Better than Carol Marin w/Trotter,Radogno et al: Berkowitz w/Rep. Walker on Impeachment/Stroger/Taxes/Vouchers and much more; Cable and Streaming
State Rep. Mark Walker[Watch here]: I believe that [Gov. Blagojevich] should have been gone a year ago.
Jeff Berkowitz: You mean he should have been impeached a year ago?
State Rep. Walker: I think he should have been out of that office. The reason I say that—I’m a business consultant by background, and I view the state of Illinois as a corporation that is not functioning properly. And after watching it for a couple years, I decided that one of the key problems of the state is a bad CEO. As the chief executive, if this were a corporation, he’d have been gone.
Jeff Berkowitz: What’s bad about Rod Blagojevich?
******************************************
State Rep. Walker [D-Arlington Heights]: That blew away every other issue-- top of mine: education, financials, economic development, child care. It was [get rid of] Stroger and Blagojevich.
*********************************
This week's suburban edition of "Public Affairs," features State Rep. Mark Walker(D-Arlington Heights), essentially the first Dem to represent the 66th District since the Civil War, discussing and debating the likely impeachment of Democrat Gov. Blagojevich, the extreme unpopularity in his District of Democrats Blago and Cook County Board President Todd Stroger, Walker's proposed cut in taxes, school vouchers and much, much more. See, below, for more about the show's topics, a partial transcript of the show and the Chicago Metro suburban airing schedule.
**************************
You can also watch the show w/State Rep. Mark Walker here.
**********************
Recently elected State Rep. Mark Walker (D-66th Dist., Arlington Heights) debates and discusses the issues with show host and executive legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz.
Topics discussed on the show include whether or not Walker favors impeachment and/or resignation of Illinois' Gov. Rod Blagojevich, thinks there should be a special election to replace President-Elect Obama in the U. S. Senate, thinks the Illinois Democratic Party is an aristocracy, favors removal of the "Death tax," favors school vouchers-school choice, would increase or decrease the state income tax, how Walker would deal with the State budget deficit, whether he supported Cook County Board President Todd Stroger in the Primary and/or general election in 2006, what he and his constituents thinks of him now and much, much more.
*************************
66th District tells Rep. Mark Walker to get rid of Blagojevich and Stroger
Jeff Berkowitz: Certainly, in your neck of the woods, in the suburbs of Cook County, [Todd Stroger’s] got to be one of the least popular politicians around? Right? Is that right? One of the least popular? Yeah?
State Rep. Mark Walker [D-Arlington Heights]: I talked, over their doorsteps, with eleven thousand people, in order to run this race. I knocked on forty thousand doors. When I asked people, “what is the number one thing you want me to do in Springfield,” you know what they said? “Get rid of Todd Stroger.” And I said, “he’s not in Springfield.”
Jeff Berkowitz: But still, that’s what they want?
State Rep. Walker: Yeah. They said then, for the most part, get rid of Rod Blagojevich.
Jeff Berkowitz: Okay.
State Rep. Walker: That blew away every other issue -- top of mine: education, financials, economic development, child care. It was [get rid of] Stroger and Blagojevich.
*****************************************************
Rep. Walker wants Blago out of there as soon as possible
Jeff Berkowitz:… The simple question is—you’re going to be down there, you may be voting on articles of impeachment, is it your view that Rod Blagojevich should be impeached, that articles of impeachment should be issued from the House of Representatives? He’s your Governor--he is a Democrat; you’re a Democrat. So, does that add a complication to that, or would you like to see this guy out of here as soon as possible?
State Rep. Mark Walker [D-Arlington Heights]: You’re answering my question for me. I would like to see the guy out of here as soon as possible. I would prefer that he would resign.
Jeff Berkowitz: Why? Why not just impeach him?
State Rep. Walker: Because resignation’s quicker.
Jeff Berkowitz: Okay.
State Rep. Walker: I believe that he should have been gone a year ago.
Jeff Berkowitz: You mean he should have been impeached a year ago?
