The Edgar years: 'Governor No,' a school tax swap and the 'lobster list'
Former Gov. Jim Edgar meets reporters in this undated Associated Press photo.
When I started the state beat, Jim Edgar was in the second month of his second term.
The socially moderate, fiscally conservative Republican from downstate Charleston was riding high, buoyed by a GOP landslide in 1994 that put his party in charge of every statewide office in Springfield and both chambers of the Legislature.
From tort reform to property tax caps, Republicans had an ambitious agenda. With a buttoned-down, business-like approach that was in stark contrast to the wheeling-and-dealing ways of his GOP predecessor, James Thompson, Edgar did his part to move his party's agenda along, putting particular emphasis on state budget-making.
From a distance, I first met Edgar as a sixth-grader as he campaigned in his 1976 state rep race. Inside the enclosed mall in my downstate Illinois hometown, Edgar asked my parents for their votes one evening, and I'm fairly certain they complied. Nearly 19 years later, I bore no such loyalties.
In Edgar, known in some circles as "Governor No," Illinois had a chief executive who developed a reputation for tightfistedness. He faced a record budget deficit early in his first term but through cuts and a surging national economy left office with a $1.5 billion surplus. That represented the last time Illinois saw that much black in its ledger.
Despite hammering Democratic comptroller Dawn Clark Netsch for her school tax-swap plan in their 1994 campaign, Edgar wound up adopting a similar plan with his push to hike state income taxes by 25 percent and use that infusion to narrow the gap between rich and poor school systems and provide property tax relief.
His 1997 plan made it out of the Illinois House with help from Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan but hit a roadblock in the state Senate, even though Republicans controlled the chamber. GOP resistance there forced Edgar later to accept a watered-down school-funding plan that didn't raise taxes or provide property tax relief.
In the midst of his school-funding push, Edgar faced his own political crisis involving a state contractor and campaign donor known as Management Services of Illinois. The company's two partners curried favor with key Edgar aides and top Senate Republican staff by giving away a dozen $329 steak and lobster packages. Those company owners and an ex-state welfare administrator were later convicted of fraud. .
Federal prosecutors in Springfield never were able to link any crimes directly to Edgar's inner circle or to the governor himself, though Edgar twice had to endure the humbling experience of being called to testify in two separate trials tied to the contracting scandal. His testimony marked the first time in 75 years an Illinois governor was called to testify in a criminal trial.
How much getting dragged through the mud factored into his decision to leave office and to forego another run for public office isn't entirely clear to me. His health and the desires of wife, Brenda, undoubtedly entered the mix, as well. But what I do know is that Edgar left office more popular than any governor I covered, with approval ratings that exceeded 60 percent.
The socially moderate, fiscally conservative Republican from downstate Charleston was riding high, buoyed by a GOP landslide in 1994 that put his party in charge of every statewide office in Springfield and both chambers of the Legislature.
From tort reform to property tax caps, Republicans had an ambitious agenda. With a buttoned-down, business-like approach that was in stark contrast to the wheeling-and-dealing ways of his GOP predecessor, James Thompson, Edgar did his part to move his party's agenda along, putting particular emphasis on state budget-making.
From a distance, I first met Edgar as a sixth-grader as he campaigned in his 1976 state rep race. Inside the enclosed mall in my downstate Illinois hometown, Edgar asked my parents for their votes one evening, and I'm fairly certain they complied. Nearly 19 years later, I bore no such loyalties.
In Edgar, known in some circles as "Governor No," Illinois had a chief executive who developed a reputation for tightfistedness. He faced a record budget deficit early in his first term but through cuts and a surging national economy left office with a $1.5 billion surplus. That represented the last time Illinois saw that much black in its ledger.
Despite hammering Democratic comptroller Dawn Clark Netsch for her school tax-swap plan in their 1994 campaign, Edgar wound up adopting a similar plan with his push to hike state income taxes by 25 percent and use that infusion to narrow the gap between rich and poor school systems and provide property tax relief.
His 1997 plan made it out of the Illinois House with help from Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan but hit a roadblock in the state Senate, even though Republicans controlled the chamber. GOP resistance there forced Edgar later to accept a watered-down school-funding plan that didn't raise taxes or provide property tax relief.
In the midst of his school-funding push, Edgar faced his own political crisis involving a state contractor and campaign donor known as Management Services of Illinois. The company's two partners curried favor with key Edgar aides and top Senate Republican staff by giving away a dozen $329 steak and lobster packages. Those company owners and an ex-state welfare administrator were later convicted of fraud. .
Federal prosecutors in Springfield never were able to link any crimes directly to Edgar's inner circle or to the governor himself, though Edgar twice had to endure the humbling experience of being called to testify in two separate trials tied to the contracting scandal. His testimony marked the first time in 75 years an Illinois governor was called to testify in a criminal trial.
How much getting dragged through the mud factored into his decision to leave office and to forego another run for public office isn't entirely clear to me. His health and the desires of wife, Brenda, undoubtedly entered the mix, as well. But what I do know is that Edgar left office more popular than any governor I covered, with approval ratings that exceeded 60 percent.
Stories:
Fifteen years after leaving office, Jim Edgar remained popular with Illinois voters and endorsed Republican Bruce Rauner for governor. Here, the two embrace on the stage at Republican Day at the 2014 Illinois State Fair after Edgar endorsed Rauner's candidacy.
