09 Dec 2003

Illinois Governor Avoids Looking Bad - Again - on ComEd Bill

By Administrator

Without a doubt, it was way past time that a giant corporation was rebuffed
in Springfield.

Every year, at least one of the big boys hires every available contract lobbyist, signs up a PR firm, cuts a deal with some pliable and influential third parties, and descends on the Illinois statehouse with a clever proposal in hand.

25 Nov 2003

Energy Bill Runs into Trouble with Illinois Speaker

By Rich Miller

Up until last Tuesday afternoon, it looked like Commonwealth Edison had it made in the shade.

House Speaker Michael Madigan had signed off on what was thought to be the final draft of ComEd's bill to help it purchase downstate electric company Illinois Power.

18 Nov 2003

ComEd Reveals Its Endgame, and Consumers Likely Lose

By Rich Miller

The big boys who really run Springfield are at it again. Back in August, Exelon Chairperson John Rowe delivered a very frank speech to his shareholders. Exelon is the parent company of Chicago-based Commonwealth Edison, and Rowe explained how he planned to increase his company's profitability.

11 Nov 2003

Illinois Governor Has Only Himself to Blame for Veto Overrides

By Rich Miller

You've probably heard that Governor Rod Blagojevich is fighting with the Illinois Legislature again.

This time, he's claiming the General Assembly is on a "spending orgy" and tossing around taxpayer money like "drunken sailors" who have "run amok.

04 Nov 2003

New Image for Utility Doesn't Stop Questions

By Administrator

Commonwealth Edison has come a long way from the bad old days when it was constantly trying to find underhanded, sneaky ways to bill consumers for its overpriced, and then-unfinished, nuclear-power plants. ComEd's service territory was infamous for having the highest electric rates in the Midwest, and the third highest rates in the country.

28 Oct 2003

Illinois Governor Can't Always Avoid Tough Battles

By Administrator

Those of us who live or work in Chicago high-rises have been a little freaked out lately since six people died in what at first appeared to be a routine fire at a Loop office building on October 17.

From the live television coverage, it looked like the firefighters did a good job of promptly extinguishing the blaze.

21 Oct 2003

Senate Race Could Change the Power Dynamics of Illinois Republican Party

By Rich Miller

Addison Township was once king of the state's Republican hill.

The Illinois Senate President (Pate Philip), House Republican Leader (Lee Daniels), and state attorney general (Jim Ryan) all lived in the eastern DuPage County township.

14 Oct 2003

Democrats Cross the Illinois Speaker at Their Peril

By Rich Miller

A fascinating month-long political standoff might finally be coming to a close in Kankakee County.

The trouble started when Governor Rod Blagojevich promised state Representative Phil Novak (D-Bradley) a seat on the Illinois Pollution Control Board.

07 Oct 2003

What I Did on My Middle-Eastern Vacation

By Rich Miller

I can only take so much of Illinois politics before I begin to go a little crazy.

Don't get me wrong, Illinois politics is my life. I truly enjoy my job. But, eventually, the bickering, the corruption, the pettiness start to infect my soul and I gotta stop for a while.

23 Sep 2003

Stop Mowing the Ditches

By Rich Miller

As I've told you before, I spent much of my childhood on a farm in rural Iroquois County. One of the chores I thought was completely pointless back then was mowing the ditches.

It was dangerous work.

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