The announcement ended widespread speculation that had been racing around the Fox Valley since the White House confirmed Bush would sign the bill in U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert's district.

"It's a thrill and an honor to have an event like this," said Cat representative Jim Dugan, although he declined to go into further detail about the schedule for the day. "We're working closely with the White House on ironing out all the details."

The Caterpillar factory is on Route 31 between Aurora and Oswego within Hastert's home turf of Kendall County. With more than 2,000 employees, it's the largest employer in the Speaker's district, a region that will get more than $300 million for projects under the new , six-year federal transportation bill.

Caterpillar itself will benefit from the $286 billion that the bill will pump into infrastructure construction projects across the country, since heavy construction machinery is the Peoria-based company's core business.

"The transportation bill is legislation that is very important to our customers," Dugan said, "customers who will use a lot of the equipment made at this facility to build that infrastructure."

Local officials and executives at Caterpillar said they were preparing to welcome the president, but concrete plans likely would have to wait until further details are available.

A Hastert spokesman told the Associated Press the president would spend Wednesday both in Aurora and at the Caterpillar plant but did not divulge any further scheduling details.

Hastert, who had a major role in shaping the transportation bill, hailed its passage as a victory for Illinois.

The bill represents a roughly 30 percent increase in funding for Illinois projects from the previous transportation bill.

There is no accusation of wrongdoing against lobbyist Robert Kjellander or the investment firm, and the use of such consultants by companies seeking investments from public pension funds is totally legal and not uncommon.

But interviews and documents obtained by the Chicago Tribune shed light on the role that political insiders can play in the complex world of state pension investments. In a story published in its Sunday editions, some pension officials told the newspaper they are skeptical of working with a so-called "third-party marketer" when they can deal with the investment firms directly.

Last week, federal prosecutors charged a major Republican campaign contributor with taking kickbacks from firms seeking to do business with the Illinois Teachers Retirement System. Two prominent Chicago attorneys were charged along with Stuart Levine, a former trustee of the pension plan for teachers and administrators in public schools across Illinois outside Chicago.

Kjellander said his lobbying efforts have "absolutely nothing to do" with the federal investigation, and the global investment firm he has represented - The Carlyle Group - said it is not under investigation.

Kjellander, 57, of Springfield, served as chairman of President Bush's re-election campaign in three Midwestern states last year. He is a longtime friend of Bush's top political adviser, Karl Rove, and was named Friday as treasurer of the RNC.

His consulting company has received $3.1 million from Carlyle since 2002, according to the company, and will soon collect $1.4 million more in fees because of the firm's business with the Teachers Retirement System. During that time, Carlyle won commitments for six deals and $500 million from the fund, officials said.

"Hey, I'm not going to apologize for being successful at what I do," Kjellander said. "I represent good companies ... And Carlyle has delivered an outstanding series of products for the Teachers Retirement System."

Carlyle, Kjellander and pension officials said the fees paid to the lobbyist are subtracted from the regular fees Carlyle is paid and do not come straight out of the pension funds.

Carlyle spokesman Chris Ullman said Kjellander's fees for his work fluctuate up to 1 percent on an investment in an industry where fees can run as high as 2 or 3 percent. The company had no contacts familiar with Illinois public pension funds until it began working with Kjellander, and he has been "very helpful and very effective," Ullman said.

John Day - a spokesman for the teachers pension board - said he cannot remember seeing bigger overall payments than the fees Kjellander is receiving. Yet he also pointed out the fund is enjoying a 63 percent rate of return on an investment it made in a Carlyle fund.

Another marketing agent with political connections is Orlando Jones, a godson and former aide to Democratic Cook County Board President John Stroger. Jones is making $212,000 this year for his work with William Blair & Co., which handles a $294 million investment for a board overseeing pension funds for judges, lawmakers and state officials.

Jones said deals on such huge investments do not come together because of personal connections.

"I don't think the third-party marketer is the person who makes the deal happen," Jones said. "What makes it happen is the company's performance, the company's ability."

