Better than Schieffer w/President Obama: Berkowitz w/Senator Garrett on party brands, charter school caps, taxes, ethics and more; Cable and Streaming

Jeff Berkowitz: Our total tax burden is ... 14th [among the states]. That’s not really so good. Our state income tax is relatively low, but the property tax is high [making Illinois a net high tax state].

State Sen. Garrett: People come to Illinois because you’ve got Chicago, we are centrally located [and] our corporate rate is really pretty low compared to other states.
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Jeff Berkowitz: John Tillman [Illinois Policy Institute] says lift that cap and have many more charter schools. Right now we have only two or three percent [charter schools]. [We could] have fifteen, twenty, thirty percent. Charter schools perform better, produce for the state education more effectively, less expensively. [Watch Tillman here]. You’d save money. You might save two billion dollars there, without hurting the kids. Your turn, Senator Garrett.

State Sen. Susan Garrett[D-Lake Forest]: That makes sense. I think opening up the doors to charter schools, literally and figuratively speaking, is the way to go. And I also believe that when we talk about this budget, that these are the types of reforms that have to be on the table. These absolutely have to be on the table. There’s all sorts of accountability and oversight that we’re not talking about right now. And my hope is that when Governor Quinn gives his speech on Wednesday [March 18], and by the time this program airs [this program was taped on March 15], , we will know-- [watch Senator Garrett here].
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This week’s Chicago metro suburban edition of Public Affairs features State Senator Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest; 29th Dist.) [See below for the Chicago metro suburban, City of Chicago, Aurora and Rockford airing schedules for the show with Senator Garrett]. Senator Garrett, a North Shore suburban Democrat, debates and discusses fiscal, ethical, educational and healthcare issues with show host and executive legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz. See, below, for a more detailed list of topics discussed.
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The "Public Affairs," show with Senator Garrett (D-Lake Forest) can be watched on your computer.
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Topics discussed on the show with Senator Garrrett, who was in the State House for four years and is now in her seventh year in the State Senate, include the following: whether she thinks school vouchers and more charter schools should be offered to parents in Chicago? Whether she thinks Illinois has a spending problem or a revenue problem? What she thinks about a possible increase in the income tax? Is Illinois economically attractive to businesses? Should Illinois keep its pension commitments to its state employees and state legislators? Should state legislators disclose their family's net worth and annual income? Does the Illinois Democratic Party have a brand? the Illinois Republican Party? Is competition between the Democratic and Republican Parties a good thing? What kinds of reform does Senator Garrett support? And, much, much more.
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--Saving money for the State by increasing the number of charter schools

Jeff Berkowitz: …The State [tax and the fed tax and the local government property taxes] are [used for] spending $11,000 per kid per year on education, K-12 [as an average number throughout Illinois]. In Chicago, we’re spending $16,000 per kid per year [on public school education]. ..but Susan Garrett, do you think if your constituents said to you, “Is that enough,” are you saying, we need to spend more on education… John Tillman, of the Illinois Policy Institute, sat here and said you could save a tremendous amount by lifting the cap on charter schools, which the state sets—I think it’s forty five [charter schools that are allowed in the state of Illinois--in fact it is sixty]

State Sen. Garrett[D-Lake Forest, 29th Dist.]: Yes and we are actually negotiating that right now.

Jeff Berkowitz: Tillman says lift that cap and have many more charter schools. Right now we have only two or three percent [charter schools]. [We could] have fifteen, twenty, thirty percent-- charter schools perform better, produce for the state education more effectively, less expensively. You’d save money. You might save two billion dollars there, without hurting the kids. Your turn, Senator Garrett.

--Does Senator Garrett want more charter schools?

State Sen. Garrett: That makes sense. I think opening up the doors to charter schools, literally and figuratively speaking, is the way to go. And I also believe that when we talk about this budget, that these are the types of reforms that have to be on the table. These absolutely have to be on the table. There’s all sorts of accountability and oversight that we’re not talking about right now. And my hope is that when Governor Quinn gives his speech on Wednesday [March 18], and by the time this program airs [this program was taped on March 15], , we will know--

Jeff Berkowitz: So, you’re for reform in education--

State Sen. Garrett: I am absolutely.

Jeff Berkowitz: Are you for more charter schools?

State Sen. Garrett: Yes, yes.

--Would Senator Garrett lift the limitation that restricts the number of Illinois charter schools to forty-five?

Jeff Berkowitz: Would you lift the cap completely? As many charter schools as people want in the state of Illinois. Just lift it, no caps.

State Sen. Garrett: If that’s what makes you happy right now, then-

Jeff Berkowitz: No. What makes you happy, Susan Garrett?

State Sen.Garrett: I don’t want to say just everybody lift the cap. I think we have to be a little bit more pragmatic about it and understand where that’s going to take us.

--Does Senator Garrett support school vouchers-school choice?

Jeff Berkowitz: Could you support school vouchers?

State Sen. Garrett: You’ve been asking me this for ten years.

Jeff Berkowitz: Just say--

State Sen. Garrett: No. I can’t. School vouchers isn’t part of the mix right now.

Jeff Berkowitz: Okay. Let’s go quickly, we don’t have a lot of time, let’s go quickly on to healthcare. Can we spend less and still treat people well in Illinois in healthcare?

State Sen. Garrett: Managed care.

--Is Senator Garrett willing to answer the tough questions

Jeff Berkowitz: We’re going to continue to speak as the credits roll but I very much want to thank our guest, Senator Garrett. Thank you so much for coming.

State Sen. Garrett: Thank you.

Jeff Berkowitz: Look. Senator Garrett deserves a lot of credit. A lot of people won’t come here, face tough questions, and engage in a thoughtful discussion. Senator Garrett will. You deserve a lot of credit. You should get it.

State Sen. Garrett: Thanks, Jeff. You’re tough.

--Would Senator Garrett allow Illinois families with annual incomes of $80,000 to continue to receive healthcare via Medicaid?

Jeff Berkowitz: Yes, but you’re good. Good for coming here, and we appreciate it. Thank you so much for coming. Managed care. Is that the solution?

State Sen. Garrett: Why not look at it?

Jeff Berkowitz: Could we cut costs in healthcare?

State Sen. Garrett: Yes, absolutely. These are the types of reforms that we should be talking about.

Jeff Berkowitz: We put people in the Medicaid program and we say they are eligible [for Medicaid with four times the poverty level-- annual incomes of eighty thousand dollars. Should we cut that down to forty thousand? That would push more people into the private sector [for health care insurance] and less on the subsidized government level. Save money.

State Sen. Garrett: Good idea.

Jeff Berkowitz: You agree?

State Sen. Garrett: Yes.

Jeff Berkowitz: Maybe cut [the income eligibility] down to twenty thousand, the poverty level?

State Sen. Garrett [D-Lake Forest]:I would like to see that idea and about ten others on the table, so we can say, how can we … so it makes sense?

--Does Senator Garrett favor reduced pension benefits for new state employees?

Jeff Berkowitz: Pensions.

State Sen. Garrett: Two-tiered. I love, I love…

Jeff Berkowitz: Defined contribution instead of defined benefits. You would do that?

State Sen. Garrett: Yes.

Jeff Berkowitz: Two-tiered. You mean for future employees?

State Sen. Garrett: Yes. Absolutely.

Jeff Berkowitz: Do it in a heartbeat? Adopt it tomorrow?

State Sen. Garrett: Yes. Yes.

Jeff Berkowitz: Will it happen?

State Sen. Garrett: I hope so.

Jeff Berkowitz: But the critics say--

State Sen. Garrett: I hope so. I don’t see how we cannot have that happen.

--Are the critics of Speaker Madigan and Senate President Cullerton right?

Jeff Berkowitz: But the critics say-Madigan and Cullerton talk about it because it saves some money, makes people feel good, but it doesn’t save very much, because it’s only future employees [who are affected].

State Sen. Garrett: Well, you’ve got to start sometime.

Jeff Berkowitz: Right. So what else could you do to really make a big dent on the pensions?

