From the Sun Times

Casinos and their employees would be prohibited from making campaign contributions under legislation announced Thursday by Illinois Gaming Board Chairman Aaron Jaffe.

-- I would argue you should include the horseracing guys as well. Both track and horse owners as well. That is another industry that is so heavily regulated by the state there needs to be a money wall as well.

All in All it sounds like a good idea to me. Yes I realize the horse and casino guys give to both sides. Still, it strikes me as a good idea.

OneMan

Sneed apearantly reads the papers

Sneed hears the feds may be close to blowing the lid off politicos cutting deals for hospital construction and state pension funds.

*Is it true it involves at least one clout-heavy appointee who served under the past two governors?

*Isn't it true hospital lobbyists are grabbing for the oxygen?

-- Where could she have heard this, umm. Perhaps here, where there is a story about a lobbyist who's attorney asked people to send letters to Patrick Fitzergald asking that he not indict him. Or Rich's coverage of it here or perhaps even here?

Rehashing stuff done by others, 'Natch.

OneMan

As the Trib points out Blago finally has a comment...

"My understanding is that the conflict between the auditor general and [Central Management Services] is sort of like a prize fight between accountants," said Blagojevich, who was in Washington Wednesday to promote Illinois' funding priorities. "There's not a lot of muscle there, but a lot of argument and quarrel."

Yeah that's the answer call it a battle of lightweights. In this one governor I can really care less if the they are lightweights, I care if they are intelegent. Nice smack on Accountants, then again it's hard to get into most accounting programs in this state with an ACT score of 18.

There is some more interesting stuff in the trib story.... That's coming later.

OneMan

From the Springfield Journal Register....

State Sen. Steve Rauschenberger, R-Elgin, who plans to run for governor next year, called CMS's review of procurement policies in Holland's office "an attempt to intimidate the auditor general." And state Rep. Jack Franks, D-Woodstock, who chairs the House committee on state government administration, agreed.

Ed Wynn, CMS general counsel, said it was his idea to try to learn how Holland's office handled its own contracts, which had been held up as a model.

"It wasn't for any intimidation purpose or anything like that at all," Wynn said.

-- Yeah, it wasn't for intimidation purposes. We are all buying that one

Then there is this

CMS at one point said the auditor general used a "selective" sample - nine contracts - to identify contracts in which the winning vendor allegedly helped develop information to prepare requests for proposals.

"It is highly misleading for the finding to use this improperly selective group of contracts to tout percentage statistics that would only lead a reasonable reader to conclude that most of the Department's contracts are awarded to vendors who have provided background information," CMS said. "It simply is not true."

It's been a while since OneMan had some accounting classes (1 as an undergrad and 2 or 3 accounting/finance classes as part of my masters) but I seem to recall that the very concept of an audit is not to look at everything but to look at a sample and try and see whats up.

Lets finish with this

The auditor general responded that the nine contracts were picked because all related to efficiency initiatives.

"We had no idea what we would find," Holland's office said.

"While we certainly agree the results of our testing are not favorable to CMS," the auditor general added, CMS "does not explain - short of our being psychic - how the auditors might have known which CMS contracts to select to achieve such a result."

Psychic Auditor would be a good name for a band or a nightclub act...

OneMan

What the Governor should do....

Have a press conference where he talks about the CMS thing and really take questions. Be direct and open, admit mistakes were made, say attacking the auditor was dumb.

What the Governor is going to do...
Find a hobgoblin to generate attention...
Did you know kids can play violent video games why making VOIP calls?
Point out the state drug program will now provide day after pills sent FedEx...
Perhaps he will come out with his campaign finance reform bombshell...
Perhaps he will push a major gaming thing....

Who knows, one thing is that Brad and the gang are not going to let him deal with this mess himself.

OneMan

Tom Weisner was sworn in as mayor yesterday. Good luck Tom...

OneMan

Hey, do you really want to know who OneMan is, see a photo of me here or if you want to find what my name is go here and you should have a fairly good idea.

