Month: November 2012

White House report on Obama, Romney lunch

Posted by dwilson – November 29, 2012

News junkies will have plenty of sources for coverage of the lunch between President Barack Obama and GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney.

Rather than rehash the stories and the comments coming from on-air commentators, here’s a copy of the release from the office of the White House press secretary.

“This afternoon, President Obama and Governor Romney visited for an hour over lunch in the Private Dining Room adjacent to the Oval Office.

Governor Romney congratulated the President for the success of his campaign and wished him well over the coming four years. The focus of their discussion was on America’s leadership in the world and the importance of maintaining that leadership position in the future.

They pledged to stay in touch, particularly if opportunities to work together on shared interests arise in the future.

Their lunch menu included white turkey chili and Southwestern grilled chicken salad.”

It sounds like a very civil affair, right down to the use of turkey in the chili and grilled chicken in the salad, so as not to favor either side in the poultry wars.

Corporate tax disclosure approved in Ill. Senate

Posted by dwilson – November 28, 2012

Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, had the votes he needed in the Illinois Senate Wednesday to pass a bill that calls for publicly traded corporations to list tax information.

“By increasing the tax transparency of publicly traded corporations, policy makers can make informed decisions that promote economic growth while increasing public accountability for tax dollars,” Cullerton said.

“I look forward to working with the business community and the members of the Illinois House to advance these goals.”

That second sentence in Cullerton’s release probably drew either laughter or groans from the state’s business leaders. The “Illinois Watchdog Update” sent out a release on Tuesday hinting that the bill is “a tax grab dressed up as government reform” and “presumes corporate wrongdoing.”

Sen. Sam McCann, R-Carlinville, said the legislative attempt to blame the state’s financial problems on corporations that receive tax breaks reminds him of the language impeached Gov. Rod Blagojevich used when he sought the gross receipts tax to collect from a business community he labeled as greedy.

The House had not taken up Cullerton’s bill by mid-afternoon on Wednesday.

Rep. Jim Watson takes different job

Posted by dwilson – November 19, 2012

Rep. Jim Watson, R-Jacksonville, will resign his seat in the Illinois House effective Dec. 3, when he becomes executive director of the Illinois Petroleum Council.

Watson, 47, has held the 47th District seat since December 2001, as a replacement for Tom Ryder. Watson recently won the 100th District seat, running unopposed. His replacement will be named by county republican chairmen with Morgan County holding the largest weighted vote on the successor.

Watson told the Alton Telegraph that although he never intended for his time in the House to become a career, giving it up was “a very difficult decision.”

Two of Watson’s greatest regrets are, the loss of the Jacksonville Development Center, which was cut by Gov. Pat Quinn over regional objections, and the partisan bickering that makes governing difficult.”