Thursday, May 11, 2006
Doug Whitley Analyzes Rod Blagojevich's National Ambitions
A major plank of his first campaign was to one-up a deadlocked Congress and raise the minimum wage in Illinois. In 2003, Illinois became the only state between the Appalachian and Rocky Mountains with a minimum wage requirement exceeding the $5.15 national level. Today, Illinois’ minimum wage is $6.50. If re-elected the Governor intends to raise it to $7.50. Without defending the federal wage level, there are good economic reasons for Illinois not to be out of line with national and regional standards where business cost drivers are concerned. This should be of great concern for leaders of a state where job growth is severely lagging the national experience.
In 2004, the Governor supported importing drugs from foreign sources to provide lower cost drugs to Americans. He defied the federal government by leading a campaign for importation and recruited other government entities to join a drug-purchasing consortium. Ultimately, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration stifled the scheme by pointing out it was illegal and refusing to give Illinois a waiver. Congress subsequently adopted a prescription drug plan for Medicare recipients and deflated the issue.
Next, the Governor reacted to the short-lived national scare of a flu vaccine shortage. At the Governor’s direction, Illinois purchased $2.6 million worth of vaccine from a foreign manufacturer. Illinois taxpayers paid the bill, but the vaccine never arrived in the U.S. and was eventually donated for use overseas. The feared vaccine shortage never materialized.
Last year Governor Blagojevich sought the national spotlight again by attacking video game makers and retailers over violent and sexual content in video games available to the nation’s youth. He prevailed upon the General Assembly for restrictive legislation despite near certainty federal courts would rule his Illinois law unconstitutional. The Entertainment Software Association was forced to mount an expensive lawsuit. After the Seventh Circuit Court predictably overturned the statute the gaming industry now seeks $645,000 from state taxpayers to reimburse their legal fees. It is unknown how much it cost taxpayers for the Attorney General to defend bad law.
Following the controversy in Washington over federal funding for stem cell research Governor Blagojevich did not hesitate to get on the bandwagon for state funding of medical research. While, the California legislature and Governor Schwarzenegger set a high bar for others to follow Governor Blagojevich was quick to do so. He out maneuvered Comptroller Dan Hynes (Who had already established himself as the political champion of stem cell research in Illinois.) by simply exercising spending authority secured by clandestine language inserted in the budget bill. The secretive maneuver let the Governor avoid the legislative, political and ethical controversies that plagued President Bush. The Governor’s approach also demonstrated his contempt for a collaborative legislative budget process and cemented further distrust on the part of legislators who believe state spending policy is fundamentally their responsibility.
Recently, the Governor chose to champion higher standards for mercury emissions than required by new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rules established for the nation’s coal burning electric generating plants just last year. The Illinois standards, if adopted, will exceed national policy and again demonstrate our Governor’s eagerness to trump Washington. Unfortunately, the practical affect of this politically popular move will result in minuscule improvement in Illinois’ air quality, while adversely impacting two of the State’s most important quality job creating industries. One must also be concerned about how the Governor’s rules will affect the much-anticipated Illinois investments the coal and electric power generation industries have had on the drawing boards. The Governor’s rules threaten the economic viability of Illinois coal fired plants and could result in price increases for electric energy users.
Governor Blagojevich’s highest priorities have been well publicized initiatives focusing on children and health care.
Governor Blagojevich quickly grasped the significance of national reports that revealed concerns for childhood obesity and diabetes. His solution was to take on the food industry by attempting to ban their products from Illinois public schools. When his legislative initiative failed, the Governor pressed his appointed State Board of Education to do the deed by administrative fiat. The state board’s effort to mandate food policies for locally elected school boards was also recently stopped by legislative action.
While not the first Illinois Governor to recognize early childhood education as a worthy program with proven results, he has significantly expanded funding and access. His most ambitious proposal has set the state on a course towards government-funded universal pre-school. Georgia and Oklahoma are the only states providing universal pre-school funding for all four year olds and above. Governor Blagojevich envisions extending the program to all three year olds during his second term. It is a move that could thrust the Governor into the role of national pacesetter.
In three years the Governor’s approach to health care has been to increase the role of government by opening up Medicaid to everyone. He has expanded eligibility to more people, increase benefit coverage and taken the pre-existing government subsidized insurance programs called “FamilyCare” and “KidCare” to a new level.
Universal health care for all children will likely be Governor Blagojevich’s legacy program. His “AllKids” program has an appeal that could capture the attention of a nation desperate to provide affordable health care for the uninsured. His record positions him as a leader of the parade of advocates from across the county who pursue ever expanding government-funded healthcare programs to satisfy the needs of everyone.