OneMan -- Aka Henry

Got this from the State Party a few minutes ago

I don't know that it's sinister, but I don't know that it's not," says State Auditor General

CHICAGO - Citing that there was "clearly some inappropriate activity" regarding the State's Central Management Services (CMS) handling of taxpayer's dollars, the State's Auditor General released a highly critical audit this afternoon, which he in turn handed over to Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office.

According to the Associated Press, today's audit: ".concluded that CMS paid companies thousands of dollars for expenses that were not documented or were clearly improper, lacked basic paperwork explaining how contracts were awarded and gave contracts to companies that had helped write the criteria for who would get state business. It also found that the agency could not document millions of dollars in savings it claims to have achieved through programs to improve government efficiency." (Associated Press, "Auditor refers scathing CMS audit to attorney general." April 26, 2005)

"We applaud the State Auditor for his comprehensive, and exhaustive, examination of this important issue," said Andy McKenna, Chairman of the Illinois Republican Party. "Illinois taxpayers should know how their hard earned money is being spent, and those officials who mishandle that responsibility should be held accountable for their actions."

McKenna said today's audit also shows that CMS, which Gov. Blagojevich has touted as a model of government efficiency, is just another example of the Governor's disengaged leadership and mismanagement of a State agency.

During a press conference this afternoon to explain the audit's findings, Auditor General William Holland said CMS's unwillingness to acknowledge the need for improvement was his biggest concern.

"Sloppy is a very kind word," said Holland when responding to a reporter's question regarding CMS' procedures.

-- However I would suggest we keep quiet on this at the party level for a day or so and see how the democrats using this to score some points on the Governor themselves. A weakened governor may be easier to control come budget showdown time.

Here's a question that might be an interesting FOI request.

How much did CMS spend (time and money) to product the Response to the audit? Was the response created internaly or were outside resources used? What the Governors office involved?

OneMan would like to know

OneMan

From The Trib

SPRINGFIELD -- The state auditor has referred a highly critical report accusing Illinois' chief administrative agency of being careless with tax dollars to the attorney general, although he stopped short of accusing the department of criminal conduct.

CapFax and Archpundit are all over this. OneMan hopes to have some time to read the 300 Plus pages of stuff.

However here is a quick thought, if the AG goes after some folks and gets some high profile hides in the process does this set her up to run for something else? Perhaps by making it awkward for the governor?

OneMan

Also at the event on Saturday had a chance to chat with Dan Rutherford again. I have seen him at virtually every Republican event I have been at in the last three months. If you ask me that is a really smart move on his part. People get to know him, he gets to know folks.

Anyway whatever he decides to run for I think I am with him...

I wonder if this really means anything....

AURORA — When Tom Weisner is sworn in tonight as Aurora's next mayor, there will be one conspicuously empty seat during what figures to be an otherwise festive occasion.

Weisner's predecessor, Mayor David Stover, left for his new home in Florida this past weekend and won't be a part of the pomp and circumstance — a decision that's led to more than a few raised eyebrows at City Hall.

The outgoing mayor, though, says his absence shouldn't be interpreted as a snub to his successor, explaining simply that he's anxious to get on with his new life outside the public eye and didn't see the need to stick around an extra two days for a 20-minute ceremony.

Well I was at the event last night and there were no Wegman buttons in sight (sigh). I did get a feeling she is going to run however. Heard Steve speak, he did a good job, he is really starting to be my pick for governor.

Thats about it for tonight.

Via the Cross Guys Sandy Wegman is thinking of running for Lt. Governor...

Kane County Recorder of Deeds Sandy Wegman said she’s exploring a run for lieutenant governor, a consideration she’s undertaken at the request of some of her fellow Republicans.
“I’ve been approached by several prominent Republicans and they were urging me to do this,” Wegman said Friday. “We are just throwing it out there and seeing what happens.”
Wegman, 61, of Elgin, has made no formal decision yet about the 2006 race, but already lieutenant governor campaign buttons in the motif of her notable yellow recorder campaign signs that featured her picture have been seen in local GOP circles.