State Sen. Garrett [D-Lake Forest]:Well, if we had started four years ago--having a two-tiered pension system, we probably could have saved hundreds of millions of dollars, right now.

--Can and should the State of Illinois refuse to pay its state employees and legislators their pensions?

Jeff Berkowitz: Possibly. Should we consider reneging on some of those pension agreements?

State Sen. Garrett: We can’t.

Jeff Berkowitz: What would happen?

State Sen. Garrett: It’s in our Constitution. We cannot.

Jeff Berkowitz: A judge would compel the state legislature to raise money?

State Sen. Garrett [D-Lake Forest]: That’s not the kind of state we are.

Jeff Berkowitz: Private companies are reneging, why shouldn’t… public sector-- governments...If private companies can do it, shouldn’t it be the same for state employees? Fair is Fair.

State Sen. Garrett: It’s in the Constitution that we must make our pension payments. We would need an amendment to the constitution. We had that opportunity last year. It didn’t happen. So, I think we have to abide by the rules and the laws and I think that’s what people expect. I don’t want Illinois to be like an outlaw state where we say one thing to a group and then we decide we don’t agree anymore and then we pull away their dollars that they need—pension dollars.

--Is Illinois no longer an economically attractive state for new businesses and new Illinois residents.

Jeff Berkowitz: Well, with those taxes going up that you talked about, income taxes, [do you worry that Illinois would become less competitive?

State Sen. Garrett: I don’t understand what is less competitive.

Jeff Berkowitz: There are states who have lower—our total tax burden is high.

State Sen. Garrett: Illinois is a great state. It’s not like we’re a ----

Jeff Berkowitz: Our total tax burden is like 14th, That’s not really so good. Our income tax is relatively low, but the property tax is high.

State Sen. Garrett: People come to Illinois because you’ve got Chicago, we are centrally located [and] our corporate rate is really pretty low compared to other states.
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The "Public Affairs," show with State Senator Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest), now in Democratic Party Leadership, was taped on March 15, 2009.
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Amy Allen, a research intern for Public Affairs, prepared a draft of the above partial transcript of the show with Senator Garrett. Public Affairs appreciates the time and effort contrbuted by its in studio and research interns.
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Public Affairs Chicago Metro suburban airing schedule:

The show featuring State Senator Susan Garrett(D-Lake Forest) 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.
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Chicago and Aurora:

The "Public Affairs," show featuring State Senator Susan Garrett(D-Lake Forest) will also air throughout the City of Chicago this coming Monday night, April 6 at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21(CANTV, aka Chicago Access Network TV) and that same night on cable in Aurora and surrounding areas at 7:30 pm on ACTV-10. The Aurora station, ACTV-10, aka Aurora Community Television, Comcast Cable Ch. 10, reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery.
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Rockford:

The "Public Affairs," show featuring State Senator Susan Garrett(D-Lake Forest) , will also air throughout the City of Rockford (and in surrounding areas) a week from this coming Thursday night, April 9 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.
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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. *************************************************************
"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.
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include the fastest five minutes on the web- a New York Times video about Obama-Berkowitz, a show with State Senator Susan Garrett(D-Lake Forest) about hot topics in Illinois state government, a show with State Rep. Susana Mendoza (D-Chicago), a show with IL 5th CD Dem nominee--Cook County Cmsr. Mike Quigley (who is now extremely likely to win the
April general election to decide who replaces Cong. Rahm Emanuel), the second fastest five minutes on the web- a segment of Bill O'Reilly with Berkowitz discussing a clip of Obama from 2002 on Blagojevich and many more shows. And, see here for very recent postings on our Youtube page.
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Better than Carol Marin and Phil Ponce w/Gov. Quinn: Berkowitz w/Rep. Susana Mendoza, Cable and Streaming

Jeff Berkowitz: What would you do... What would you do to make better use of the [Education] dollar?

State Rep. Mendoza: You know what I would do is actually--I have a district that has private schools that are closing because we don’t have enough children attending those schools. And I have [public] schools that are completely overcrowded. [Ed. note: Of course, the public schools do not compete fairly for the students, since parents must pay for their kids to attend the private schools- but not to attend the public schools]. That’s not a good use of our tax dollars with those individuals. I would consider moving some of these kids [from the public schools] into the private schools, whether it’s through a voucher system, or whether it’s through moving the tax money with that particular student to that [particular private] school--making better use of that [money].

Jeff Berkowitz: Right now in the city of Chicago—...the budget of the Chicago Public Schools ("CPS") is about six billion dollars. [The CPS has] about three hundred seventy thousand students. You divide one into the other, and it means on average you’re spending sixteen thousand dollars per kid, per year. If they were to say to you, Susanna Mendoza, Representative Mendoza, would you like the parents in your district to have their sixteen thousand dollars, and they can stay at their public school, or go to one of those private schools; a school voucher--school choice system-- fully funded, the same amount of money that’s being spent on those kids now, just transferred, if they want, to a private school. If they’re happy, they stay in the public school. Would you sign on to that program?
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The "Public Affairs," show, featuring State Rep. Susana Mendoza (D-Chicago), airs tonight in its regular cable scheduled slots throughout the City of Chicago at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21(CANTV, aka Chicago Access Network TV) and in Aurora and surrounding areas at 7:30 pm on ACTV-10. The Aurora station, ACTV-10, aka Aurora Community Television, Comcast Cable Ch. 10, reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery.
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You can also watch the show with State Rep. Susana Mendoza (D-Chicago) on your computer.
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The show with Rep. Mendoza was taped on March 8, 2009.
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The "Public Affairs," show, featuring State Rep. Susana Mendoza (D-Chicago) also airs throughout the City of Rockford (and in surrounding areas) this Thursday night, April 2 at 8:00 pm on Cable Ch. 17. 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.
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Jeff Berkowitz: Where would you cut spending? Senate President John Cullerton said on “At Issue, “ [Sunday morning political interview show, WBBM- 780 AM Radio, 9:00 am-9:30 am, hosted by Craig Dellimore] on March 8, 2009, that he’s focusing on the general revenue fund, twenty eight billion dollars. He says eleven billion dollars of that goes to education, eleven billion dollars goes to healthcare, six billion dollars goes to state operations…where would you cut [Cullerton asks]. Would you cut into healthcare, the 11 billion dollars [being spent there] ?

State Rep. Mendoza [D-Chicago]: I wouldn’t want to cut into healthcare, no.

Jeff Berkowitz: Would you cut into education, the eleven billion dollars?

State Rep. Mendoza: I think we need to look at how we fund our education and maybe get a little bit creative there. I don’t know if we make the best use of our dollars per pupil. So that’s an area that we can look at.

Jeff Berkowitz: What would you do... What would you do to make better use of the [Education] dollar?

State Rep. Mendoza: You know what I would do is actually--I have a district that has private schools that are closing because we don’t have enough children attending those schools. And I have [public] schools that are completely overcrowded. [Ed. note: Of course, the public schools do not compete fairly for the students, since parents must pay for their kids to attend the private schools- but not to attend the public schools]. That’s not a good use of our tax dollars with those individuals. I would consider moving some of these kids [from the public schools] into the private schools, whether it’s through a voucher system, or whether it’s through moving the tax money with that particular student to that [particular private] school--making better use of that [money].

Jeff Berkowitz: Right now in the city of Chicago...the budget of the Chicago Public Schools is about six billion dollars. About three hundred seventy thousand students. You divide one into the other, and it means on average you’re spending sixteen thousand per kid, per year. If they were to say to you, Susanna Mendoza, Representative Mendoza, would you like the parents in your district to have their sixteen thousand dollars, and they can stay at their public school, or go to one of those private schools; a school voucher--school choice system-- fully funded, the same amount of money that’s being spent on those kids now, just transferred, if they want, to a private school. If they’re happy, they stay in the public school. Would you sign on to that program?

State Rep. Mendoza: Yes. Actually, I wouldn’t give the money directly to the parents. I would give it to the system.

