Chicago Tribune: Low cost ideas top state of the state

[Tweed]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-050203blago-story,1,7675843.story?coll=chi-news-hed

"SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich, facing political and budget battles just down the road, used his third State of the State address Thursday to recount past victories and offer a litany of inexpensive ideas unlikely to stir much opposition.

The Chicago Democrat avoided the harsh rhetoric of last year's speech, which was devoted almost entirely to condemning the State Board of Education as a bureaucratic nightmare that actually harmed schools. Blagojevich said that effort led to important reforms, but he offered no similar target in his prepared remarks Thursday.

Many of the plans he laid out in this year's speech amount to ordering state agencies to devote more attention to an issue or setting up task forces, pilot projects and Web sites.

Blagojevich said he wants to bring more jobs to Illinois by increasing international trade, supporting companies related to homeland security, helping reduce the cost of health insurance for small business and more."


Now that's something I wouldn't mind seeing. Instead of the State of the Union last night, I went to go see Mike Farrell speak on the death penalty at Loyola. Very powerful speech, Farrell made some great points. I got to shake his hand and get his autograph too. It was pretty cool. Oh, I got to ask a question as well.