Fred Giertz, a member of the university retirement board, said he would rather work directly with the principals involved than third-party marketers.

"We're willing to accept any kind of expression of interest," said Giertz, an economics professor at the University of Illinois. "But if we know there's a paid salesman coming around trying to steer us to another organization, we're going to look very carefully at that."

He joins Aurora dairyman/investor Jim Oberweis, Chicago businessman Ron Gidwitz and fellow state Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington. Three or four more candidates might join the crowded field.

But it doesn't matter who else gets in this contest: Unless Jim Edgar decides to run, Rauschenberger is the most qualified Republican to be governor. Period.

Rauschenberger understands the labyrinth that is state government. He knows how every budget is calculated. And Rauschenberger is in a league of his own when describing in minute detail the damage he believes Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich is doing to the heart and soul of state government.

WHAT I REALLY like about Steve is that he condemns shenanigans in both political parties. That, of course, has gotten him in really hot water with the powerful wing of the GOP that likes to do business and divide up the spoils with the Democrats.

And that will make it more difficult for him to get the GOP nomination, as will the fact that unlike the other candidates, Rauschenberger isn't a multimillionaire.

We talked the other day at the airport. From my tape, here's Rauschenberger Unmixed, on:

Since that day nine months ago Durbin has emerged as an outspoken critic of all-things Bush and a shoot-from-the-hip hired gun for Democrats. It would be an understatement to say that Durbin has been anything less than a lightning rod for controversy since moving into the leadership position. And it would be even more of an understatement to say that Durbin has backed up one step from his political adversaries and the battles brought on by those controversies.

Durbin will make a two-day swing through Southern Illinois on Monday and Tuesday with stops scheduled in Vandalia, Mount Vernon, Benton, Herrin and Marion. Durbin will also meet with administrators at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and will host a meeting of Democratic Party county chairmen. Durbin is also scheduled to meet Tuesday afternoon with the editorial board at The Southern Illinoisan.

There's no doubt that the controversies that have swirled around him - Guantanamo Bay, Supreme Court nominee John Roberts, religious litmus tests for public officials and abortion - will generate more than a few inquiries from those that Durbin crosses paths with during his time in Southern Illinois.

John Jackson, a staff member at the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at SIUC and a longtime political science professor, said the role that Durbin has assumed in recent months goes along with the leadership position he holds.

"It certainly goes along with the leadership position to be a critic of the governing party; the term we use is the 'loyal opposition' and the loyal opposition while being loyal also opposes," said Jackson. "That's why we want a minority party to speak out."

Since taking over the leadership role the glare of the national spotlight was hottest on Durbin following comments he made on the Senate floor in mid-June. During an impassioned speech Durbin compared interrogation techniques used by U.S. military personnel at Guantanamo Bay with those utilized by 20th century regimes including Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, and the Khmer Rouge.

"This is the type of thing you would expect from a repressive regime," Durbin said. "This is not the type of thing you would expect from the United States. If I read this to you and did not tell you that is was an FBI agent describing what Americans had done to prisoners in their control, you would most certainly believe this must have been done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime - Pol Pot or others - that have no concern for human beings."

Republicans were outraged and demanded an apology and some GOP members even demanded his resignation from the Senate. Durbin, however, was unrepentant and at first refused to apologize at all. Instead, he defiantly shifted the blame saying that the White House should apologize for fostering an environment that permitted the alleged abuse to occur.

One week after the comments were made Durbin returned to the Senate floor and apologized, saying: "In the end, I don't want anything in my public career to detract from my love for this country, my respect for those who serve it, and this great Senate," Durbin said in an emotional statement. "I offer my apologies to those that were offended by my words. More than most people, a senator lives by his words ... occasionally words fail us, occasionally we will fail words."

Jackson said he thought the press was unfair to Durbin concerning the comments.