Jeff Berkowitz: A voucher that says, if you go to that school, then the school gets sixteen thousand dollars?

State Rep. Mendoza: Exactly. Absolutely, I would support that. I know that the unions hate me for that-

Jeff Berkowitz: Teachers’ unions.

State Rep. Mendoza: Of course.

Jeff Berkowitz: They hate you? That’s a strong word.

State Rep. Mendoza: I shouldn’t say that. They’ve never said that to me. That’s not right, because I do have a lot of friends [in the teachers unions].

Jeff Berkowitz: They may dislike your viewpoint.

State Rep. Mendoza [D-Chicago]: I don’t think they’re happy about my viewpoint on that. So it’s good I clarified that. But it’s true; I have to face the reality of the district I represent. It’s very clear to me, that if I want to give children the best education possible, that I need to look at all the alternatives. Whether it’s good charter schools—I have some great charter schools in my district that are run by Uno. They’re actually a model not just for Illinois but for the rest of the country. They were able to expand out in the ninth ward of New Orleans, because they were just so successful here in Chicago.

Jeff Berkowitz: Where Paul Vallas is [New Orleans school district], and where they’re pushing a school voucher program.

State Rep. Mendoza: Exactly, and they see how this works. So I’m totally pro-- charter school operation. Not all of them are perfect, but the ones in my district run great, and they’re scoring above average, as well as giving parents an opportunity to choose what’s best for their child. I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t think people should be scared about [school] choice.

Jeff Berkowitz: You’re still signing on to school vouchers, school choice?

State Rep. Mendoza: Absolutely.

Jeff Berkowitz: I’m told that in the Hispanic community and in the African-American community, school vouchers and school choice poll very well.

State Rep. Mendoza: They should.

Jeff Berkowitz: Your constituents would like to have this choice, school vouchers?

State Rep. Mendoza: Yes. Absolutely. People don’t like having their children in overcrowded schools.

Jeff Berkowitz: Not just people who are minorities, but people who are not minorities.

State Rep. Mendoza: Absolutely.

Jeff Berkowitz: Barack Obama has said he would support charter schools, but he said on this show, on this set, in June of 2002, before he was a US Senate candidate, and now President Obama, then state senator Barack Obama, said he would do anything to improve schools, and I said, even school vouchers, school choice? And he said, “I would look at it, and look at the research and so forth, I would do anything [to improve the intolerable conditions in the inner city schools.” So, almost a yes. But then in 2003, when he was a US Senate candidate, he said [on “Public Affairs,”] he supported charter schools, but not school vouchers. Do you think if you had a chance to talk to President Obama now, you would say perhaps he ought to reconsider? And you, representing your district, would like him to encourage Illinois to try school vouchers, school choice, at least in Chicago, and maybe in your district? Would you tell Barack Obama that right now, if he were here?

State Rep. Mendoza[D-Chicago]: If [President Obama] were here, and we were talking about this? Absolutely. Why would I change my opinion?

Jeff Berkowitz: Why do you suppose Barack Obama changed his mind on this?

State Rep. Mendoza: I have no idea. You’d have to ask him. I’m not going to speculate on that.

Jeff Berkowitz: Juan Andrade. I heard him speak on ABC-7’s [“News views,” on March 8, 2009”]. You know Juan Andrade?

State Rep. Mendoza: Of course.

Jeff Berkowitz: He’s with the US Leadership Institute, something like that.

State Rep. Mendoza: United States Hispanic Leadership Institute.

Jeff Berkowitz: Okay. Andrade was speaking on March 8th on ABC. I didn’t hear him talk about school vouchers and school choice.

State Rep. Mendoza: Okay. Did they ask him?

Jeff Berkowitz: I don’t know. I doubt that they did. He talked about education; he talked about things to do [to improve education for minorities]. But shouldn’t Juan Andrade be out there pushing school choice, not waiting to be asked? Isn’t that something that would be important to the Hispanic community?

State Rep. Mendoza [D-Chicago]: I don’t know if we’ve made that into an issue-- as a Hispanic community.

Jeff Berkowitz: But should you?

State Rep. Mendoza: That’s a good question. Maybe that’s something we should be looking at. I haven’t polled the rest of my colleagues on that. It hasn’t been a “Hispanic issue.” I think it goes well beyond being a Hispanic issue. It’s an issue of giving children, whatever nationality they are, wherever they come from, whatever part of the state they live in, the opportunity to have the best education they can have. It doesn’t apply to just Hispanics.

Jeff Berkowitz: It doesn’t apply to just Hispanics, or just African-Americans, but it is true that perhaps low-income areas are disproportionately—not because of inability, but because of maybe where they started—low-income areas are disproportionately minority, African-American and Hispanic, and the schools that don’t perform are disproportionately in low-income areas.

State Rep. Mendoza: Sure.

Jeff Berkowitz: So for that reason it might be that minorities would be more focused on school vouchers.

State Rep. Mendoza: Yeah.

Jeff Berkowitz: I may think—and others may agree--that Winnetka, and Skokie, where we tape, could benefit from school choice, but I think even more so, [that is the case in] areas where schools are not performing, kids are not learning.

State Rep. Mendoza: That’s a really good point, because if anything, we should be looking even at doing it as a pilot, because I know there have been attempts to do this as a statewide effort, and it always gets crushed.

Jeff Berkowitz: Do it in a certain area.

State Rep. Mendoza: Certain areas, yeah. Areas that are disproportionately affected by overcrowding.

Jeff Berkowitz: Might be more politically salable. So you might go back to the Legislature on this and propose a [school voucher] pilot?

State Rep. Mendoza [D-Chicago]: That’s a really good idea. Maybe in some of these Hispanic and African-American communities that are open to it and amenable. I don’t see why we shouldn’t be allowed to at least try to do what’s best for our kids.

Jeff Berkowitz: The Republicans I think tried it in when they had control of the House—before you were there—in ’95-’96. People say—for the last three decades—[Democratic House] Speaker Mike Madigan took a coffee break, two years off when he wasn’t Speaker. They [the Republicans] tried that. [A school voucher pilot] …It didn’t come off. Maybe the Democrats could try it.

State Rep. Mendoza: You know who tried that? Joe Lyons—I want to say, correct me, if I’m wrong, later and I’ll apologize to Joe if that’s not right—but I think that he’s a big supporter of school choice. I’m going to talk to him about it.

Jeff Berkowitz: Talk to the Speaker. I actually heard that he favored vouchers at one point. I haven’t heard that talk about him recently.

State Rep. Mendoza: I’ll talk to him about it. We need real vouchers, not this $500 tax credit thing….

Jeff Berkowitz: Fully funded. So when I say sixteen thousand is being spent in the city of Chicago…put the sixteen thousand in the backpack, strap the backpack on each of the three hundred seventy thousand kids that go to the Chicago Public Schools, if the kid, at the direction of the parent, goes out of the public school, to the private school, out goes the kid, out goes the backpack, out goes the sixteen thousand dollars. Not that measly five hundred dollar tax credit.

State Rep. Mendoza: That doesn’t even fix the problem. All that does is give people a five hundred dollar tax credit. But no one’s going to take their child out of a public school and put them in a private school for a [$500] tax credit. Those are people who are already sending their kids to private schools.
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Public Affairs thanks Amy Allen, one of its interns, for preparing a draft of the above partial transcript of our show with State Rep. Mendoza (D-Chicago).
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For more about Rep. Mendoza (and another partial transcript of the show with Mendoza, please 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. *************************************************************
"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.
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include the fastest five minutes on the web- a New York Times video about Obama-Berkowitz, a show with State Senator Susan Garrett(D-Lake Forest) about hot topics in Illinois state government, a show with IL 5th CD Dem nominee--Cook County Cmsr. Mike Quigley (who is now extremely likely to win the
April general election to decide who replaces Cong. Rahm Emanuel), the second fastest five minutes on the web- a segment of Bill O'Reilly with Berkowitz discussing a clip of Obama from 2002 on Blagojevich and many more shows. And, see here for very recent postings on our Youtube page.
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Better than Chicago Tonight's Friday night show: Berkowitz w/State Rep. Mendoza on Burris, Taxes, School Vouchers and Obama; Cable and Streaming

Jeff Berkowitz: The whole truth is a part of that. Did [Roland Burris] tell the whole truth?

