Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Better than Carol Marin w/Stroger:Berkowitz w/ Senator Hendon on School Vouchers, Deficits, Taxes, Jobs, Guns, Abortion and more; Cable and Streaming

**************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: If that’s the case—[that the CPS now spends 16K per kid per year and under vouchers, that’s the amount that parents would have available to spend on their kid’s education], would you like to give your parents [in your district] the $16,000 voucher and say, go to the school of your choice—there would be private schools that would arise—

State Senator Rickey Hendon (D-Chicago): If it was $16,000, yes, but— [Watch Senator Hendon here]
********************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Teachers' unions don’t want it [the cap on charter schools] lifted. Are you afraid to stand up to the teachers' unions?

State Senator Rickey Hendon: I’m not afraid to stand up to you, let alone the teachers' unions.
***************************************
This week’s Chicago metro suburban edition of Public Affairs features State Senator Rickey Hendon (D-Chicago) [See below for the Chicago metro suburban, City of Chicago, Aurora and Rockford airing schedules for the show with Rep. Hendon]. Watch Hendon debate and discuss State budget, unemployment, tax, spending, deficit, education and school choice, healthcare, pension, SB600, gays, guns, God and abortion issues with show host and executive legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz.[A more detailed description of the show's topics is included, below]
**********************************************
The "Public Affairs," show with Senator Hendon can be watched on your computer.
******************************************
--Does State Senator Hendon support fully funded school vouchers for his District?

Jeff Berkowitz: If that’s the case—[that the CPS now spends 16K per kid per year and under vouchers, that’s the amount that parents would have available to spend on their kid’s education], would you like to give your parents [in your district] the $16,000 voucher and say, go to the school of your choice—there would be private schools that would arise—

State Senator Rickey Hendon (D-Chicago): If it was $16,000, yes, but

Jeff Berkowitz: Would you do that?

State Senator Rickey Hendon: But, my number [of what I think CPS is spending per kid per year] is much lower than that—

Jeff Berkowitz: If we could prove that to you, then you would do it. Okay?

State Senator Rickey Hendon: Let me make my point—because we don’t want parents to have to pay the balance, who can’t afford to pay the balance. So, if the private school is, let’s just throw a number out there, $8,000, and you are only getting $6,000 [for the school voucher].

Jeff Berkowitz: There are a lot of private schools [in that tuition range] and that’s where it is now [often], private scholarships give those folks [that level of aid].

State Senator Rickey Hendon: I have more charter schools than any other district and I believe in them.

Jeff Berkowitz: If you could do it, you’d consider school vouchers?

State Senator Rickey Hendon: I’d have to look at it very hard
.

Jeff Berkowitz: No, no, no. So, now you’re backing off.

State Senator Rickey Hendon: I’d have to look at it very hard.

Jeff Berkowitz: Charter schools, there’s a limit.

State Senator Rickey Hendon: I’m not going to be on your show and lie. That wouldn’t be good. I’m going to tell the truth. I’d have to look at vouchers very hard but I have more charter schools than anyone else.

--Does Senator Hendon want to lift the cap on charter schools? Increase the cap? Does he believe in charter schools?

Jeff Berkowitz: But, the state sets a limit in Chicago. There can only be thirty charter schools [in Chicago].

State Senator Rickey Hendon: I’m for lifting it.

Jeff Berkowitz: Lift the limit completely.

State Senator Rickey Hendon: Well, I’m not going to just throw any number out there.

Jeff Berkowitz: Why. Just lift it. Why have the state legislature control the number of charter schools?

State Senator Rickey Hendon: I think there should be a number on it. But, right now, I have more—

--Is Hollywood Hendon afraid of the teachers’ unions?

Jeff Berkowitz: Teachers unions don’t want it [lifted]. Are you afraid to stand up to the teachers' unions?

State Senator Rickey Hendon: I’m not afraid to stand up to you, let alone the teachers' unions.

Jeff Berkowitz: Forget me, I’m not—

State Senator Rickey Hendon: You’re much more powerful than the teachers' unions.

Jeff Berkowitz: No, the teachers' unions are much more powerful, you know that.

State Senator Rickey Hendon: Public opinion and those of you who have access to the media are more important than any particular union or organization.

--Should Chicago’s residents be allowed to possess guns in their homes?