State Rep. Walker argues Blago is a bad CEO
State Rep. Walker: I think he should have been out of that office. The reason I say that—I’m a business consultant by background, and I view the state of Illinois as a corporation that is not functioning properly. And after watching it for a couple years, I decided that one of the key problems of the state is a bad CEO. As the chief executive, if this were a corporation, he’d have been gone.
Jeff Berkowitz: What’s bad about Rod Blagojevich?
State Rep. Walker: He is erratic in his decision-making. He will, for instance, allow a budgeting process to go on for months and then change the rules at the last day. He will do things that cause people not to trust his word, within the management process of the state. And I think as a CEO, he’s bad and shouldn’t be there.
Jeff Berkowitz: Is he incompetent, or is he corrupt? Or both?
State Rep. Walker: I don’t know that he’s corrupt, but we’ll see what Fitzgerald and the whole legal process comes up with about that. I know that he’s incompetent.
Jeff Berkowitz: What do you think the grounds are for impeachment?
State Rep. Walker: The difficulty is, the state constitution doesn’t have clear grounds for impeachment.
Jeff Berkowitz: So what do you think the grounds should be for impeachment?
State Rep. Walker: I think both disregarding the expected processes of government could be grounds for impeachment, as well as corruption.
Jeff Berkowitz: So abuse of power in terms of what the constitution sets out as to what the governor’s power is--
State Rep. Walker: Right.
Jeff Berkowitz: Say, relative to the state legislature.
Blago’s defense? He helped the people?
State Rep. Mark Walker [D-Arlington Heights]: Right. There has to be a lot of judgment there, how serious is that, and what is the impact. I think, in following this as a citizen, more than as a future rep, I think his argument that’s coming up maybe this coming Monday—“I’m going to outline for you, or my lawyer is, all of the things I’ve done for the people”—as an argument against the claim that he’s been abusing the power and abusing the processes, is an interesting argument. What I think he might be saying, and it’s a reasonable argument, is that-- it doesn’t matter that I didn’t follow the rules of government. I still helped the people.
Jeff Berkowitz: So that’s a reasonable argument in your mind?
State Rep. Walker: It is an argument. I don’t believe that it’s a good argument.
Jeff Berkowitz: It’s not a defense.
State Rep. Walker: Right.
Jeff Berkowitz: He should still be impeached, even if he did some things that were good?
Rep. Walker calls Blagojevich "Blagoabush." Is he correct to do so?
State Rep. Walker: Yes. Now, I call him, to make it even more interesting, in this arena, I’ve been calling him for years now Blagoabush. The things he does in changing the intent of the Legislature, in terms of “sweeping,” funds, paying for thinks he wants to, and not for things he doesn’t want to, regardless of what the Legislature says, are similar to George Bush’s “signing statements,” on bills where he will say, “I will pass this bill because I don’t feel like I should veto it, but I’m not going to follow it. I find that-
Jeff Berkowitz: Have other presidents done that, other than Bush?
State Rep. Walker: Apparently, some presidents have done it occasionally.
Jeff Berkowitz: Bill Clinton did that occasionally?
State Rep. Mark Walker [D-Arlington Heights]: Yes. But we’re talking twelve, fifteen times, versus a hundred sixty times. We’re talking orders of magnitude in that sense. And this isn’t about Bush. But the question is, how serious is that? I think that Governor Blagojevich also has abused the power that he’s been given as Governor, and circumvented the natural process of the separation of powers between the Legislature and the Governor, and that’s serious enough to be looked at as a potentially impeachable offense.
*************************************************************************
Public Affairs thanks its intern, Amy Allen, for preparing drafts of the above transcripts of our show with State Rep. Mark Walker. The show was taped on December 28, 2008.
*************************
Public Affairs Chicago Metro suburban airing schedule.
The show featuring State Rep. Mark Walker(D-Arlington Heights) is airing this week in the North and Northwest Chicago Metro suburbs in its regular slot:
Tonight (Tuesday) 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 Tonight (Tuesday) 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 on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.