"He got into some hot water but I think his critics made much more about that than was warranted," Jackson said. "I don't think it was a major issue and he maybe overstated his case and apologized. He caught enormous heat because there is an enormous propaganda machine out there always ready to grind. And he got ground up in it."

Durbin is a career politician and has spent more than two decades in Washington, D.C, serving 14 years in the House before moving to the Senate in 1998 where he replaced Paul Simon. Durbin is known as a gifted speaker, an excellent debater and a lawmaker with strong convictions.

"He has all the talents I don't have," Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said after Durbin was named assistant minority leader. "Dick Durbin is the best debater in the Senate. He's unquestionably the best. On the most difficult issues, you send Durbin to the floor. He's the first person I turn to for advice."

Jackson said he sees parallels between Durbin and Simon.

"I think they share a great deal of characteristics," said Jackson. "They both are products of Southern Illinois, they both started in state government and they both supported each other in their careers. I think the biggest difference is that Paul Simon never got tagged with the level of partisanship that Durbin has been tagged with since he took the leadership role. And that leadership role entails getting yourself into trouble occasionally."

On a variety of issues, the 60-year-old Durbin has helped craft his party's strategy on such hot-button topics as a possible Democrat filibuster of judicial nominees, stopping President Bush's plan to partially privatize Social Security, the vetting process of Supreme Court nominee John Roberts and, perhaps most importantly, trying to project a positive Democratic agenda.

And it is trying to forge and project that image that has sometimes gotten Durbin in hot water. Durbin has been one of the most vocal critics of the selection of Roberts to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Conner, calling him a "controversial candidate" within minutes of the announcement. Durbin has hammered at the point that Roberts must answer all questions, particularly his views on Roe v. Wade and what he would do if the law required a decision that conflicted with his religion. Durbin has repeatedly stated that he would oppose any nominee that is "outside the mainstream."

With one of the most liberal voting records in Congress Durbin's comments about 'the mainstream' have left him open to critics.

"I think Sen. Durbin has certainly changed and acted differently since he became a party leader and I just wonder how mainstream he is today," said Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna. "He's likened the activity of our soldiers to Nazis based on information that was proven to be faulty. With Sen. Durbin anymore it's almost as if America is wrong first and everybody else is right."

McKenna said the attacks that have been leveled on Roberts are an indication to him that Durbin himself is "outside the mainstream."

"I don't think Sen. Durbin's views are in the mainstream at all," said McKenna. "Within minutes of the Roberts appointment Durbin labeled Roberts as controversial and cast judgment without even letting the Senate process take place. Secondly, he talked about how Roberts didn't answer questions when he came before the Senate Judiciary Committee for confirmation to the Appeals Court. He was approved 16-3 in that vote and Durbin was one of the three that voted against him. I know John Roberts personally and for Sen. Durbin to characterize him like he has is totally wrong."

McKenna also said that Durbin is asking Roberts to go against precedent by demanding that he answer questions on topics that other judicial nominees have refused to answer.

"When Justice Ginsburg was appointed to the Supreme Court she refused to answer questions about hypothetical questions about cases and she was approved 96-3," said McKenna. "For the Democrats to flip now and say that Roberts must answer all these questions is inconsistent. Sen. Durbin wants to put a religious test on judges and that is wrong."

Durbin graduated from Assumption High School in East St. Louis in 1962 and earned a bachelor's degree from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in 1966. He served as an intern in the office of Illinois Senator Paul Douglas during his senior year in college. Durbin earned his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1969 and was admitted to the Illinois bar later that year. Durbin served as a legal counsel for the then-Illinois Lieutenant Governor Paul Simon from 1969-73 and as a legal counsel for the Illinois Senate Judiciary Committee from 1973-82.

Last November, only minutes after being named to the leadership position Durbin said despite losses in both chambers and the loss of the White House Democrats would not retreat " a promise that he has kept.

"I don't see any retreat when it comes to our basic values," said Durbin. "We feel that what we stand for is still very important to the future of this country. How we present it and how we describe it, maybe we need to look at more carefully. But I didn't hear anybody sounding retreat as I called around to our caucus. We want to make certain that we pick and choose our battles selectively and that we are unified when we do have to take a stand."