State Rep. Susana Mendoza(D-Chicago): Absolutely not. And it was a blatant lie of omission.

Jeff Berkowitz: What did he leave out?

State Rep. Mendoza: Well, [Roland Burris] left out all the conversations that he had with the five individuals that he spoke with from the Governor’s team, as well as his agreement to go ahead and try to raise some money for the Governor on a fundraiser and he cleared that up with a later affidavit- actually not even in the affidavit, but later—that was like story No. 4, I think, that he did speak with —
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Jeff Berkowitz: …So, maybe its beyond Obama’s control?

State Rep. Mendoza: Rod Blagojevich would not—if Jesus came off the cross and asked him to resign, he wouldn’t have done it…it’s about doing right and wrong and people who are committed to not doing the right thing, they don’t care who is asking them to do the right thing, it’s beyond that, there’s no shame involved at this point.
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This week’s Chicago metro suburban edition of Public Affairs features State Rep. Susana Mendoza (D-Chicago) [See below for the Chicago metro suburban, City of Chicago, Aurora and Rockford airing schedules for the show with Rep. Mendoza].
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The "Public Affairs," show with State Rep. Susana Mendoza (D-Chicago) can be watched on your computer.
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Topics discussed on the show with Rep. Mendoza include the following: Did Senator Burris lie under oath? Was he forthright in his testimony before the Illinois legislature earlier this year? Should there have been a Special Election to replace Senator Barack Obamaa? Should there still be a special election to fill the U. S.Senate seat currently held by Senator Burris? Will Burris run for re-election? Will Senator Burris face competition in the Democratic Primary from Treasurer Giannoulias? Cong. Schakowsky? Bill Daley? Others? who would Rep. Mendoza support? Would AG Madigan make a good candidate for Governor?

Addiitional topics discusssed witth Rep. Mendoza include whether she thinks school vouchers and more charter schools should be offered to parents in Chicago? What does Rep. Mendoza think about Senator Obama's 2002 views on school vouchers and what they have been recently? What would Rep. Mendoza say to President Obama about his current opposition to school vouchers? What is the impact of teachers' unions on the introduction of school vouchers in Illinois? Should Hispanic leaders promote school vouchers for their constituents? for Illinois citizens, in general? Are non-performing schools disproportionally located in minority areas? If so, is that a rationale for school vouchers to be piloted in those areas?

Would an increase in state income and motor fuel taxes in Illinois have a deleterious impact on Illinois employment?

If the IL 4th CD seat were to become open soon, would Rep. Mendoza make that run?
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Jeff Berkowitz: As the [oath] goes, tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

State Rep. Susana Mendoza (D-Chicago): That’s correct.

Jeff Berkowitz: The whole truth is a part of that. Did [Roland Burris] tell the whole truth?

State Rep. Mendoza: Absolutely not. And it was a blatant lie of omission.

Jeff Berkowitz: What did he leave out?

State Rep. Mendoza: Well, [Roland Burris] left out all the conversations that he had with the five individuals that he spoke with from the Governor’s team, as well as his agreement to go ahead and try to raise some money for the Governor on a fundraiser and he cleared that up with a later affidavit- actually not even in the affidavit, but later—that was like story No. 4, I think, that he did speak with —

Jeff Berkowitz: The fund raising stuff seeped out in [a Burris public speech in] Peoria, right?

State Rep. Mendoza: The fundraising stuff with Rob Blagojevich [brother of Rod Blagojevich] came after the affidavit.

Jeff Berkowitz: The fundraising discussion didn’t come in the affidavit—

State Rep. Mendoza: Right. Exactly. So, this story continues to change and that’s unacceptable. I mean it may not be perjury; I’m not saying that it’s not. I’m not saying that it is- yet. I think you need three categoricals to determine perjury. I think he clearly qualifies for two of those…on the second follow-up question with Rep. Tracy where she reiterated that” the previous people you had been asked about, was there anyone besides Lon Monk that you spoke to,” and [Burris] said, “I do not recall.”

Jeff Berkowitz: He doesn’t recall.

State Rep. Mendoza: I can’t imagine that [Burris] does not recall.

Jeff Berkowitz: And, later on he recalled a few.

State Rep. Mendoza: Yes.

Jeff Berkowitz: He recalled Robert Blagojevich, the brother of Rob Blagojevich.

State Rep. Mendoza: I think he chose not to tell us [in his testimony before the Illinois Legislature] and I think that that’s a lie and I think that that should be investigated—so I stand with that statement.
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State Rep. Mendoza: …He is a former Attorney General of the State of Illihnois. If anyone should know what it means to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth- and let’s reiterate this—under oath, under oath—it’s him. So, he should be held to a higher standard.
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State Rep. Mendoza: …making this into a race issue is not productive in any way, shape or form…

Jeff Berkowitz: So, it is not about race?

State Rep. Mendoza: No, absolutely not.

Jeff Berkowitz: It’s about public corruption. And, about lying?

State Rep. Mendoza: It’s about doing right and doing wrong. And, going after the people who do wrong.
*************************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Would Burris say no to Barack Obama [if Obama asked him to resign]?

State Rep. Mendoza: I believe Burris has said no to everybody.

Jeff Berkowitz: To the President of the U. S., would [Burris] say no?
State Rep. Mendoza: I believe he would say no…

Jeff Berkowitz: …So, maybe its beyond Obama’s control?

State Rep. Mendoza: Rod Blagojevich would not—if Jesus came off the cross and asked him to resign, he wouldn’t have done it…it’s about doing right and wrong and people who are committed to not doing the right thing, they don’t care who is asking them to do the right thing, it’s beyond that, there’s no shame involved at this point.
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Jeff Berkowitz: Would you support an income tax increase in Illinois?
State Rep. Mendoza: I would look at supporting an income tax increase. Maybe something that is more on the progressive side.
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Jeff Berkowitz: Would you support an increase in the motor fuel tax?

State Rep. Mendoza: I think I would consider supporting an increase in the motor fuel tax…I hate raising taxes but we have to be realistic…
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The "Public Affairs," show with State Rep. Susana Mendoza (D-Chicago) was taped on March 8, 2009.
**************************************
Public Affairs Chicago Metro suburban airing schedule:

The show featuring State Rep. Susana Mendoza (D-Chicago) 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.
*************************************************************
Chicago and Aurora:

The "Public Affairs," show featuring State Rep. Susana Mendoza (D-Chicago) will also air throughout the City of Chicago this coming Monday night, March 30, 2009, at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21(CANTV, aka Chicago Access Network TV) and that same night on cable in Aurora and surrounding areas at 7:30 pm on ACTV-10. The Aurora station, ACTV-10, aka Aurora Community Television, Comcast Cable Ch. 10, reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery.
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Rockford:

The "Public Affairs," show featuring State Rep. Susana Mendoza (D-Chicago) , will also air throughout the City of Rockford (and in surrounding areas) a week from this coming Thursday night, April 2 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.
*******************************************
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 the fastest five minutes on the web- a New York Times video about Obama-Berkowitz, a show with State Senator Susan Garrett(D-Lake Forest) about hot topics in Illinois state government, a show with IL 5th CD Dem nominee--Cook County Cmsr. Mike Quigley (who is now extremely likely to win the
April general election to decide who replaces Cong. Rahm Emanuel), the second fastest five minutes on the web- a segment of Bill O'Reilly with Berkowitz discussing a clip of Obama from 2002 on Blagojevich and many more shows. And, see here for very recent postings on our Youtube page.
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**************************************************

Better than tomorrow night's Obama presser: Berkowitz w/Eric Zorn tonight on rise and fall of Blagojevich and Burris/ media bias; Cable and Streaming

Eric Zorn [Chicago Tribune columnist and blogger]: I think Blagojevich’s book will [tell us some new things]. I am looking forward to reading it. I don’t think it is going to tell us incriminating things about Blagojevich, but I...personally am fascinated by the story of Rod Blagojevich...here is this...working class kid who really scrapped his way into a position a couple of years ago where he was a plausible candidate for the Presidency of the United States down the line...[Watch the Zorn show here]

Jeff Berkowitz:...leveraged the family [position] into becoming State Rep. , then to Congressman, then to ...Governor, he thought maybe to becoming Vice-President—and who knows- President?