*****************************************************************
The "Public Affairs," show featuring State Rep. Mark Walker(D-Arlington Heights) will also air throughout the City of Chicago this coming Monday night, January 12, 2008, at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 (CANTV) and that same night on cable in Aurora and surrounding areas at 7:30 pm on ACTV-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.
*************************************************
The "Public Affairs," show featuring State Rep. Mark Walker(D-Arlington Heights) will also air throughout the City of Rockford (and in surrounding areas) next Thursday night, Jan. 15 at 8:00 pm on Cable Ch. 17. The surrounding areas reached by Ch. 17 include Byron, Cedarville, Cherry Valley, Loves Park, Machesney Park, Mount Morris, New Milford, Portions of Ogle County, Oregon, Polo, Stillman Valley, Winnebago, Portions of Boone County and Poplar Grove.
*********************************************************
The "Public Affairs," show featuring State Rep. Mark Walker(D-Arlington Heights) may also air throughout the State of Illinois on the Illinois Channel.
Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
"Public Affairs," is a weekly political interview show airing in Chicago on CANTV, in the Chicago metro area, Aurora and Rockford on Comcast and also often on the Illinois Channel. You can watch the shows, including archived shows going back to 2005, here.
**************************************************
Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include a recent Bill O'Reilly segment w/Berkowitz on Obama, shows with newly minted State Rep. Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights), essentially the first Dem to represent his district since the Civil War, on the connection between the mess in Springfield and in Cook County government, Chicago Alderman Manuel (Manny) Flores (D-1st Ward, Wicker Park) on impeachment of Rod, Chicago issues and a possible run to replace 5th CD Cong. Emanuel, Cook County Cmsr. Tony Peraica (R-Riverside) on the mess we call Illinois politics, Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell, State Senator Bill Brady (R-Bloomington), State Senator Kirk Dillard (R-Westmont), Cook County Commissioner and possible 5th CD Dem. Primary candidate Mike Quigley (D-Lakeview), State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) and Cook County Cmsr. and Obama Media Team Member Forrest Claypool and much more.
**********************************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: You mean he should have been impeached a year ago?
State Rep. Walker: I think he should have been out of that office. The reason I say that—I’m a business consultant by background, and I view the state of Illinois as a corporation that is not functioning properly. And after watching it for a couple years, I decided that one of the key problems of the state is a bad CEO. As the chief executive, if this were a corporation, he’d have been gone.
Jeff Berkowitz: What’s bad about Rod Blagojevich?
******************************************
State Rep. Walker [D-Arlington Heights]: That blew away every other issue-- top of mine: education, financials, economic development, child care. It was [get rid of] Stroger and Blagojevich.
*********************************
This week's suburban edition of "Public Affairs," features State Rep. Mark Walker(D-Arlington Heights), essentially the first Dem to represent the 66th District since the Civil War, discussing and debating the likely impeachment of Democrat Gov. Blagojevich, the extreme unpopularity in his District of Democrats Blago and Cook County Board President Todd Stroger, Walker's proposed cut in taxes, school vouchers and much, much more. See, below, for more about the show's topics, a partial transcript of the show and the Chicago Metro suburban airing schedule.
**************************
You can also watch the show w/State Rep. Mark Walker here.
**********************
Recently elected State Rep. Mark Walker (D-66th Dist., Arlington Heights) debates and discusses the issues with show host and executive legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz.
Topics discussed on the show include whether or not Walker favors impeachment and/or resignation of Illinois' Gov. Rod Blagojevich, thinks there should be a special election to replace President-Elect Obama in the U. S. Senate, thinks the Illinois Democratic Party is an aristocracy, favors removal of the "Death tax," favors school vouchers-school choice, would increase or decrease the state income tax, how Walker would deal with the State budget deficit, whether he supported Cook County Board President Todd Stroger in the Primary and/or general election in 2006, what he and his constituents thinks of him now and much, much more.
