Public Affairs - Lou Lang

State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie), going on twenty-two years in the State House, debates and discusses the issues with show host and executive legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz.




Lang has practiced law for more than thirty years. He is the Democratic Floor Leader and represents a good portion of the southern part of Skokie, all of Lincolnwood, part of Morton Grove, most of the 50th Ward of Chicago and part of the 49th. Lang chairs the House Gaming Committee. More about Rep. Lang at www.RepLouLang.com. Rep. Lang said that Gov. Blagojevich and he do not get along because he goes around the State, telling the truth about [the Governor].




Topics discussed include potential replacements for Senator Obama, e.g., Cong. Jackson, Cong. Schakowsky, Cong. Davis and Cong. Gutierrez, and how Rep. Lang thinks Blago will make that decision, including how Blagos interest in strengthening his base for his 2010 re-election bid might interact with the interests of those who are a part of Team Obama, officially and unofficially. Further, should the appointment of a replacement for Obama have a racial litmus test? Also, how do these factors interact with the decision about a potential third term for U. S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald (N.D. IL), and his pending criminal investigations of the Blagojevich and Daley administrations?




Also discussed are Blagojevichs performance as a Governor, who is likely to be the new Illinois Senate President and the rules for picking a new Senate President. Is there a five billion dollar backlog in the states bills? A potential increase in the State income tax? Start using zero based budgeting? Should the State legislature consider eliminating the pork, as set out in the Illinois Piglet book prepared by www.IllinoisPolicyInstitute.org Was the long ago Senator Everett Dirksen (R-IL) [1896-1969] right when he said, a billion dollars here, a billion dollars there and before you know it, youre talking real money.




Should Illinois give the 10th Casino license to the highest bidder? Should the lottery be leased to the private sector for the next thirty years? Can the lottery be leased long term in light of a recent U. S. Department of Justice issued opinion?




This Program was taped on November 16, 2008.




RT/29:03

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News & Politics

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