Chicago Daily Observer

Last week, the Center on Education Progress (CEP) released a report it said shows that parents are essentially throwing their money away on private education. Their study claimed that kids in public and private schools did equally well academically, and didn’t have different outcomes in life. The variable, they showed, have more to do with parental income, and involvement and expectations, when it comes to education.

“This certainly will challenge people in the presumptions that private schools

are superior to public schools,” says Jack Jennings, the center’s president, told USA Today.

But wait a minute: CEP is an advocacy group that promotes public schools, and typically opposes any choice initiatives. There are other studies, most notably the National Assessment of Education Progress, which contradict some CEP’s findings. (See Council for Education Reform, www.edreform.com) And even the CEP shows that private school kids tend to do better ... Read More...

Former Senator John Edwards’ recent call for an end to frivolous lawsuits may have been taken with a grain of salt… or a loud guffaw… or a “what did I just hear or read?” reaction.

From AP story:

“Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, who made his fortune as a trial lawyer, says attorneys should have to show their medical malpractice cases have merit before filing them.

“He also said attorneys with a history of frivolous suits should be barred from filing new cases.”

While Edwards’ comments may have surprised some—in both parties—and raised eyebrows, they do provide a hint that civil justice reform could be one of the sleeper issues in the 2008 presidential race.

The growing call for civil justice reform throughout the United States seems to be catching the attention of former trial lawyer Edwards and several of this competitors.

We tried to do a quick—certainly not exhaustive—search ... Read More...

From a Letter to the Wall Street Journal
***

Your Oct. 3 editorial “Pensions and Palm-Greasing” takes a local issue and generalizes it to the entire public pension industry. It also takes a savings tool—401(k) plans—and attempts to convert it into a meaningful long-term pension plan. The logic in both situations is flawed.

Most public employees participate in well-managed, well-governed, well-funded and closely regulated defined-benefit pension plans. These plans are governed by trustees charged with the fiduciary duty to oversee assets solely for the benefit of their membership. Conflicts of interest are clearly delineated and prohibited. Enforcement powers exist that can be invoked by fellow trustees, by the membership, by regulators and the public at large.

Local shortcomings in New York State can be addressed by implementing best practices and best program designs exhibited by other public plans found through the U.S.

The call to convert successful and effective ... Read More...

County commissioner’s TIF tiff with Daley in the spotlight

Mayor Daley’s record $108 million property tax hike was bad news in a lot of quarters, but it could actually turn out to be good news for Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley.

Finally, maybe somebody will start listening to him.

“I don’t think the city has any more right to raise property taxes than does the county,” Quigley said Wednesday, and if you’re wondering why anybody should care what a county commissioner has to say about it, hear him out.

Isn’t there some way for fed-up citizens of Illinois, Cook County and Chicago to force their governments into receivership?

After all, when a corporation is as stunningly incompetent as are Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, legislative leaders, Cook County Board President Todd Stroger, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and his toady City Council, creditors can force it into bankruptcy in which a court-appointed trustee straightens out the mess or, if necessary, shuts it down to preserve the remains.