Eric Zorn: And a guy with some considerable political skills and a pretty good intellect. I mean, I think he is a smart guy.
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Eric Zorn: I mean it is a good question about Lisa Madigan and what she stands for...because oftentimes politicians... make their bones on these small areas and then they say, “look, I am so good--here.”

Jeff Berkowitz: Real quick-- media bias in Chicago, mainstream media bias, public TV. I’ve talked about it, what do you think? Am I right to say there’s just too much liberal bias at WTTW, a Chicago public TV station? Carol Marin, two times a week, fifteen minutes [each of those nights on Chicago Tonight]—we know she’s quite liberal. Nice person, good journalist, [but] ...
**************************************************************
The "Public Affairs," show featuring Eric Zorn, Chicago Tribune columnist and blogger, airs tonight in its regular cable scheduled slots throughout the City of Chicago at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21(CANTV, aka Chicago Access Network TV) and in Aurora and surrounding areas at 7:30 pm on ACTV-10. The Aurora station, ACTV-10, aka Aurora Community Television, Comcast Cable Ch. 10, reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery.
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You can also watch the show with the Chicago Tribune's Eric Zorn on your computer.
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On the City of Chicago, Aurora and Rockford edition of Public Affairs, Chicago Tribune columnist and blogger Eric Zorn debates and discusses with show host Jeff Berkowitz whether Senator Roland Burris should resign or be forced out; how Illinois ended up with Roland Burris as its U. S. Senator; inaction by Illinois Democratic leaders; how to get AG Lisa Madigan and other candidates and pols to give the public their positions and viewpoints, Media bias on Chicago Public TV, the rise and fall of Gov. Blagojevich and Roland Burris-- and much, much more. This show was taped on March 8, 2009.
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Jeff Berkowitz: ...people are coming out with books: Rod Blagojevich is coming out with a book, Elizabeth Brackett, at WTTW, is coming out with a book [soon]

Eric Zorn, Chicago Tribune columnist and blogger]: about Blagojevich.

Jeff Berkowitz: Are they going to tell us anything we don’t know?

Eric Zorn: I think Blagojevich’s book will. I am looking forward to reading it. I don’t think it is going to tell us incriminating things about Blagojevich, but I...personally am fascinated by the story of Rod Blagojevich...here is this...working class kid who really scrapped his way into a position a couple of years ago where he was a plausible candidate for the Presidency of the United States down the line...

Jeff Berkowitz:...leveraged the family [position] into becoming State Rep. , then to Congressman, then to ...Governor, he thought maybe to becoming Vice-President—and who knows- President?

Eric Zorn: And a guy with some considerable political skills and a pretty good intellect. I mean, I think he is a smart guy.

Jeff Berkowitz: Not brainy in the sense of Eric Zorn, but shrewd.

Eric Zorn: Not brainy- He’s a shrewd guy, but, of course, obviously he has an enormous downside.

Jeff Berkowitz: Okay, so he took some chances, he blew it. That’s an interesting story?

Eric Zorn: I think it’s an interesting story...

Jeff Berkowitz: Will [WTTW's] Elizabeth Brackett’s book tell us much?

Eric Zorn: You know, I don’t know what Elizabeth’s book is going to tell us. I think it is coming out too quickly. I think you need to wait until we hear more of what’s on these wiretaps. You need to wait until people like Lon Monk can actually talk—and Scofield—some of those people who have served with Blagojevich—can talk candidly and that may be after the trial.
************************************************************
Eric Zorn: ... it is a good question about [Illinois AG] Lisa Madigan and what she stands for...because oftentimes politicians... make their bones on these small areas and then they say, “look, I am so good--here.”

Jeff Berkowitz: Real quick-- media bias in Chicago, mainstream media bias, public TV. I’ve talked about it, what do you think? Am I right to say, there’s just too much liberal bias at WTTW, a Chicago public TV station? Carol Marin, two times a week, fifteen minutes [each of those nights on Chicago Tonight]—we know she’s quite liberal. Nice person, good journalist, [but] quite liberal. Phil Ponce [Chicago Tonight anchor], what is he? Liberal. Elizabeth Brackett [Chicago Tonight correspondent], liberal. Is there anybody there who provides another point of view? Or...even in interviewing—maybe flushes out some of the other points of view.

Eric Zorn: I would certainly like to see more balance in some of the panels on public radio and TV.

Jeff Berkowitz: How about moderators and questions. Look, I don’t know who I could be thinking of—who could actually provide a different way of interviewing [on WTTW].

Zorn: [Laughter].

Jeff Berkowitz: I mean, who that could be, I don’t know.

Eric Zorn: But, no, you make a good point. I am less concerned with the interviewer than I am with the panels. I think that oftentimes you will see a panel—

Jeff Berkowitz: Laura Washington, Delmarie Cobb, Cheryl Corley [three African-American female liberals] talking about Roland Burris to Eddie Arruza [on Chicago Tonight, a few weeks ago]. Could it be more unbalanced?

Eric Zorn: Yeah, I think you’re right. I think they do need to do more.

Jeff Berkowitz: Nobody knew that when [WTTW-Chicago Public TV] put that [panel] together? What were they thinking?

Eric Zorn: I don’t know.

Jeff Berkowitz: You would have said the same thing?

Eric Zorn: I would. If I am producing a show like that, yeah... I mean I think it is more interesting, I mean just from the point of view of having a panel that’s more interesting, I would want to have someone to add to those people.

Jeff Berkowitz: Race is an issue and the panelists said race is an issue [re the Roland Burris appointment]... in this case, you might want to have one white person?

Eric Zorn: Totally, totally, yeah. I mean—

Jeff Berkowitz: Maybe one conservative.

Eric Zorn: Yeah, I mean we had this panel—

Jeff Berkowitz: Maybe one male? Maybe one ideologically diverse person?

Eric Zorn: We did this panel [discussion] a week ago today, two weeks ago on the future of journalism in Chicago and the panel included fourteen journalists and nobody on the financial-business side...
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For more about the Chicago Tribune's Eric Zorn and another partial transcript of the show with Zorn, please go here
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The "Public Affairs," show, featuring the Tribune's Eric Zorn, also airs throughout the City of Rockford (and in surrounding areas) this Thursday night, March 26 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.
*******************************************
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 the fastest five minutes on the web- a New York Times video about Obama-Berkowitz, a show with State Senator Susan Garrett(D-Lake Forest) about hot topics in Illinois state government, a show with IL 5th CD Dem nominee--Cook County Cmsr. Mike Quigley (who is now extremely likely to win the
April general election to decide who replaces Cong. Rahm Emanuel), the second fastest five minutes on the web- a segment of Bill O'Reilly with Berkowitz discussing a clip of Obama from 2002 on Blagojevich and many more shows. And, see here for very recent postings on our Youtube page.
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Gov. Quinn to discuss his 340K jobs bill this morning: is his analysis flawed?

Governor Pat Quinn [D-IL] holds a presser this morning at 10:00 am at the Rush University Medical Center-- Armour Academic Center, 600 S. Paulina, Room 994 (9th Floor), Chicago, IL, aka “The future site of Chicago’s first full-service green hospital at Rush University Medical Center.”