Durbin also said last November that he was troubled by the fact that moral issues played a key role in Republican victories.

"Some people have the notion that Democrats don't come to public service with their own moral values and with our own spiritual side, we do. But many of us have been raised in a tradition where religion is a private and personal matter. Some of our colleagues on the Republican side are much more open in public about their religious beliefs. I think we need to be careful to remind people that on the Democratic side of the aisle we feel that we are following certain religious values in the decisions that we make just as the Republicans feel that they are."

The Third Annual Suburban Hip-Hop Extravaganza was slated for Saturday night at the Wheaton Grand Theater, but instead promoter Ben Garvey sent attendees home.

“It’s a fear of the hip-hop community,” he said.

Garvey, 24, said his concert has not had any reported problems in the past two years.

Garvey, a banker who has lived in Wheaton for 19 years, said he received an e-mail late Thursday from a member of the theater’s board informing him about the concert’s cancellation. He says theater officials have not contacted him since.

Phone calls made to theater board members seeking comment for this story were not returned.

Wheaton police patrolled the area around the theater Saturday before the show’s cancellation, but it had nothing to do with the concert, Wheaton police Sgt. Bob Miller said.

“We’re always downtown with a high patrol presence,” Miller said.

Miller reiterated police had nothing to do with the event’s cancellation and said there were no reported incidents.

“We didn’t cancel it,” he said. “It was up to the owner of the theater or the promoter, I’m not sure of which.”

The event will be rescheduled, Garvey added. He said he spent Friday contacting the 50-plus people — musicians, graffiti artists and other performers — associated with the event. He also said his $1,800 in advertising was wasted. None of the performers are demanding to be paid.

“They’re giving me a break,” Garvey said.

Satisfying to be top hog at the trough - Editorial 

http://www.dailyherald.com/search/searchstory.asp?id=80909

While federal transportation bills often are viewed as pork-laden by those relegated to receiving mere vegetables, there is very little doubt Illinois residents won’t be among them this year.

Desperate drivers and those who think northeastern Illinois is about 40 years behind the transportation times will be celebrating right along with U.S. Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert and President Bush.

Bush will appear Wednesday in Hastert’s congressional district in Aurora to sign the much-debated and delayed bill that will bring about $1.2 billion to Illinois and a big chunk of that amount to the suburbs. That number represents 33 percent more than the state received in the last transportation bill. It also reflects the persistence of Hastert and both Republicans and Democrats in the Illinois delegation along with better organization on the part of local officials who put numbers to their requests.

“Because there was almost no daylight between Republicans and Democrats from Illinois, we got to take almost everyone else’s money,” said Rep. Mark Kirk of Highland Park. Not an especially magnanimous attitude, of course, but an honest expression of legislative reality.

Among the projects that won funding approval are western access to O’Hare International Airport; the Metra STAR Line rail line from Joliet to Hoffman Estates to O’Hare; initial work on straightening the S curve on Northwest Highway in Des Plaines; the Stearns Road bridge across the Fox River in St. Charles; Metra expansion in Kane and McHenry counties; and the widening of Route 47 and Route 31.

While completion of these projects and many others would vault the state into a more modern transportation era, it is important to remember that almost all these projects require some sort of state or local match, or both. So the photo-op and celebration this week also must serve as a reminder that these projects still carry a heavy local price tag.

Given Illinois is a state mired in debt and without any capital improvement program in place at the moment, its ability to use all of those federal dollars isn’t exactly a certainty.

Still, the cooperation required to forge such a transportation package for Illinois also puts pressure on state and local leaders to ensure the effort will not be in vain. Any leader who isn’t working toward the local match will no doubt face much scrutiny from constituents, not to mention much pressure from those who delivered the big bucks from Washington. They will not enjoy watching their effort wasted by lack of leadership or indecision.