School Tax Plan Sends Pols Running for Cover (3/22/1996)
Edgar to Push Tax Proposal; Won't Retreat Over Funding For Schools (3/24/1996)
Big Split in Springfield; Republicans At Odds Over School Plan (3/31/1996)
Top Pols Packing Tobacco Money; Anti-Smoking Bills Stalled, State Leaders Get $ 360,000 (4/21/1996)
Edgar can't get his plan off the ground (6/26/1996)
4 indicted in Public Aid scam; Panel targets $ 7 million Public Aid paid to firm (8/24/1996)
Public Aid official hit with fraud charges (10/26/1996)
Dems call Edgar plan declaration of war; House OKs Meigs takeover plan (12/4/1996)
Meigs takeover flies through Senate (12/5/1996)
ANALYSIS: Battle is far from over; Takeover vote doesn't begin to determine airport's future (12/8/1996)
Edgar signs legislation for state takeover of Meigs (12/17/1996)
Daley turns up the heat on Edgar; Governor hits city, Sun-Times (12/20/1996)
Figure in Public Aid probe alleges State Police shielded Edgar aides (3/7/1997)
Top Edgar aides may testify in bribe trial (5/28/1997)
House OKs school bill; Education package approved 62-56 (5/29/1997)
Senate panel kills school-funding bill (5/30/1997)
State government on trial (6/20/1997)
Feds: Firm wooed state with bribes (6/25/1997)
MSI witness details gifts; Top officials wined and dined (6/27/1997)
Pate aide named in MSI case; Ex-official tells of threat to cut Public Aid budget (7/19/1997)
MSI trial thorny issue for Edgar the politician (7/22/1997)
Edgar testimony set for Tuesday; First defense witness in MSI trial (7/26/1997)
Can't recall MSI meeting: Edgar (7/29/1997)
MSI owner gave 'big-league gifts'; Firm bought access, prosecutors say (8/5/1997)
Ex-aide defends trips from MSI (8/7/1997)
MSI trial brings calls for limits on gifts; Edgar, rivals eye uniform state standard (8/10/1997)
MSI trial question: Fraud or politics? Jury may get corruption case today (8/12/1997)
Some jurors suspected Edgar played role (8/17/1997)
Governor gives up MSI cash; Bans most gifts to state workers (8/27/1997)
ANALYSIS: 153 school districts come out winners, but tax package not a boon to all (12/7/1997)
Officials on MSI 'lobster list' identified (12/11/1997)
Scandal edges up to Edgar; MSI owner says aides covered up role in deal (12/20/1997)
Edgar on spot at trial; Staff sought MSI details (1/15/1998)
MSI jury clears key Edgar aide (1/17/1998)
INVESTIGATION: Pols' meal ticket; How lobbyists feed legislators (2/15/1998)
ANALYSIS: Challenged pols double up on pork; 54 lawmakers fund pet projects (7/6/1998)
Edgar to Push Tax Proposal; Won't Retreat Over Funding For Schools (3/24/1996)
Big Split in Springfield; Republicans At Odds Over School Plan (3/31/1996)
Top Pols Packing Tobacco Money; Anti-Smoking Bills Stalled, State Leaders Get $ 360,000 (4/21/1996)
Edgar can't get his plan off the ground (6/26/1996)
4 indicted in Public Aid scam; Panel targets $ 7 million Public Aid paid to firm (8/24/1996)
Public Aid official hit with fraud charges (10/26/1996)
Dems call Edgar plan declaration of war; House OKs Meigs takeover plan (12/4/1996)
Meigs takeover flies through Senate (12/5/1996)
ANALYSIS: Battle is far from over; Takeover vote doesn't begin to determine airport's future (12/8/1996)
Edgar signs legislation for state takeover of Meigs (12/17/1996)
Daley turns up the heat on Edgar; Governor hits city, Sun-Times (12/20/1996)
Figure in Public Aid probe alleges State Police shielded Edgar aides (3/7/1997)
Top Edgar aides may testify in bribe trial (5/28/1997)
House OKs school bill; Education package approved 62-56 (5/29/1997)
Senate panel kills school-funding bill (5/30/1997)
State government on trial (6/20/1997)
Feds: Firm wooed state with bribes (6/25/1997)
MSI witness details gifts; Top officials wined and dined (6/27/1997)
Pate aide named in MSI case; Ex-official tells of threat to cut Public Aid budget (7/19/1997)
MSI trial thorny issue for Edgar the politician (7/22/1997)
Edgar testimony set for Tuesday; First defense witness in MSI trial (7/26/1997)
Can't recall MSI meeting: Edgar (7/29/1997)
MSI owner gave 'big-league gifts'; Firm bought access, prosecutors say (8/5/1997)
Ex-aide defends trips from MSI (8/7/1997)
MSI trial brings calls for limits on gifts; Edgar, rivals eye uniform state standard (8/10/1997)
MSI trial question: Fraud or politics? Jury may get corruption case today (8/12/1997)
Some jurors suspected Edgar played role (8/17/1997)
Governor gives up MSI cash; Bans most gifts to state workers (8/27/1997)
ANALYSIS: 153 school districts come out winners, but tax package not a boon to all (12/7/1997)
Officials on MSI 'lobster list' identified (12/11/1997)
Scandal edges up to Edgar; MSI owner says aides covered up role in deal (12/20/1997)
Edgar on spot at trial; Staff sought MSI details (1/15/1998)
MSI jury clears key Edgar aide (1/17/1998)
INVESTIGATION: Pols' meal ticket; How lobbyists feed legislators (2/15/1998)
ANALYSIS: Challenged pols double up on pork; 54 lawmakers fund pet projects (7/6/1998)