From: "Mark Hessey" 


"Gene McAloon"  wrote: I believe
the only problem here is that, if I remember correctly, the
> Republicans have scheduled their convention much later than usual and that
has
> caused a problem. However, since there can be no question of who is going
to be
> on that that ballot, it really is not a problem. If this
"problem" applied
to
> the Democrats, then there might be a problem depending on how the
Democratic
> primaries go.



Bush no shoo-in for state ballot yet

January 15, 2004 http://www.suntimes.com/output/sweet/cst-edt-sweet15.html

"GOP state party Chairwoman Judy Baar Topinka, the state treasurer, is
under the impression that she has a deal with her Democratic counterpart,
House Speaker Michael Madigan, to allow President Bush on the Illinois
general election ballot.

To recap, for those of you who don't live and breathe this stuff: Even
though we all know Bush is the GOP nominee, it won't be official until the
GOP convention in New York, Aug. 30 to Sept. 2, the latest ever. The
Illinois ballot has to be certified by Aug. 27.

When we left off on this story last November, Topinka was steaming because
state Democrats, seeking to extract concessions from the Republicans for
moving the deadline, wanted to wipe out hundreds of thousands of dollars in
election fines Democrats owe. Irritated Senate Republicans would not pass
the House-originated bill, and it failed in the Senate.

Topinka's aide Nancy Kimmee told me that Topinka talked last week to
Madigan and House Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) and was told Madigan
was willing to move a bill without the election-fine language sometime in
February.

Whether there will be a legislative price for Republicans is not yet clear,
Kimmee said. Republicans won't commit to anything until there is an actual
bill to read.

That's Topinka Plan A. Here's Topinka Plan B: For backup, the State Board
of Elections is asking Attorney General Lisa Madigan for an opinion backing
the board's contention that it has the power, without legislative approval,
to certify the ballot later than Aug. 27.

Madigan's shop hasn't issued an opinion yet."

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