While Governor Blagojevich’s initiatives have proven shortcomings, he has nevertheless pursued politically attractive issues, challenged the Republican dominated federal government, and gained attention from the Hollywood and Washington crowds. If voters are not weary of the photo-op Governor and his expensive initiatives he will be re-elected. Then, as a highly successful fundraiser from a solidly “blue” state, it should not be surprising if the Blagojevich camp has a field operation in Iowa by this time next year.
To return to McHenry County Blog, click here.
In 2004, the Governor supported importing drugs from foreign sources to provide lower cost drugs to Americans. He defied the federal government by leading a campaign for importation and recruited other government entities to join a drug-purchasing consortium. Ultimately, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration stifled the scheme by pointing out it was illegal and refusing to give Illinois a waiver. Congress subsequently adopted a prescription drug plan for Medicare recipients and deflated the issue.
Next, the Governor reacted to the short-lived national scare of a flu vaccine shortage. At the Governor’s direction, Illinois purchased $2.6 million worth of vaccine from a foreign manufacturer. Illinois taxpayers paid the bill, but the vaccine never arrived in the U.S. and was eventually donated for use overseas. The feared vaccine shortage never materialized.
Last year Governor Blagojevich sought the national spotlight again by attacking video game makers and retailers over violent and sexual content in video games available to the nation’s youth. He prevailed upon the General Assembly for restrictive legislation despite near certainty federal courts would rule his Illinois law unconstitutional. The Entertainment Software Association was forced to mount an expensive lawsuit. After the Seventh Circuit Court predictably overturned the statute the gaming industry now seeks $645,000 from state taxpayers to reimburse their legal fees. It is unknown how much it cost taxpayers for the Attorney General to defend bad law.
Following the controversy in Washington over federal funding for stem cell research Governor Blagojevich did not hesitate to get on the bandwagon for state funding of medical research. While, the California legislature and Governor Schwarzenegger set a high bar for others to follow Governor Blagojevich was quick to do so. He out maneuvered Comptroller Dan Hynes (Who had already established himself as the political champion of stem cell research in Illinois.) by simply exercising spending authority secured by clandestine language inserted in the budget bill. The secretive maneuver let the Governor avoid the legislative, political and ethical controversies that plagued President Bush. The Governor’s approach also demonstrated his contempt for a collaborative legislative budget process and cemented further distrust on the part of legislators who believe state spending policy is fundamentally their responsibility.
Recently, the Governor chose to champion higher standards for mercury emissions than required by new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rules established for the nation’s coal burning electric generating plants just last year. The Illinois standards, if adopted, will exceed national policy and again demonstrate our Governor’s eagerness to trump Washington. Unfortunately, the practical affect of this politically popular move will result in minuscule improvement in Illinois’ air quality, while adversely impacting two of the State’s most important quality job creating industries. One must also be concerned about how the Governor’s rules will affect the much-anticipated Illinois investments the coal and electric power generation industries have had on the drawing boards. The Governor’s rules threaten the economic viability of Illinois coal fired plants and could result in price increases for electric energy users.
Governor Blagojevich’s highest priorities have been well publicized initiatives focusing on children and health care.
Governor Blagojevich quickly grasped the significance of national reports that revealed concerns for childhood obesity and diabetes. His solution was to take on the food industry by attempting to ban their products from Illinois public schools. When his legislative initiative failed, the Governor pressed his appointed State Board of Education to do the deed by administrative fiat. The state board’s effort to mandate food policies for locally elected school boards was also recently stopped by legislative action.
While not the first Illinois Governor to recognize early childhood education as a worthy program with proven results, he has significantly expanded funding and access. His most ambitious proposal has set the state on a course towards government-funded universal pre-school. Georgia and Oklahoma are the only states providing universal pre-school funding for all four year olds and above. Governor Blagojevich envisions extending the program to all three year olds during his second term. It is a move that could thrust the Governor into the role of national pacesetter.
In three years the Governor’s approach to health care has been to increase the role of government by opening up Medicaid to everyone. He has expanded eligibility to more people, increase benefit coverage and taken the pre-existing government subsidized insurance programs called “FamilyCare” and “KidCare” to a new level.
Universal health care for all children will likely be Governor Blagojevich’s legacy program. His “AllKids” program has an appeal that could capture the attention of a nation desperate to provide affordable health care for the uninsured. His record positions him as a leader of the parade of advocates from across the county who pursue ever expanding government-funded healthcare programs to satisfy the needs of everyone.
While Governor Blagojevich’s initiatives have proven shortcomings, he has nevertheless pursued politically attractive issues, challenged the Republican dominated federal government, and gained attention from the Hollywood and Washington crowds. If voters are not weary of the photo-op Governor and his expensive initiatives he will be re-elected. Then, as a highly successful fundraiser from a solidly “blue” state, it should not be surprising if the Blagojevich camp has a field operation in Iowa by this time next year.
To return to McHenry County Blog, click here.
# posted by Cal Skinner : 6:19 AM