-- I have met Sandy a bunch of times but have never really talked to her to much so I don't have a real strong opinion here. I am kind of curious as to why she would want to be Lt. Governor, then again I am kind of curious why anyone would want to be Lt. Governor. I guess I am not enough of a Republican 'playa' in Kane County to merit a button.

I am going to the Elgin Salute Dinner tonight so I see if I see any of the yellow buttons there. Perhaps OneMan might even get one.

Time to go put the suit on in a little bit.

OneMan

Yeah, Tom it's all the darn internets fault...

DeLay pointed to Kennedy as an example of Republican members of the Supreme Court who are judicial activists.

''We've got Justice Kennedy writing decisions based upon international law, not the Constitution of the United States? That's just outrageous,'' DeLay said. ''And not only that, but he said in session that he does his own research on the Internet? That is just incredibly outrageous.''

''Has the Internet become the devil's workshop?'' said Dick Durbin of Illinois, the Senate's No. 2 Democrat. ''Is it some infernal machine now that needs to be avoided by all right-thinking Americans? What is Mr. DeLay trying to say, as he is stretching to lash out at judges who happen to disagree with his political point of view?''

I have to give Durbin or his writers credit, that is a good line. Seriously however, Tom needs to close his mouth for a while. It's the best thing he can do.

OneMan

From The Beacon News

Congressman Henry Hyde's announcement earlier this week that he will not seek re-election has touched off a political domino effect that could open the door for failed Aurora mayoral candidate Richard Irvin to make a run for the Illinois Legislature.

Interesting idea, I put the odds of it happening at less than 50% but it is a very interesting idea.

OneMan

Best Openline In a While

Figures on death

I find exception that they state the American Cancer Society knows for sure, that 53,000 nonsmoking Americans died last year. I wonder how they can prove that or is that just a bunch of babble? No question cigarettes are probably not good for you, nor is drinking gasoline.
, Aurora

-- I tried figuring this out but then my brain started to hurt...

A friend of a friend (also a friend of mine) lives in Oklahoma and worked in Oklahoma City 10 years ago when the Murrah building was attacked (he still works in Oklahoma City). When everything happened I rember thinking about Don and wondering if he was ok...

He recalls that day in his blog here. It's worth a read.

Rich over at CapitolFax has a post on a spreadsheet put together by a former Illinois professor who has a pension coming from the state university retirement system showing the impact of Blago's proposed changes.

FYI -- OneMan taught breifly at a local CC and has about $120 in his state univ. retirement system. If I never work in the system again his changes will cost me about $1,200 if I understand the sheet corectly.

OneMan

Austin Mayor has some stuff on Henry Hyde, it's a good review (from a point of view) of Henry Hyde. I also thought his explanation of the afair was a bit lame.

OneMan

Now this is freaking brilliant (it's a new kind of prescription bottle). It just amazes me that it took someone so long to think they could do this better. It will be interesting to see if this gives Target a real advantage in the marketplace.

From the Tom Peters Blog

OneMan

Today Congressman Henry Hyde, R-IL, issued the following statement with regard to his future plans in Congress:

I have decided not to run for re-election to Congress in 2006. Despite this difficult decision, I still have a job to do through 2006, including a lot of important work to accomplish as Chairman of the House International Relations Committee. The committee’s upcoming schedule includes hearings and legislation about the UN Oil for Food scandal, Arms Export Laws and U.S. public diplomacy efforts abroad, and more. The fiscal 2006 budget process also is in full swing, which means there is a lot of work to do.

-- So lets watch the fun... It will be interesting to see how much money the woman who ran against him last time raises in the next 6 months.

OneMan

The Trib had this little nugget from Oberweis..

Fiscally, he said state government, and, more particularly, education, suffers from "a spending problem, not a revenue problem."

Contending many public school administrators and some teachers are overpaid

-- Teachers are overpaid, who came up with this one Jim, the same guy who came up with Illegal alien thing?

Also keep in mind school superintendents manage huge budgets and manage lots of people. Should school administrators be paid significantly lower than folks with a similar level of responsibility in the private sector?

OneMan

OneMan

Sneed was in London....

After complaining about the costs of London (It's called an exchange rate Mike) we get this bit...