That’s because they know that one man’s pork is another man’s delivery on a promise to constituents. And once you’ve managed to serve up the pricey entree, vegetables alone will seem a bland and unacceptable diet indeed.

DuPage County governing units: Fear of freedom of information - Editorial

http://www.dailyherald.com/opinion/index.asp

One of the hardest things to do is achieve lasting world peace.

A close second might be trying to get basic salary information out of DuPage County governing units. But some progress is being made.

County residents requesting figures on what is being paid to municipal workers have found the work to be exceedingly frustrating. This stonewalling in part motivated the Citizens Advocacy Center in Elmhurst to come to the aid of those seeking salary amounts, which is indisputably public information. In June, the center submitted Freedom of Information Act requests to 38 municipalities, nine townships and DuPage County. The CAC asked for a list of employees, their salaries and the cost of copying documents.

It shouldn’t have taken a nudge for government to cooperate and do its job of being open. But at least most governing units — 75 percent of them — came through with timely responses to these requests for compliance with the FOIA requests.

On the other hand, Glendale Heights, Lisle and Wayne made the list of the listless when it came to responding. The CAC considered them to be in noncompliance for disclosing salary ranges, not specific salaries. Glendale Heights was also 16 days late in getting back to the CAC.

Lisle said the CAC is being harsh; it initially denied its request but has since complied. Glendale Heights explained that the person who normally handles such requests was on vacation and her replacement didn’t know what to do with them.

Take these as excuses or reasonable explanations, whatever. But don’t at all accept this from the clerk of village of Wayne:

“We feel a person’s salary is private information,” Patricia Engstrom told a reporter. “I’m sure you wouldn’t want your salary being made public.”

This is either ignorance of the law, or arrogance. What Engstrom thinks about the discomfit of revealing what one earns is irrelevant when it comes to those who work in the public sector. Those salaries are clearly and lawfully to be shared with the public.

In fact, her own village attorney told her as much, so she said she will comply. We don’t expect her to be happy about that. But we expect her to do it. When citizens or the press use their power of freedom to access information from governing units that manage their tax dollars — information that is clearly in the public realm — such requests must be honored.

Unfortunately, the CAC said it is their experience that government will do what it can to avoid public disclosure and discourage demands for such. It denies, delays, obstructs or overcharges for copies of documents.

So the CAC wants teeth put into the Freedom of Information Act, to include financial penalties and giving the Illinois attorney general the power to enforce the law.

Something needs to be done to build respect for the law among those who share Engstrom’s confusion that government has a right to be free from revealing potentially damaging information.

Dictator Daley isn’t for the little guy - James E. Unger 

http://www.dailyherald.com/search/searchstory.asp?id=80908

Well, the Chicago mayor of the party that is for the “little guy” just made clear it is not the “little guy” who is at is heart. It is money. The offended target of the $10,000 bounty, Chicago’s Dictator Dick Daley, deposed duly employed Gary Skoien of his job through his “friend” and real estate mogul, Mike Reschke, of Prime Group Realty. I wonder what zoning needs approval for this realty company?

The firing is out-and-out blacklisting. Where are the howls of shock from the leftist media in the city? Oh, that’s right, it’s not a Republican mayor denying a Democrat of private employment. The rules of outrage don’t apply to the “progressive” mayor.

The one-party rule of East Berlin (aka Chicago) produced two socialist U.S. senators in Dick Durbin and Barack Obama. The one-party rule also allowed the governor to bypass the legislature and, through fiat, order the killing of unborn children for the Nietzschean dream of eugenically creating cures through embryonic stem cells.

Hopefully, Dictator Dick Daley can’t target me for unemployment in West Berlin (aka Du Page County). Or maybe his reach can? That’s right, isn’t the city ready to send its bulldozers to raze Bensenville and Elk Grove Village neighborhoods?

Bean has voted like a Republican - Iain Abernathy

http://www.dailyherald.com/search/searchstory.asp?id=80834