The Governor, who replaced the impeached Democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich less than two months ago and whose political base is in Chicago, will be surrounded at the presser by his labor union allies: Dennis Gannon, President, Chicago Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO; Mike Yauger; Teamsters International Coordinator/Helmets to Hardhats; Elizabeth Belcaster; Teamsters/Helmets to Hardhats Consultant; Paul Cerpa; Executive Director, Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (HACIA); Frank Christensen, Business Manager, Local 2

The Governor’s press release advises that at the presser he will “highlight Illinois Jobs Now! a $26 billion capital plan that will support more than 340,000 jobs throughout Illinois.”

Wow, that is some jobs program. President Obama’s stimulus program, which had a price tag of about 800 billion dollars, argued it would “create” or “save,” about 3 to 4 million jobs. Now, fellow Illinois Democrat, Governor Pat Quinn comes along and says for a mere 26 billion dollars, he can “support,” more than 340,000 jobs throughout Illinois. Pretty good, the cost to Illinois taxpayers of Quinn’s program is only about 3% of President Obama’s program and yet Illinois gets about 10% of the jobs promised by President Obama.

Or does Illinois really get that number of jobs from the Quinn program?. Note that the Quinn press release talks about “supporting,” jobs and President Obama talks about “saving,” or “creating,” jobs. Are we talking apples and oranges? Or apples and apples? Who knows?

This whole schematic of Gov. Quinn and President Obama is mistaken. People like Ralph Martire, head of the misnamed Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, [“CTBA”], who buy into this type of “job creation,” look at how much is to be spent (A), assume a certain number of “jobs created,” per dollar spent(B), and then multiply A times B to get the total number of jobs created. It does seem as if this analysis and those who employ it are interested in justifying an expansion of government programs, at the expense of private sector programs.

Of course, what Martire, Governor Quinn and President Obama forget is that the dollars to be spent come from somewhere, i.e., taxpayers and purchasers of bonds. The money given up by taxpayers and bondholders causes resources to be withdrawn from industries and thus is a loss of jobs—this is the opportunity cost ignored by Martire, Quinn and Obama.

What is the net effect of Obama’s Stimulus Plan? Of Governor Quinn’s Capital Plan? To answer that question, you need, as Senator and former Presidential candidate John Kerry might put it, a more “nuanced approach,” than that used by Martire, Quinn and Obama.” You need to estimate such things as the “crowding out,” effect of selling bonds and raising taxes. Unfortunately, most of these Keynesian analyses just don’t go the extra mile, leaving their estimates inflated.

It would be especially interesting to see the underlying documentation to support Gov. Quinn’s estimated “340,000 jobs created,” by his capital plan.
We can’t make it to this morning’s presser with Governor Quinn, but we are hopeful our colleagues will raise these issues-- including documentation of the job creation numbers-- with Governor Quinn and his friends from labor.

Also, with all of those labor folks on the dais, can Ralph Martire, whose organization has a very heavy labor influence, be far behind. [See the CTBA Board, described here] and see here for more about the association between Martire's organization and Labor, as well as the association between "Republican," Jim Ryan and his good friend-- Ralph Martire.
***************************************************
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 the fastest five minutes on the web- a New York Times video about Obama-Berkowitz, a show with State Senator Susan Garrett(D-Lake Forest) about hot topics in Illinois state government, a show with IL 5th CD Dem nominee--Cook County Cmsr. Mike Quigley (who is now extremely likely to win the
April general election to decide who replaces Cong. Rahm Emanuel), the second fastest five minutes on the web- a segment of Bill O'Reilly with Berkowitz discussing a clip of Obama from 2002 on Blagojevich and many more shows. And, see here for very recent postings on our Youtube page.
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Better than Marin w/Martire and Miller: Berkowitz w/ Senator Susan Garrett on taxes, spending, deficits and other state issues; Cable and Streaming

Watch Senator Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest) debate and discuss Illinois fiscal, education, reform and other state legislative issues with show host Jeff Berkowitz. Senator Garrett served four years in the State House and she is now in her seventh year in the State Senate. Garrett is in Leadership, serving as one of the Democratic caucus whips-- and she chairs the Senate Environmental Committee.

You can watch the show on your computer now and it will air in the Chicago Metro Suburbs the week of March 30 and in Chicago, Aurora and Rockford the Week of April 6.
***************************************************
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 the fastest five minutes on the web- a New York Times video about Obama-Berkowitz, a show with State Senator Susan Garrett(D-Lake Forest) about hot topics in Illinois state government, a show with IL 5th CD Dem nominee--Cook County Cmsr. Mike Quigley (who is now extremely likely to win the
April general election to decide who replaces Cong. Rahm Emanuel), the second fastest five minutes on the web- a segment of Bill O'Reilly with Berkowitz discussing a clip of Obama from 2002 on Blagojevich and many more shows. And, see here for very recent postings on our Youtube page.
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Better than Berkowitz w/Obama: Berkowitz w/Chicago Tribune columnist/blogger Eric Zorn on Illinois' AG Lisa Madigan and more, Cable/streaming

Eric Zorn [Chiago Tribune columnist/blogger]: I’m not sure [Lisa Madigan] is saying she doesn’t know. I think she is saying “there is a time and a place for my policy in education,” but listen, when this happens, when she announces, she is going to have to make the case that she has a policy on education, on taxes, on all these issues that you’re talking about.

Jeff Berkowitz: …look, Jim Ryan didn’t have a policy on education. Somebody handed him a White Paper and he said-- now he did. He wasn’t for vouchers, he was for charter schools and latte da. I’m tough on Republicans as well as Democrats. Look, Jim Ryan did the same thing [as Lisa]. He was Attorney General for what-- eight years? He had no idea what he wanted to do as Governor and the Republicans made him the Republican nominee. And, he lost—to Blagojevich.

Eric Zorn: …But, tell me how that differs from just about anybody who runs for Governor in this state. I mean, go back thru the gubernatorial candidates.
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Indeed, life apparently does imitate art. A few days after Public Affairs taped its show with Chicago Tribune columnist/blogger Eric Zorn, Attorney General, non- gubernatorial candidate Lisa Madigan, just happened to suggest, while discussing home foreclosures, to a business crowd-- now might not be the time for an increase in the state's income tax imposed on individuals. And, to his credit, Zorn just happened to ...
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This week’s Chicago metro suburban edition of Public Affairs features Chicago Tribune columnist/blogger Eric Zorn [See below for the Chicago metro suburban, City of Chicago, Aurora and Rockford airing schedules for the show with Zorn].

Topics discussed on the show with Zorn include (A) how the Chicago mainstream media should be more aggressive in eliciting the views and positions of pols and political candidates, announced and unannounced, (B) Chicago Public TV bias, (C) how Zorn chooses what to write about, (D) how Roland Burris got to be and stay, for the time being, a U. S. Senator, (E) whether the whole Burris Senate appointment process made any sense and much, much more.
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The "Public Affairs," show with Tribune columnist/blogger Eric Zorn can be watched on your computer.
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The "Public Affairs," show with Tribune columnist Eric Zorn was taped on March 8, 2009.
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Jeff Berkowitz: …To be governor, you should be, for a long time, talking about education, and what you would do to improve it and make it more efficient; you should be talking about taxes and what you would do on that score; [Lisa Madigan] has been doing none of that and you, in the mainstream media, give her a pass.

Eric Zorn: Well, if she is not a candidate, you can cut—

Jeff Berkowitz: Come on, you’re playing into her hands—so she can be a candidate for twenty minutes and then you’re going to say, okay?

Eric Zorn: Well, Jeff, you go to more news conferences than I do. Go to—whenever she has a press availability

Jeff Berkowitz: …She doesn’t call on me when I show up; I’m lucky if I can get a notice that there is a press conference. You know how this game is played with the Chicago media. Be nice [to the pols]. Have people on [your news segment]. Give softball interviews for six minutes [See e.g., NBC’s City Desk with Carol Marin and Mary Ann Ahern—most recently it was Gov. Quinn showing Carol around the Springfield rose garden] and then you get lots of access. Ask a tough question, like I do, and it’s “sorry Jeff—we just don’t want you here.”