*Tea twaddle: The Ritz may be famous for its tea, but take a pass -- and head to the nearby Stafford's Hotel, which sports a better scone ... and a great American bar.

Nothing like flying for 6 hours to go to an American bar...It's a different culture, actually sample it...

OneMan

From the State Journal Register..

NORTHBROOK - U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood got a boost Saturday when a plurality of audience members at a north suburban political forum said they preferred the Peoria Republican to seven other potential GOP candidates for governor.

LaHood received 25.1 percent of the vote in a straw poll of 139 observers, organizers of the $10-a-head event said at its conclusion. Trailing LaHood closely was Aurora dairy owner Jim Oberweis, who got 24.4 percent.

The fine print: Three potential candidates - state Sen. Steve Rauschenberger of Elgin, Illinois Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka and Ron Gidwitz, former chairman of the State Board of Education - did not attend or have the chance to speak and answer questions from the crowd. They received 7.1 percent, 1.4 percent and 1 percent, respectively.

Interesting, I don't know if it means anything but interesting. I think the Judy number of 1.4 pct. is a bit surprising. that means about 2 or 3 folks supported her. Not too good for the former party chair and only GOP statewide officeholder. Reguardless of if she was at the event or not.

Also a nice way of raising at least $1,390

OneMan

Bernard Schoenburg via CapFax....

Well, if you're high in the administration of Gov. ROD BLAGOJEVICH, you apparently try to begin the wave yourself, using some highly paid state workers to try to make it look like public opinion is on your side.

In an e-mail dated Monday that was sent to eight employees of the Department of Central Management Services, BRIAN DALY, deputy chief of staff in the governor's office, spells out the "education initiative outreach effort."

"The governor recently proposed an initiative to improve education standards in the state to better prepare students for college or entering into the workforce," Daly's missive states, noting that the proposal also would increase the number of gambling positions at Illinois casinos to pay for the improvements.

"A number of people have been asked to coordinate outreach efforts in different parts of the state," Daly wrote. "I am asking each of you to do the same. Please ask friends and relatives to send a letter to the editor of their local newspaper, as well as the Sun-Times and Tribune. I've attached the letter (with some variations) that will express support for the governor's initiative. While the attached letter is a good starting point, those writing should edit the letter as they see fit. Also attached is the press release explaining the initiative in detail. Please be sure that those who send the letter have a basic understanding of the initiative.

"Please be sure that copies of letters being sent are also sent to you, and ensure that it has the person's name and mailing address on it. Also, have the person indicate which papers it was sent to and on what date it was sent. Once you receive the letter, please forward it to PAUL CAMPBELL. The organization for this effort will be much like the I-SaveRx outreach effort where you turn in enrollment to your supervisor. Do not send copies of the letters directly to me - that won't be necessary."

Let me guess if you get your people to send at least 100 letters sent you win a free pup-tent? Seriously, with the popularity of this governor in Springfield they really didn't think this would get out?

Looking forward to Rick adding this to his Astroturf stuff

The Never Eat Alone Blog has an interesting thought on Real estate agents and how they are super-connectors (people who know a lot of other people and their skills and interests).

Are Real Estate agents a source of information about people in growing areas and areas with healthly turnover. Likely. Might it make sense to take a Real estate agent out to lunch and ask them why people are moving to the area, from the area and use that to identify trends with voters before the next election.

Well kids I am going to give it a try and find out.

OneMan

Channel 2 (WBBM) just had a teaser for a 'computer animated simulation' of what the papal conclave is might look like. Why do I suspect this is not going to end up being an add-in in for the Sims..

OneMan

Will County has Carl Rove as their Lincoln Day speaker. How cool is that, I would have gotten a ticket to go see him speak. Well OneMan has progressive milenium dad duty tonight so I couldn't have gone anyway.

Sigh...

OneMan

The Beacon News is Reporting that Oberweis is running for Gov...

SPRINGFIELD — Aurora businessman and dairy owner Jim Oberweis, a two-time U.S. Senate Republican primary candidate, is hitting the campaign trail again.