*************************
66th District tells Rep. Mark Walker to get rid of Blagojevich and Stroger
Jeff Berkowitz: Certainly, in your neck of the woods, in the suburbs of Cook County, [Todd Stroger’s] got to be one of the least popular politicians around? Right? Is that right? One of the least popular? Yeah?
State Rep. Mark Walker [D-Arlington Heights]: I talked, over their doorsteps, with eleven thousand people, in order to run this race. I knocked on forty thousand doors. When I asked people, “what is the number one thing you want me to do in Springfield,” you know what they said? “Get rid of Todd Stroger.” And I said, “he’s not in Springfield.”
Jeff Berkowitz: But still, that’s what they want?
State Rep. Walker: Yeah. They said then, for the most part, get rid of Rod Blagojevich.
Jeff Berkowitz: Okay.
State Rep. Walker: That blew away every other issue -- top of mine: education, financials, economic development, child care. It was [get rid of] Stroger and Blagojevich.
*****************************************************
Rep. Walker wants Blago out of there as soon as possible
Jeff Berkowitz:… The simple question is—you’re going to be down there, you may be voting on articles of impeachment, is it your view that Rod Blagojevich should be impeached, that articles of impeachment should be issued from the House of Representatives? He’s your Governor--he is a Democrat; you’re a Democrat. So, does that add a complication to that, or would you like to see this guy out of here as soon as possible?
State Rep. Mark Walker [D-Arlington Heights]: You’re answering my question for me. I would like to see the guy out of here as soon as possible. I would prefer that he would resign.
Jeff Berkowitz: Why? Why not just impeach him?
State Rep. Walker: Because resignation’s quicker.
Jeff Berkowitz: Okay.
State Rep. Walker: I believe that he should have been gone a year ago.
Jeff Berkowitz: You mean he should have been impeached a year ago?
State Rep. Walker argues Blago is a bad CEO
State Rep. Walker: I think he should have been out of that office. The reason I say that—I’m a business consultant by background, and I view the state of Illinois as a corporation that is not functioning properly. And after watching it for a couple years, I decided that one of the key problems of the state is a bad CEO. As the chief executive, if this were a corporation, he’d have been gone.
Jeff Berkowitz: What’s bad about Rod Blagojevich?
State Rep. Walker: He is erratic in his decision-making. He will, for instance, allow a budgeting process to go on for months and then change the rules at the last day. He will do things that cause people not to trust his word, within the management process of the state. And I think as a CEO, he’s bad and shouldn’t be there.
Jeff Berkowitz: Is he incompetent, or is he corrupt? Or both?
State Rep. Walker: I don’t know that he’s corrupt, but we’ll see what Fitzgerald and the whole legal process comes up with about that. I know that he’s incompetent.
Jeff Berkowitz: What do you think the grounds are for impeachment?
State Rep. Walker: The difficulty is, the state constitution doesn’t have clear grounds for impeachment.
Jeff Berkowitz: So what do you think the grounds should be for impeachment?
State Rep. Walker: I think both disregarding the expected processes of government could be grounds for impeachment, as well as corruption.
Jeff Berkowitz: So abuse of power in terms of what the constitution sets out as to what the governor’s power is--
State Rep. Walker: Right.
Jeff Berkowitz: Say, relative to the state legislature.
Blago’s defense? He helped the people?
State Rep. Mark Walker [D-Arlington Heights]: Right. There has to be a lot of judgment there, how serious is that, and what is the impact. I think, in following this as a citizen, more than as a future rep, I think his argument that’s coming up maybe this coming Monday—“I’m going to outline for you, or my lawyer is, all of the things I’ve done for the people”—as an argument against the claim that he’s been abusing the power and abusing the processes, is an interesting argument. What I think he might be saying, and it’s a reasonable argument, is that-- it doesn’t matter that I didn’t follow the rules of government. I still helped the people.
Jeff Berkowitz: So that’s a reasonable argument in your mind?
