Reporting With Attitude

Reading this in the Bloomington Pantagraph this morning I can't help but think the reporter, Kurt Erickson, has "Chicago Got All Our Money!" fever.

SPRINGFIELD -- Three years after describing a $300,000 livestock show in Springfield as a waste of money, Gov. Rod Blagojevich has agreed to bankroll an electronic music festival in Chicago.

The $200,000 in startup money for the July 2006 event came to light in a series of newly released state documents detailing an estimated $21 million in last-minute spending that was added to the state budget in exchange for Democratic votes.

While much of the special spending is geared toward programs that help children and improve local communities, Blagojevich's approval of state Rep. Kenneth Dunkin's request for the Chicago International House (Electronic) Music Festival stands out because of the governor's prior comments about the Springfield-based International Livestock Exposition.

In August 2002, Blagojevich -- then a candidate for governor -- called funding for the livestock event a symbol of "a way of doing business that has been permeating state government for far too long."

"I think that $300,000 is an example of arrogance," Blagojevich said at the time.

Three years later, however, the documents show Blagojevich backing a similar type of pork-barrel request from Dunkin, D-Chicago.

Kurt sounds like he's pissed about not being able to go to the International Livestock Exposition more than the actual allocation of state funds.