Progress Illinois

McCain Struggles To Address Economic Crisis
Fostered by his own admissions as recently as last year that economics is not his forte, John McCain has struggled to adress the nation's economic woes with the right tone or substance. On Monday, in the wake of the recent Wall Street tumult, McCain repeated a phrase he had used many times before -- that he believed the fundamentals of the economy were “strong.” Yesterday, he backpedaled, calling the economic situation “a total crisis” and denouncing “greed” in the financial industries. Today, he put out a new ad with the tag line: "I've taken on tougher guys than Wall Street."

Obama Looks To Capitalize On Economic Woes
Not surprisingly, Barack Obama has looked to shift the focus of the campaign to the economy, calling for greater regulation and stronger oversight in the financial sector after the collapse of multiple Wall Street firms. He is also using the nation’s worsening economy to draw distinctions between him and his Republican rival. "Let’s be clear,” Obama said in Colorado yesterday. “What we’ve seen the last few days is nothing less than the final verdict on an economic philosophy that has completely failed."  This morning, the Obama campaign released a two-minute ad on the economy that they plan to run in battleground states.

House Passes Bill To Expand Drilling, Fund Renewables
The House passed a package of energy initiatives yesterday, including measures that would finance alternative energy development and allow offshore oil drilling as close as 50 miles off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. The vote fell along party lines, with Republicans rejecting the bill because it would prohibit exploration of oil reserves closer to the coasts and in the Gulf of Mexico. In the Senate, the legislation will compete with three alternative proposals, none of which are likely to pass the 60 vote threshold.

State Park Closings Pushed Back Four Weeks
Due to budget cuts, more than a dozen state parks were slated to close November 1, despite uproar from local residents and outdoor enthusiasts. But yesterday, state officials announced that the closings had been put off until the end of November, citing union issues.

State Panel Rejects Pontiac Prison Closing Plan
An independent commission of state lawmakers has rejected the Department of Correction's proposal to close Pontiac Correctional Center to save money in next year's budget. The DOC wants to transfer most of its 1,600 inmates to the vacant, $140 million Thomson facility near the Iowa border by January. The final decision rests with Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who is not obligated to follow the commission's vote. 

Attorney Who Defended County Now County Watchdog
By a vote of 10-3, Cook County commissioners approved the appointment of Assistant State's Attorney Patrick Blanchard to be the county's inspector general. But some are concerned that Blanchard -- who has previously defended the County against allegations of illegal patronage -- will not act as an independent watchdog over county political hiring and other illegal activity. Commissioners who supported Blanchard said he was the best candidate selected out of nationwide search.