Eric Zorn: I’ll tell you what, I can ask Lisa’s people, I can ask Lisa about this stuff but what they will say is that has nothing to do with the business of Attorney General. When I’m running for Governor, I’ll make those points.

Jeff Berkowitz: Print that answer in your column, Eric, five times in a month and you’re going to see an answer. Print that answer that Lisa Madigan doesn’t know [what her position is]. But, if you don’t print it, you’re giving her a pass.

Eric Zorn: I’m not sure [Lisa Madigan] is saying she doesn’t know. I think she is saying “there is a time and a place for my policy in education,” but listen, when this happens, when she announces, she is going to have to make the case that she has a policy on education, on taxes, on all these issues that you’re talking about.

Jeff Berkowitz: …look, Jim Ryan didn’t have a policy on education. Somebody handed him a White Paper and he said-- now he did. He wasn’t for vouchers, he was for charter schools and latte da. I’m tough on Republicans as well as Democrats. Look, Jim Ryan-- did the same thing [as Lisa]. He was Attorney General for what-- eight years? He had no idea what he wanted to do as Governor and the Republicans made him the Republican nominee. And, he lost—to Blagojevich.

Eric Zorn: …But, tell me how that differs from just about anybody who runs for Governor in this state. I mean, go back through the gubernatorial candidates.

Jeff Berkowitz:Well, Bobby Jindal, who ran for Governor, [was a guy] who got panned all over, recently, by the mainstream media [for the so-called poor delivery of his Republican response to Obama’s speech]. [But], he actually ran for Governor of Louisiana with specific programs, specific policies—on which he is now focusing, as Governor.

Eric Zorn: Well, he was a congressman before that.

Jeff Berkowitz: So, that means Jindal was held to a higher standard? That he was going to know what he was going to do as Governor? Because he was a congressman?

Eric Zorn: Well, he has—

Jeff Berkowitz: My point is, Jindal has ideas; he has a philosophy. You may not like [his philosophy], but he has one. [For example], he likes school vouchers, he talked about them before. He helped bring Paul Vallas there to institute a school choice program. My point is that there are people with ideas. And, they articulate those ideas and then they run for office. Lisa Madigan, at this moment, has not done that.

Eric Zorn: I’m not sure—

Jeff Berkowitz: Even Bill Brady has [done that]…look, if we listened to Bill Brady, we heard his ideas [before he recently announced for Governor, again]. His idea is –“We shouldn’t raise taxes. We should say we’re not and we should find areas to cut.” Now, he may be a little short about what those specifics are about cutting—but my point is, you’re an idea guy, you should be out there…pushing candidates to give you ideas and if they don’t—you should pan them.

Eric Zorn: Although, we do talk to them about ideas, but you can’t say to someone before they declare for office—

Jeff Berkowitz: You could, you could …sit down, we’re taping this March 8, you could sit down in April for a coffee with Lisa Madigan and say, “Look, we know there is a good chance you’re going to be running for Governor…could you lay out some of your programs for me, on education, on spending [on taxes]” ...and it’s not just picking up on Lisa, people should have been doing that to [Gov.] Quinn, even as Lt. Gov. They should do that to Senator Bill Brady and they should do that to Doug Whitley, who is launching a campaign for Governor in the Republican Primary. I am just using Lisa as an example—and it is somewhat unfair—because she is so prominent and because she is known--…I am using Lisa Madigan as an example, but I think she is a good example.
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Indeed, life apparently does imitate art. A few days after Public Affairs taped its show with Chicago Tribune columnist/blogger Eric Zorn, Attorney General, non- gubernatorial candidate Lisa Madigan, just happened to suggest, while discussing home foreclosures, to a business crowd-- now might not be the time for an increase in the state's income tax imposed on individuals. And, to his credit, Zorn just happened to inquire from Attorney General Madigan’s people how a Governor Madigan might handle the state deficit, if taxes weren’t increased. And, Zorn reported all he got from Lisa's people on this matter were bromides and elusive humbug . However, it is interesting that Zorn's print assessment of Lisa's evasions [in the Chicagoland section of the Tribune's March 15 edition] is a bit harsher than Zorn's most recent blog version, dated March 16, of these issues, referenced above.
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As I said on the show, Zorn is one of the fairest journalists in Chicago. His own views may be liberal, but he seldom lets that get in the way of his reporting, assessing, opining and analyzing in a rigorously logical, objective and balanced way. Further, attesting to Zorn’s good nature and good taste, he has come back on “Public Affairs,” with some frequency, unlike some pols who implicitly tell me tough questioning is not something they signed up for when they sought office.

Lisa Madigan, for example, has declined frequent invitations to appear on Public Affairs, spanning her political career as a state senator, attorney general candidate and two term attorney general. She has, to her credit-- like her father, Speaker Madigan—granted several short interviews to the show’s host and she has also called on the show’s host at a few press conferences. On the other hand, her staff has recently removed Berkowitz from the Attorney General’s media list. Inadvertent, no doubt.
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Public Affairs Chicago Metro suburban airing schedule:

The show featuring Chicago Tribune columnist/blogger Eric Zorn 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.
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Chicago and Aurora:

The "Public Affairs," show featuring Chicago Tribune columnist/blogger Eric Zorn will also air throughout the City of Chicago this coming Monday night, March 23, 2009, at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21(CANTV, aka Chicago Access Network TV) and that same night on cable in Aurora and surrounding areas at 7:30 pm on ACTV-10. The Aurora station, ACTV-10, aka Aurora Community Television, Comcast Cable Ch. 10, reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery.
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Rockford:

The "Public Affairs," show featuring Chicago Tribune columnist/blogger Eric Zorn , will also air throughout the City of Rockford (and in surrounding areas) a week from this coming Thursday night, March 26 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.
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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. *************************************************************
"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.
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include the fastest five minutes on the web- a New York Times video about Obama-Berkowitz, a show with IL 5th CD Dem nominee--Cook County Cmsr. Mike Quigley (who is now extremely likely to win the
April general election to decide who replaces Cong. Rahm Emanuel), the second fastest five minutes on the web- a segment of Bill O'Reilly with Berkowitz discussing a clip of Obama from 2002 on Blagojevich and many more shows. And, see here for very recent postings on our Youtube page.
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Better than Stephanopoulos w/Larry Summers: Berkowitz w/ IL Guv candidate Doug Whitley on cutting healthcare, education and pension costs.

Doug Whitley [2010 Republican Primary Candidate for Illinois Governor]:… I want it fully reimbursed, I want to pay in a timely manner and I only want to pay for programs we can afford… that means we have to go back and re-evaluate every [State] program that’s currently being offered to see if any of them can be scaled back to match what we can reasonably afford.

Jeff Berkowitz: So…John Tillman, Chairman and CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute said [on this show], [currently,] in Illinois people can have family incomes four times [400% of] the poverty level …about $80,000 for a family of four—[and still get Medicaid, Tillman] wants it to be more like 100%, more like $20,000 for a family of four

Doug Whitley: Right.

Jeff Berkowitz: In other words, if your income is above $20,000 [for a family of four], no Medicaid for you, you have to figure out how to do it [on your own]. Would you go along with Mr. Tillman on that, assuming I got his position right.