This time, he is hoping to make the Executive Mansion in Springfield his home.

Oberweis, 58, will begin a three-day announcement tour Thursday, with his dairy in North Aurora one of the campaign stops. His Springfield appearance on Friday is set to take place just outside the governor's mansion

I am also happy to offer Jim some free, advice.

Education funding could be a huge issue in this one Jim, make it an issue and play up your business and education experience.

OneMan

Well blogger was nice enough to lose the first version of this so here I go again

Once again Blago is going after a problem the state can't really regulate and is not really a problem.

This time it's VOIP calls to 911.

Senate Bill 238 calls on VoIP providers to offer 911 services by September 1, 2005 or seek a one-year extension from the Illinois Commerce Commission. To receive an extension, the provider will have to prove that enacting the emergency calls service is either technologically infeasible or unduly economically burdensome. If a provider is granted an extension, then they must obtain a signed acknowledgement from each customer stating that they understand that standard 911 services are not provided.

Well for starters SB 238 deals with Electrical Utility Regulation, SB 1447 as amended seems to deal with this. It will be interesting to see if and/or when the press release is corected.

From the bill

2 (b) "Voice over Internet Protocol service" or "VoIP
3 service" means a service that provides features, functions, or
4 protocols that allow end users to originate and receive
5 Internet Protocol-enabled voice services that resemble the
6 characteristics of traditional circuit switched voice
7 telecommunications services.

I am not an attorney but as I read this the law would apply to entities like Skype as well as anyone who develops any sort of VOIP protocol or a front end to send or receive VOIP calls (features) and perhaps everyone who carries an IP packet within the state.

Besides for the fact that the FCC started looking at the 9-1-1 issue with VOIP over a year ago they also ruled outfits like Vonage are not 'Subject to the patchwork of state regulations covering telephone companies' back in November of last year. Part of the regulations that Vonage did not have to deal with that were specifically mentioned are in the following....

The Minnesota Commission in August of 2003 concluded that Vonage’s DigitalVoice was a telephone service for which Vonage was required to obtain a certificate of authority andmeet other rules and regulations governing telephone companies in the state. One requirement was that Vonage provide emergency 911 service comparable to that provided by the incumbent phone companies.
Although the Commission found that the Minnesota requirements must yield to the extent they bar entry, the Commission does not signal that Vonage may cease its efforts to develop workable solutions. The Commission looks forward to addressing public safety issues comprehensively, with the participation of our state and local colleagues, in the broader IPEnabled Services Proceeding.

For more from the FCC on 9-1-1 service for voip I would suggest this Power Point presentation.

Basically kids, for a whole host of reasons physical location identification with an IP address is impossible in most cases, if it wasn't then it would be much easier to catch hackers. It's not going to be technologically possible by September and it isn't going to be technologically possible in 18 months either. Seriously, anyone who understands how VOIP works will tell you this.

Don't they talk to people before they come up with this stuff.

So we have a proposed law that: Is something the Feds say the state can't regulate. If the state could regulate it, it places a requirement on the service that will either shut it down, or more likely drive it underground in 18 months.

Now for the crazy like a fox thing (they provide an out to the September deadline) so instead of 5 months you can have 18 months provided...

d) Any entity that provides or offers to provide VoIP
14 service may apply to the Commission for an extension of the
15 deadline imposed under subsection (c). The Commission shall
16 grant the extension if the entity:
17 (1) demonstrates that compliance with subsection (c)
18 is not technically feasible or is unduly economically
19 burdensome;
20 (2) certifies that, during the extension period
21 granted by the Commission, it will advertise and disclose
22 clearly and conspicuously to its customers and subscribers
23 that 9-1-1 service may be unavailable or inadequate when
24 using VoIP service; or
25 (3) certifies that, during the extension period
26 granted by the Commission, it will obtain a separate,
27 signed acknowledgment, in a form approved by the
28 Commission, from each of its customers and subscribers in
29 Illinois stating that the customer or subscriber is aware
30 that 9-1-1 service may be unavailable or inadequate when
31 using VoIP.
32 The term of any single extension granted pursuant to this
33 subsection (d) shall not exceed one year.

