* 1:47 pm - Trust me on this one, she’s doing a whole lot more than “thinking about” running for governor…
The next gubernatorial election is still two years away, but Attorney General Lisa Madigan acknowledges she’s “thinking about” a run for the state’s top job.
Madigan didn’t offer any other hints Monday about a plan to challenge her fellow Democrat, Governor Rod Blagojevich, should he seek re-election.
Madigan says her immediate election goal is to get Democrat Barack Obama elected president in November.
* 2:17 pm - The governor’s quasi-dictatorial decision - blocked so far by two different courts - to start up a taxpayer funded program without legislative approval has resulted in severe consequences….
Illinois pharmacists must help pay for a health care program the Blagojevich administration bungled.
A notice from the Department of Healthcare and Family Services and obtained by The Associated Press tells pharmacies a court order precludes it from reimbursing prescriptions filled under the FamilyCare program Governor Rod Blagojevich expanded.
Illinois Pharmacists Association director Michael Patton says the druggists are out the money they spent for the medication, expecting to be reimbursed under FamilyCare. He says no one can tell him how much money pharmacists are losing.
* 4:10 pm - Buried in this puff piece about Attorney General Madigan are these somewhat surprisingly nice words by Ed Murnane, of all people…
Fears that Madigan would be a trial-happy opponent of tort reform groups have so far proven unfounded, said Ed Murnane, president of the Illinois Civil Justice League.
“She’s been a pleasant surprise to those of us who were concerned that she would be very closely aligned and sympathetic to plaintiffs’ lawyers,” said Murnane, who serves on the board of directors of the American Tort Reform Association.
Murnane noted that while Madigan would not be considered an ally of the tort reform movement, “She has not been the ogre some thought she was going to be.”
He said “problem attorneys general” are known for taking their consumer protection duties and responsibilities too far.
“I do not think that Lisa Madigan has gone overboard, at least not yet,” Murnane said. “She is probably to some extent trying to keep some of her powder dry because she is widely assumed to be keeping a pretty close eye on the governor’s office.”