Doug Whitley: Yes, I would.
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The "Public Affairs," show featuring Doug Whitley, a likely candidate for Governor in the 2010 Republican Primary, airs tonight in its regular cable scheduled slots throughout the City of Chicago at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21(CANTV, aka Chicago Access Network TV) and in Aurora and surrounding areas at 7:30 pm on ACTV-10. The Aurora station, ACTV-10, aka Aurora Community Television, Comcast Cable Ch. 10, reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery.
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You can also watch the show with gubernatorial candidate Whitley on your computer.
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For more about Whitley and the topics discussed on tonight's show, please go here.
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Rockford:

The "Public Affairs," show featuring Doug Whitley will also air throughout the City of Rockford (and in surrounding areas) this Thursday night, March 19 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.
*******************************************
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 the fastest five minutes on the web- a New York Times video about Obama-Berkowitz, a show with IL 5th CD Dem nominee--Cook County Cmsr. Mike Quigley (who is now extremely likely to win the
April general election to decide who replaces Cong. Rahm Emanuel), the second fastest five minutes on the web- a segment of Bill O'Reilly with Berkowitz discussing a clip of Obama from 2002 on Blagojevich and many more shows. And, see here for very recent postings on our Youtube page.
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Better than a Quinn-Madigan primary debate: Berkowitz joins Bruno Behrend on Roeser's radio show this evening to discuss taxes, spending & deficits

Jeff Berkowitz will join Bruno Behrend, radio personality and conservative activist, as a guest tonight on Tom Roeser’s weekly, Sunday, call-in radio show, Political Shoot-out, WLS 890 AM Radio, from 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
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You say you don't live within the WLS broadcast area? Not to worry. You can go here to listen to the program, live, on the web.[You may encounter some technical problems in signing on-- allow five minutes, or so, for following the prompts for technical difficulties, and you should be able to hear WLS live on the web] See here for Tom’s Blog which has Tom's thoughts on a great many matters, political and otherwise.

Upset with something Berkowitz said on his show [www.PublicAffairsTv.com] or the [Public Affairs YouTube.com page], something he wrote on this blog or just the way he looks? Tom Roeser’s show on Sunday night is your chance to fire back. A free fire zone, so to speak. Also, you can help shape the show and its topics by calling in with your questions and comments—312-591-8900. Obama mamas, Jindahl reformers, Mckenna critics and defenders Democrats, Republicans, 700 Billion dollar Bailout promoters, Libertarians, Independents, Communists [no collect calls, please], Palin critics, Palin groupies, Biden cheerleaders, gun grabbers, backstabbers, gun clingers, gun slingers, outside agitators and others are, of course, all welcome.

Tonight's show may touch on:

--Is Gov. Pat Quinn's constitutional officer colleague," Attorney General Lisa Madigan, getting "fired up and ready to go," to challenge Quinn for the Gov position in 2010?

--Is Joe Birkett's time for leadership in the Illinois Republican Party still viable. Will he run for Guv in the 2010 Primary? Taking on Sen. Bill Brady? Ron Gidwitz? Doug Whitley? Others? Will the base forgive Joe for joining the Topinka ticket in 2006?

--Do the Republicans in Illinois have anyone who can win the race for U. S. Senator in 2010? Cong. Kirk? State Sen. Murphy (R-Palatine)?

--Who wins a Kirk-Giannoulias U. S. Senate face-off?

-- Is Lisa Madigan an unbeatable candidate for Governor in the Dem. Primary? What philosophy, if any, does she have about government? tax cuts? education? Does she need one if she has 3.5 million dollars in cash on hand? Does AG Madigan engage in Pay to Play or do contributors give her money purely out of their devotion to "Good Govenment."

--Will there be an income tax increase in Illinois in 2009? Will Quinn own it? Defend it? Benefit from it?

--Would such a tax increase demonstrate political leadership by Quinn? Or, would it elect Lisa Madigan? Can Lisa Madigan oppose a tax increase that her father, Speaker Mike, facilitates and promotes?

--Will Senator Burris tough it out until the end of his term in 2010? Could he win a three way primay race with two strong white opponents? Giannoulias and Bill Daley? Would President Obama endorse Giannoulias in that race?

--What will it take for the Illinois Republican Party to become the party of ideas? Somebody realizing they could take some ideas from the Illinois Policy Institute? Somebody realizing they could take some ideas from the Heartland Institute? Has a candidate already started to do that?

--Who would be next in line among the Republicans to run for Governor if that's how that decision were made? Joe Birkett? Who does Bob Kjellander want there? Who does Bill Cellini want there? Is the Illinois Combine alive and well? Is the Pope Catholic?

--Will Illinois Republicans be able to unite around the new Senate Republican Leader Christine Rodogno, and the continued leadership of House Republican Leader Tom Cross, both of whom are moderates, at least on social issues.

--Can Andy McKenna, Jr. hang on as State GOP Chairman for another year? Or, did his opposition this week to SB 600 doom in with the party activists?

--Will State GOP Chairman Andy McKenna, Jr. be kicked upstairs soon? After two State general election disasters under the "Leadership of McKenna," are the money guys getting restless? Are there any money guys left in State GOP? money ladies? bag ladies?

-Is WTTW's Chicago Tonight in need of an aggressive political interviewer to boost its sagging ratings and its lack of balance? Which cable TV personality in the Chicago Metro area could meet that need?

--Did Chicago Tonight manage to do its 100th consecutive interview of a liberal book author this week? Do conservatives not do book tours in Chicago? Or, does the Chicago Tonight staff just not read the books of those authors?

--Were several Chicago Tonight journalists hospitalized this week after breaking their arms while trying to pat themselves and each other on the back for the "great job they do," of balanced reporting and interviewing?

--What examples would Chicago Tonight give of ideological diversity among their interviewers?

--Was it politically correct, politically incorrect or just plain reflective of blatant political and cultural bias for WTTW's Chicago Tonight to have a panel composed of Laura Washington, Delmarie Cobb and Cheryl Corley last month to assess Senator Burris' future

-- Was Daley responsible for Fritchey's loss in the 5th CD Dem. Primary? Was it intentional?

--Was putting Palin on the ticket a major mistake by McCain?

--Did Sarah Palin demonstrate she has insuffient knowledge of domestic and foreign policy issues to be the Republican front-runner for 2012

This reporter doesn't know the topics for tonight—they are determined by Mr. Roeser, with some incisive suggestions, no doubt, by his lovely, energetic and intelligent wife Lillian. However, an educated guess is that the questions will consist of various Illinois, national and Obama transition issues, possibly selected from the above, or below, questions, some of which are holdovers from prior episodes of "Political Shootout," or "Public Affairs."

Of course, you can call and ask any of the below questions or whatever you like. As with University of Chicago Ph. D. prelim questions in economics over the years, many of the questions on Political Shoot-out stay the same each week, only the answers change [or do they?]. And you are Free to Choose, so to speak, as this is the land of Milton Friedman, the late, great Nobel Prize Laureate in Economics from the University of Chicago [WWMFS, i.e., what would Milton Friedman say? is the question we classically ask, followed with:

--Could Paul Vallas win as a Republican candidate for Governor?
Could he get out of the Primary?

--Does the Chicago Public School system spend more than $16,000 per kid per year to try to educate kids? Did Arne Duncan tell the truth about this? Does Ron Huberman tell the truth about this? If not, why not?

--Will the Illinois Republican Party restore its brand by opposing the Quinn income tax increase? Will Cross and Radogno keep the party united on this issue?

--Is Obama's cautious nature both his strength and his weakness?

-- Did RNC Chairman Michael Steele do a good job of speaking to the DuPage County Republicans (and to the media) last month? Why didn't the Tribune and Sun-Times cover the event? Did Cong. Mark Kirk (R-Highland Park, 10th CD) do a good job of speaking at the event?

Did Steele make a mixtake when he criticised Rush Limbaugh? or, was it a mistake to apologize to Rush? Did Steele make a mistake when he spoke recently of a woman's individual choice on the abortion issue?

--Will Kjellander be indicted? Cellini convicted?

--Will U. S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald be promoted? be removed? fall off a horse?

--Will Al Sanchez be convicted? If he is, will he sing? Would that not be sweet music to Daley's ears?
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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. *************************************************************
"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 the fastest five minutes on the web- a New York Times video about Obama-Berkowitz, a show with IL 5th CD Dem nominee--Cook County Cmsr. Mike Quigley (who is now extremely likely to win the
April general election to decide who replaces Cong. Rahm Emanuel), the second fastest five minutes on the web- a segment of Bill O'Reilly with Berkowitz discussing a clip of Obama from 2002 on Blagojevich and many more shows. And, see here for very recent postings on our Youtube page.
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