Auto Giants Plea For Congressional Aid
Seeking
mercy before Congress, executives from the Big Three automakers
requested substantially more in loans yesterday than the $25 billion
they had initially hoped to get two weeks ago. They also warned
that assistance was needed immediately to survive the next year, thanks
to tight credit conditions and the lowest car sales in a quarter
century. In return, the companies promised to slash costs, restructure
their budgets, and increase production of fuel-efficient vehicles.
Republican Chambliss Survives Georgia Run-Off
The
firewall against a Democratic super-majority has been erected. Georgia
voters returned Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss to office by a
convincing margin in a runoff election yesterday, ending the Democrat’s
dream of a 60-seat filibuster-proof majority in the U.S. Senate. With
96 percent of precincts reporting, Chambliss held a 57.5-42.5 percent
lead over challenger Jim Martin, who had forced a runoff last month by
keeping Chambliss from attaining 50 percent of the vote, a requirement
for office under Georgia law.
Kirk Rails Against Clemency Plea
Add
Rep. Mark Kirk to the list of those leery of granting former Republican
Gov. George Ryan clemency. On Tuesday, the Republican congressman sent
a letter to the White House suggesting President George Bush should
leave Ryan in federal prison. “If we are to stop corruption at the
highest levels and restore the public’s trust,” he wrote, “then this
prisoner should serve as similar criminals who cannot hope that
political favor can adjust their sentence.”
Stroger, Claypool Radio Battle Could Forsee 2010 Race
Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool and Board President Todd Stroger engaged in a heated, impromptu debate on WLS’ The Erich Mancow Muller Show
yesterday morning after Stroger called in to take umbrage with
Claypool’s criticism of the troubled 2009 budget proposal. The
commissioner alleged that Stoger’s plan to borrow millions to pay for
“normal operating expenses” was a political maneuver while Stroger
questioned whether Claypool had read the budget or understood how
government worked. The two are expected to square off in the 2010 Democratic primary.
Rezko Sentencing Date Set
After
cooperating with federal authorities in an ongoing state corruption
investigation, U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve has agreed to sentence
Antoin “Tony” Rezko in less than six weeks, honoring the political
fixer’s request. Typically, a witness assisting prosecutors
wouldn’t be sentenced until after he or she gives testimony before a
grand jury or at trial, but sources said Rezko had grown frustrated
with his current accommodations in solitary confinement.
FBI: Officers, Guards Acted As Drug Escorts
Drug
charges were unsealed Tuesday against 15 Chicago-area police officers
and jail guards who took up to $4,000 each to act as lookouts and
intervene if police or rival drug dealers tried to interfere with
shipments of cocaine and heroin. “They sold out their badges and agreed
for money to help drug dealers do their business,” said U.S. Attorney
Patrick Fitzgerald, whose office conducted the investigation.
Image used under a Creative Commons license by Flickr user geognerd.
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