Jeff Berkowitz: Guns. You have a lot of unsafe areas. A lot of people in your district I’m sure would like to be able to [own handguns]—

State Senator Rickey Hendon: We have to get them off the streets—

Jeff Berkowitz: No, but they would like to have a handgun in their home to protect themselves.

State Senator Rickey Hendon: No problem with me. I’m on the west side [of Chicago]. I’d be a fool to say-

Jeff Berkowitz: Tell the Mayor that he should change the law so that… the people you represent...in your District, should be able to own a handgun to protect themselves, you agree? [ Watch Berkowitz discuss Chicago's Handgun ban with Mayor Daley here ].

State Senator Rickey Hendon: All the way, absolutely.

Jeff Berkowitz: You told the Mayor that?

State Senator Rickey Hendon: Absolutely, and I’m telling all your people that, right now, all your viewers.

Jeff Berkowitz: Because, he has a guy to protect him. [Mayor Daley’s] got an armed guard.

State Senator Rickey Hendon (D-Chicago): I’m not the Mayor’s guy. You know I’m independent of Mayor Daley. [But,]I can work with him.
**************************************************
Topics discussed and debated on the show with Senator Hendon include the following:

How did Gov. Quinn do in his first 65 days? President Obama in his first 75 days. Is there a 4 billion dollar deficit in Illinois’ 08-09 fiscal year? 8 billion dollar deficit for 09-10? Does Hendon support an increase in the individual income tax? The corporate income tax? Will there be a capital plan; should the capital plan be deferred until next year’s budget is resolved. What would it take for Rep. Hendon to support the Quinn income tax increase? Modify the exemptions so that only a family of four with an income of more than 200K will pay a higher tax? Are there the votes to support such an income tax increase? Are the state Senate Republicans right in their contention that Medicaid managed care and other reforms can save two to four billion dollars a year for the State? Does Hendon support proposed reductions in state employee pension benefits for future state employees?

Would an increase in the corporate income tax in Illinois cause an increase in unemployment? Is the unemployment rate in Illinois already higher than the national average? If yes, why is that the case? Is the unemployment rate among Illinois’ African-American community much higher than that for whites? If yes, why is that the case?

Should Illinois Republicans be able to elect their State Central Committee members directly (SB600), or should the township and ward Republican committeemen be permitted to make those selections? Was Democrat Hendon involved in that legislation, which recently passed the Senate? Why?

Is a Quinn-Hendon ticket a possibility? Is the Democratic party “In-crowd,” supporting Giannoulias, Madigan and Hynes for U. S. Senate, Governor and Attorney General Democratic party nominees, respectively?

What are the most important things for Rep. Hendon to focus on for his District? Should we lift the state legislative caps on the number of charter schools in Chicago (30), the suburbs (15) and downstate(15)? Should we have school vouchers? Should people in Chicago be allowed to own and possess handguns in their own homes?

Is it time for someone not named Daley to be Mayor of Chicago? Who should the Dems put forward as their U.S. Senate nominee in 2010? Their nominee for Cook County Board President? Is the African-American community more conservative on the Gays, Guns, God and Abortion issue than their elected representatives? If yes, why is that? Is Rep. Hendon more conservative than people think? Is Rep. Hendon in favor of same sex marriage? Is he 1000 % Pro Choice?
*******************************
The "Public Affairs," show with State Senator Hendon was taped on April 5, 2009.
**************************************
Public Affairs Chicago Metro suburban airing schedule:

The show featuring State Senator Rickey Hendon (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 Senator Rickey Hendon (D-Chicago) will also air throughout the City of Chicago this coming Monday night, April 27 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.
*************************************************
Rockford:

The "Public Affairs," show featuring State Senator Rickey Hendon (D-Chicago) , will also air throughout the City of Rockford (and in surrounding areas) a week from this coming Thursday night, April 30 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 Rep. Rickey Hendon (D-Chicago) about hot state legislative issues and politics, a show with Bill Brady, State Senator and 2010 Republican Primary candidate for Governor, a show with State Senator and likely 2010 10th CD candidate Susan Garrett(D-Lake Forest), a show with State Rep. Mark Beaubien (R-Wauconda), a show with State Rep. Susana Mendoza (D-Chicago), a show with then IL 5th CD Dem nominee--Cook County Cmsr. Mike Quigley (who recently won the April general election to replace 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.
**********************************************************************