So if for some reason congress makes it ok to tax VOIP or the courts rule that it's ok to tax VOIP calls the state will have a nice handy list of everyone who provides the services in Illinois. That will make it that much easier to set up taxing of the calls.

Clever.

However it's also classic Blago. Trying to regulate something you can't regulate at the state level. So the bill will pass, it will be challenged in the courts and we the taxpayers of Illinois end up having to pay for that.

OneMan

Well I am going into Tom Peters mode and have a book recommendation go get your own copy of Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi One of the authors (the one who's perspective it is written from is blogging on the book here. Tom Peters' review of the book is here.

I read it while on vacation and re-read it twice while I was gone. It was the first non-technical book that I have read in quite some time that I took notes in the margins in. I know, you look at it and think, great another networking book what makes this one different, so different that a nerd like you not only read it but is blogging about it.


It really struck me as the first book that focused on what your relationships and do for you without being focused on how to get the most out of your relationships.

has some very basic ideas that he expands upon that when you look back at them seem really intuitive, yet you never really think of them when you think 'Networking'

-- Think of everything in your life you have gotten because of who you know (Job, donation, etc). Kind of a big list, eh. That's why relationships are important.
-- It never hurts to ask in a polite way and don't be afraid to reach up.
-- If necessary step up and help with committees, teams, etc because it can expand who you know.
-- You can connect with just about anyone when you talk about and try to improve their health, wealth or children.
-- Help connect people that you know get to know to each other.

The most basic idea of all, that seems really basic but makes perfect sense.

Help others with your contacts and connections without regard to if any of the parties will ever be able to 'pay you back'. Don't keep score.

How often do we look at situations where we can help someone with a introduction but step back because it will not do us any good. How often do we step back from asking someone for help or an introduction because of concerns on how we will ever be able to pay them back.


Again, it's an interesting read and I am going to try following his advice. We'll see how it goes.

OneMan

Well, it's been a few days now (just short of a week). So my mild sulking over the township results can come to an end.
Is Aurora now a Democrat town? Nahhh. Is Aurora seeing the signs of the democratic resurgence in the state more than other areas, yeah.

This mayors race was much more partisan than I am used to, on both sides, and the imported poll watchers were just one indication of that. It will be interesting to see if that sort of trend continues, or if we are going to see things swing back to more the way they were before.

What we need to do better.
We need to define what being a 'Republican' means, so when people come out as 'Republicans for Blah-Blah-Blah' we can call them on being 'Republican'.

We need to figure out how to get the more predominately 'Republican' areas as well as areas with more newcomers to the area to come out more and be more actively interested in local races.

There is some more stuff that we need to work on as well, I will have some more on that to come.

OneMan

A Rich over at CapitolFax points out

Dr K is going to run for Lt. Governor!

Yet again the grammar checker is not working at the Kathuria Campaign here is one example.

I was endorsed by Terry Miller when ran for the US Senate, who was elected by his peers to the position of President of the Illinois Republican County Chairman's Association from 1996-2000, and is chairing the campaign team. He is currently the Jo Daviess Republican County Chairman. Mr. Miller was awarded three bronze stars in Vietnam. Mr. Miller cited Dr. Kathuria's excellent credentials, business development success, and an opportunity to diversify the Republican Party among the reasons for his endorsement. "I'm very excited about helping Dr. Kathuria. We have a unique opportunity to nominate a very well qualified American to be our representative for the 2004 General Election. In a contest with many excellent candidates, I believe Dr. Kathuria is the best." Miller said, adding that he usually does not endorse a candidate in a contested primary.

Lets, see we change the perspective from first person to third person about half-way into the paragraph. Mr. Miller was your campaign chair for your senate run, is he also the chair for your Lt. Gov race?

Also the www.Kathuria2006.com web site it nice, but you may want to change the title that shows up in the browser from Kathuria for Senate.

I am so looking forward to this...

OneMan

Really I am not sulking because Richard lost, just was busy last night with the election and had to crunch some numbers on the results for Thursday ( I just finished) I will have something shortly.

