A Chicago Blog

So I’ve been experimenting with this powerful web product called Caspio. It allows a novice user to create interactive databases without any programming knowledge. Some database familiarity is still required, but over all, this product tremendously simplifies the process of putting data online. I haven’t found their pricing info yet. Let’s hope it isn’t too [...]

From Crains:
ASK Public Strategies, a firm headed by Obama campaign senior consultant David Axelrod, and the Chicago office of Hill & Knowlton will head a projected $2-million to $3-million media and advertising campaign planned by the Alliance to Protect the Illinois Constitution.
“We haven’t signed the contract, but they’re going to be the choice,” said Greg [...]

Carol Marin today chimes in about the Constitutional Convention. She notes, as any good journalist would, the chances of getting a Constitutional Convention in Illinois are slim. But she adds a glimmer of hope:
Meanwhile, citizens, fed up with being bystanders in this car wreck of a government, are stuck with skyrocketing gas prices, a faltering [...]

Another notch in Blagojevich’s belt.

The Chicago Tribune has an article this morning discussing the rather frightening fact that Rod Blagojevich will appoint Obama’s replacement. The article also points out the even more frightening prospect that Gov. Rod could appoint himself. Yikes!
[Hat tip: Rich Miller]

And endorses the Metro Planning Council’s suggesting that we rank spending priorities:
With a little more than a week until the General Assembly’s scheduled adjournment, the prospects for a capital bill this spring aren’t good, especially since the current proposal relies heavily on money from two iffy sources: a partial lease of the state lottery [...]

I didn’t realize Rich Miller was pro-Con Con! That’s terrific. He criticized Dawn Clark Netsch yesterday for being afraid of the debate. Kudos.
For those of you not up to speed on Illinois’ Constitutional Convention, check out the Illinois Citizens Coalition and Illinois Issues.

Another year older and what do you get. The Chicago Tribune reports this morning that the Governor’s people are preparing to fight over a $750 million budget gap. The chart below shows that we are (according to Dan Hynes records) off pace for the year, by 0.7%.
The Trib calls this a “shortfall.” Isn’t that one [...]

Regardless whether a gas-tax holiday will really do anyone any good, Obama’s failure to anticipate and triangulate the issue is exposing a major weakness of his. Yes, sure. I agree that gas-tax holidays are more pandering than anything else. There are probably better ways to deal with the energy problems. But this is not really [...]

If this were an isolated occurrance I probably wouldn’t be concerned much about it. But the fact is, this is as close to the rule as it is the exception.
Illinois Issues reports:
A controversial plan to shut down part of the Stateville prison in Joliet became just a bit more contentious after a packed meeting at [...]