State Rep. Walker: It is an argument. I don’t believe that it’s a good argument.
Jeff Berkowitz: It’s not a defense.
State Rep. Walker: Right.
Jeff Berkowitz: He should still be impeached, even if he did some things that were good?
Rep. Walker calls Blagojevich "Blagoabush." Is he correct to do so?
State Rep. Walker: Yes. Now, I call him, to make it even more interesting, in this arena, I’ve been calling him for years now Blagoabush. The things he does in changing the intent of the Legislature, in terms of “sweeping,” funds, paying for thinks he wants to, and not for things he doesn’t want to, regardless of what the Legislature says, are similar to George Bush’s “signing statements,” on bills where he will say, “I will pass this bill because I don’t feel like I should veto it, but I’m not going to follow it. I find that-
Jeff Berkowitz: Have other presidents done that, other than Bush?
State Rep. Walker: Apparently, some presidents have done it occasionally.
Jeff Berkowitz: Bill Clinton did that occasionally?
State Rep. Mark Walker [D-Arlington Heights]: Yes. But we’re talking twelve, fifteen times, versus a hundred sixty times. We’re talking orders of magnitude in that sense. And this isn’t about Bush. But the question is, how serious is that? I think that Governor Blagojevich also has abused the power that he’s been given as Governor, and circumvented the natural process of the separation of powers between the Legislature and the Governor, and that’s serious enough to be looked at as a potentially impeachable offense.
*************************************************************************
Public Affairs thanks its intern, Amy Allen, for preparing drafts of the above transcripts of our show with State Rep. Mark Walker. The show was taped on December 28, 2008.
*************************
Public Affairs Chicago Metro suburban airing schedule.
The show featuring State Rep. Mark Walker(D-Arlington Heights) is airing this week in the North and Northwest Chicago Metro suburbs in its regular slot:
Tonight (Tuesday) 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 Tonight (Tuesday) 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 on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.
*****************************************************************
The "Public Affairs," show featuring State Rep. Mark Walker(D-Arlington Heights) will also air throughout the City of Chicago this coming Monday night, January 12, 2008, at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 (CANTV) and that same night on cable in Aurora and surrounding areas at 7:30 pm on ACTV-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.
*************************************************
The "Public Affairs," show featuring State Rep. Mark Walker(D-Arlington Heights) will also air throughout the City of Rockford (and in surrounding areas) next Thursday night, Jan. 15 at 8:00 pm on Cable Ch. 17. The surrounding areas reached by Ch. 17 include Byron, Cedarville, Cherry Valley, Loves Park, Machesney Park, Mount Morris, New Milford, Portions of Ogle County, Oregon, Polo, Stillman Valley, Winnebago, Portions of Boone County and Poplar Grove.
*********************************************************
The "Public Affairs," show featuring State Rep. Mark Walker(D-Arlington Heights) may also air throughout the State of Illinois on the Illinois Channel.
Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
"Public Affairs," is a weekly political interview show airing in Chicago on CANTV, in the Chicago metro area, Aurora and Rockford on Comcast and also often on the Illinois Channel. You can watch the shows, including archived shows going back to 2005, here.
**************************************************
Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include a recent Bill O'Reilly segment w/Berkowitz on Obama, shows with newly minted State Rep. Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights), essentially the first Dem to represent his district since the Civil War, on the connection between the mess in Springfield and in Cook County government, Chicago Alderman Manuel (Manny) Flores (D-1st Ward, Wicker Park) on impeachment of Rod, Chicago issues and a possible run to replace 5th CD Cong. Emanuel, Cook County Cmsr. Tony Peraica (R-Riverside) on the mess we call Illinois politics, Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell, State Senator Bill Brady (R-Bloomington), State Senator Kirk Dillard (R-Westmont), Cook County Commissioner and possible 5th CD Dem. Primary candidate Mike Quigley (D-Lakeview), State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) and Cook County Cmsr. and Obama Media Team Member Forrest Claypool and much more.
**********************************************************************
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