Really

OneMan

Congratulations Tom and good luck. Looks my prediction was below relatiy.

Well it's election day, make sure you go vote.

The Beacon has a nice timeline of the Aurora mayor race.

Congratulations to Rick Klau for getting the Naperville Sun endorsement. Good luck Rick.

It's going to be an interesting day, my prediction. Tom Weisner by 2% and the Naperville school reforendum will pass by 5%.

OneMan

Some more disagreement with my view on the pharma thing. Sara, Amanda, The Inside Dope and others...

Again it was Morning-After, Some perspectives on Morning after pills can be found here the same site ( a pro-emergency birth control site) talks about how it works here.

I guess the basic question is 'is a zygote a fetus before it is implanted on the uterus wall?' Depending on how you answer this, it has a direct impact on your view on this.

Again, my argument isn't about if this is or is not an abortion, my argument is that the law shouldn't force any health care provider to provide any heath care they are uncomfortable with on a moral basis.

Otherwise what's next, will a nurse be expected to provide life-ending treatment if assisted suicide became legal in Illinois, should the nurse be subject to punishment if she refuses? What about RU-482 (or whatever it is) should a health care provider be 'forced' to write the script and or fill the script?

Is it a good idea for the state to legislate to anyone that their 'reasonable' morals be left on the shelf when they go to work?

This is what worries me, do I have a problem with emergency birth control, not really. Do I have a slippery-slope fear about the state telling a health care professional they have to ignore any moral objection they have. Yes.

Should a pharmacist or pharmacy that will not fill a legal prescription be required to send you to a facility that will. Yes.

OneMan

From the Sun Times Today

But on Friday, Blagojevich, surrounded by abortion-rights supporters from around the country, said his reading of the conscience clause was that only physicians, not pharmacists, can invoke it.

Besides for the nice touch of 'abortion-rights' supporters from around the country, nice way to work on your pro-choice credentials for a presidential run, however it does create the impression that the drugs are in fact causing an abortion..
How in the heck do you read this and think it applies to only physicians?

Dose the governor think that this part of the law covers only doctors?

(d) The license of any hospital, doctor, nurse or any other medical personnel shall not be revoked or suspended because of a refusal to permit, recommend, perform or assist in the performance of an abortion.

What in the heck does he think hospital, doctor, nurse or any other medical personnel mean? Seriously is anyone going to call him on this.

Or from another law in Illinois

It is the public policy of the State of Illinois to respect and protect the right of conscience of all persons who refuse to obtain, receive or accept, or who are engaged in, the delivery of, arrangement for, or payment of health care services and medical care whether acting individually, corporately, or in association with other persons; and to prohibit all forms of discrimination, disqualification, coercion, disability or imposition of liability upon such persons or entities by reason of their refusing to act contrary to their conscience or conscientious convictions in refusing to obtain, receive, accept, deliver, pay for, or arrange for the payment of health care services and medical care.

Again, where do you get only doctors from this?

From the same law

(745 ILCS 70/5) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 5305)
Sec. 5. Discrimination. It shall be unlawful for any person, public or private institution, or public official to discriminate against any person in any manner, including but not limited to, licensing, hiring, promotion, transfer, staff appointment, hospital, managed care entity, or any other privileges, because of such person's conscientious refusal to receive, obtain, accept, perform, assist, counsel, suggest, recommend, refer or participate in any way in any particular form of health care services contrary to his or her conscience.

So reading that, it seems to me (again not an attorney) that

The compalint against the pharmacy is here

For a different viewpoint go here.

Just got back from vacation, that's why the blogging was limited. Lots of political mail and phonecalls to still listen to. Comments shortly.

OneMan

Been traveling a bit, so that's why the posts are light. Anyway back to full activity later today.

Question: I read the story about the Obama rally and the Republicans that were there, I personally like the two Republicans mentioned (I know them). I suspect there will be little 'republican backlash' for their support of Tom, however I wonder if a Democrat stood up for Richard if they would also avoid any backlash?

Just asking. Looking forward to reading my mail.

OneMan