so some might say that Tony Rezko was doing a favor [for Barack Obama] because you want to know if somebody is going to have a separate side lot next to you, you want to know that person—just because you don’t want something inappropriate being developed next to your [house]. So, was [Obama] accepting a favor? There are U. S. Senate rules that prevent, don’t they, acceptance of favors from others that might influence [the Senator]. Barack Obama, himself, has described this general situation of the housing purchase as a boneheaded move. Right?
State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie): Correct.
Jeff Berkowitz: But, he made it. Again, last week, we talked about judgment and leadership. A judgment issue? Good judgment on the part of Barack Obama? If it is a boneheaded move, I guess it is not such good judgment.
State Rep. Lou Lang: He certainly did not violate any rules of the U. S. Senate.
Jeff Berkowitz: We don’t know. Do we?
State Rep. Lou Lang: Well, if the United States Senate felt he broke some rules, we’d have heard about it by now. This happened three years ago and it’s been all over the—
Jeff Berkowitz: It’s still coming out.
Rep. Lou Lang: It’s been all over the press for some time. I don’t even know of any investigation that is going on about it. You know, sometimes when you have friends of—
Jeff Berkowitz: In the court of public opinion, though, did he do something… more than just a boneheaded move Is it too close for comfort to Tony Rezko because as you said, he’s a friend [of Obama’s], you don’t always cut away your friends, but on the other hand, you don’t necessarily have to engage in a transaction that involves them.
Obama and Rezko: Just a real estate transaction?
Rep. Lou Lang: I think people are overblowing this. It was a real estate transaction. Barack indicated that perhaps he didn’t use the world’s greatest judgment in pursuing the transaction. But, that’s all it was. A real estate transaction. There’s no evidence that any favors have gone from the U. S. Senator to Tony Rezko. There’s no evidence of any favors that will emanate from President Obama to Tony Rezko. I just think this is an overblown story. Bad judgment? Okay. But, it was only a real estate deal…
**********************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Who is Tony Rezko? Why is he a player? Why is he important? Why are we talking about Tony Rezko?
*******************************************************
Corporations don’t pay taxes, people do.
Jeff Berkowitz: So you agree, people pay taxes, not corporations?
Rep. Lou Lang: That’s what I believe.
Jeff Berkowitz: A tax on corporations falls on either the shareholders, the employees or the customers. There isn’t any other place to get it, right?
Rep. Lou Lang: That’s exactly right. Now, that is not to say that there isn’t room in our tax structure to have a higher tax on people or corporations. I am not advocating it. It’s a discussion we ought to have. But to start the discussion by saying when we tax a business, people are not affected is absurd. And, that’s the point of view Rod Blagojevich takes.
Is the Tax Swap, HB 750, just like the GRT?
Jeff Berkowitz: Let’s start that discussion right now. HB 750; it may change its number, but it is referred to as a tax swap. People say it really isn’t a tax swap because it talks about a slight reduction in real estate taxes and a major increase in the income tax [and expansion of the sales tax to cover services]. By some people’s view, it is a seven billion dollar [net] increase in taxes. Almost as much as the GRT [Gross Receipts tax proposed by Governor Rod Blagojevich that failed in the Statehouse last year, 107 to 0]. Could you support something like HB 750, as I’ve described it?
Rep. Lou Lang: Many years ago I voted for a tax swap but I have more knowledge now than I had then and I have to say while I still could vote for one, I’d have to know where the increase in revenue is going. So, let’s assume you do it. Let’s assume I could get past the public policy issue of should we do this or should we not do it. The question for me becomes: where is the money going and—
Jeff Berkowitz: But, let me throw in [this]. Usually, it is proposed as an increase in the increase in the income tax from the current [level], which is a three per cent across the board [i.e., proportional income] tax to a five per cent across the board tax. What I mean is that the tax rate does not vary with income level.
Rep. Lou Lang: Right.
Jeff Berkowitz: An increase from three percent to five percent in the tax on individual’s income. There also would be an increase in the corporate income tax. Could you see yourself supporting that, this year, 2008?
Where does the seven billion dollars in tax revenue go?
Rep. Lou Lang: It is possible, but not likely. Because, the problem is this. Even if I could get past the speed bump of moving the taxes up, then there is the question of where you are going to spend it. A lot of people who are for that notion say, well, education, right?
Jeff Berkowitz: It is said the current proposal ONLY has, of the seven billion dollar total tax increase, about one or two billion dollars for education. A lot of this is for roads, bridges—the kind of things that would be in capital projects.
Rep. Lou Lang: That’s all true. They want to use part of it for capital. But, let’s zero in on the education portion—
Jeff Berkowitz: Say it was one or two billion dollars more for education.
Rep. Lou Lang: Right.
Jeff Berkowitz: Of seven billion [dollars in new tax revenue]. Would that make it okay for you?
Rep. Lang to take a pass on the Tax Swap?
Rep. Lou Lang: Well, yes and no. We need more money for schools but what schools are getting these dollars? So, today, for instance, in the school districts I represent, they don’t get much money out of the school aid formula [the distribution of general state education funds to schools in low income areas]. They get their money out of what we call categoricals, e.g., transportation, textbooks, English as a second language, special education. And, unless the schools in the suburban area that I represent are getting their fair share, I would never be for such a bill. And, under some scenarios, they would actually get less money.
************************************************************
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 and McCain, former Presidential candidate Richardson-- and many other pols, including this week's suburban edition of Public Affairs with Deputy Republican Senate leader and State Senator Christine Radogno (R-Lemont), tonight's show with Rep. Lang in the City of Chicago and City of Aurora (Lang, Part 2) and last week's show with Rep. Lang in the City (Part 1) and our prior show in the City of Chicago, Aurora and 35 suburbs with WGN Political Pundit and Professor Paul Green at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
*********************************************
Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs Youtube page include this week's show in the suburbs with Senator and Deputy Republican Senate Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont), tonight's show in the Cities of Chicago and Aurora with Rep. Lang (Part 2), Last week's show in the Cities of Chicago and Aurora with Rep. Lang (Part 1) , our prior show in Chicago, Aurora and 35 Chicago metro villages with WGN Radio political pundit Paul Green, a prior show with Senator and likely 2010 Illinois Gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady,our show with former Sen. Rauschenberger, assessing Barack Obama, our prior show with Republican U.S. Senate Republican nominee Dr. Steve Sauerberg, discussing his Democratic opponent--Senator Durbin-- and domestic, cultural and foreign policy issues, our prior show featuring State Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston,IL), discussing Barack Obama, as well as various Illinois Budget issues (spending, mass transit, capital budget, education, gaming and taxes) and possible 2010 Illinois gubernatorial candidates and 2010 U. S. Senate candidates (assuming Obama moves up to President in 2008) , a discussion with State's Attorney for Cook County Republican nominee Tony Peraica; and Anita Alvarez, Chief Deputy to current State's Attorney for Cook County Dick Devine and now the Democratic nominee for State's Attorney of Cook County
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