Chicago Tribune requesting bonus payouts

April 22, 2009

Well at least the Tribune is asking before it doles out cash. Severance pay - fine. “Discretionary incentive bonuses” are another matter. AIG’s were “retention bonuses” and 11 folks got a minimum of $1M after they had left the company - including one who received $4.6M.

From WGNTV:

Chicago Tribune parent Tribune Co. today filed motions in Delaware seeking U.S. Bankruptcy Court authorization to resume severance payments to individuals who left the media company before its Chapter 11 filing in December, as well as to pay discretionary incentive bonuses for 2008 to nearly 700 managers, directors and others, according to the Tribune’s Tower Ticker blog.

They’re asking for a more modest sum: $13M (compared to AIG’s grotesque $165M) and consider it “part of the would-be recipients’ annual compensation as part of the normal course of business.”

The proposal:

• Top 10 executives would not get any of the money
• The 700 would split $13M
• Median bonus: $9500
• Average $18K
• 84% < $30K
• 70% < $20K

Unfortunately, it’s not going to help the 53 people they let go today.

How many people could stay on if that $13M was used strictly for salary?

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AIG Timeline
Hardball: timeline of bonuses
Tim Geithner’s AIG Timeline
AIG $165M bonuses after $170B bailout
AIG bonus breakdown
Andrew Cuomo: $30M of AIG bonuses will be returned

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Roland Burris finds support at New Covenant Baptist Church

March 1, 2009

Roland Burris spoke at his church, New Covenant Baptist Church. Not sure how much of it was political as far as no politics from the pulpit.

BURRIS: It is a duty of any democracy to have citizen represented fairly and equally.

I will serve you in honesty and integrity. That's all I know.

I will never ever let you down.

Right there in Washington over 600K Americans, the majority of them Africa Americans, living without a full voice in their government.

U.S. Sen. Roland Burris (center) is surrounded by clergy members during a prayer service today to support him at the New Covenant Baptist Church on the South Side. (Tribune / Nuccio DiNuzzo)

Rep BOBBY RUSH: There's no rhyme or reason he should entertain the thought to resign.

Our people will not forget. Our people will not be blinded.

We know injustice when we see it. We can smell it a mile away.

Injustice won't ever be forgotten by us.

WGN News Video

GOV PAT QUINN: 37 years - he will always be my friend. But I feel at this time he should look for a another way to serve the people of Illinois than being US Senator.

If Roland Burris wants to run for a special election that would be a way for the people to resolve it.

Informal online Tribune poll 6700 votes 94% think Burris should resign.

Recent Blago appointee Illinois Tollway Highway Authority, Jeffrey Dailey resigns

December 18, 2008

Recent Blago appointee Illinois Tollway Highway Authority, Jeffrey Dailey resigns

Drew Peterson engaged

December 18, 2008

Drew Peterson engaged

Truth. At last.

December 13, 2008

Chicago Tribune reporter, JOHN KASS:

He is merely a Chicago politician caught on tape.

Absolutely true. And that would be the tack of the story if barry wasn't involved.

Instead Blagojevich is crazy, bonkers, insane, delusional, a whack job...as a setup to rebut any comments made by him about barry. jonjon alter made sure to get it out there right away. The proobamedia like the good little obamerized cultists they are sheepled right along. Presently on the CNN feed there is one story and it's about Jesse Jackson, Jr.

If there were any lingering doubts as to whether pro-Obama media bias exists - they are proving it is alive and well. barry's daily pageantry filled say nothing and then answer pre-scripted softball questions press conferences took up the bulk of MSM coverage until Blagojevich. How many questions was barry asked? Four. Three on Blagojevich. Now Bush and the economy and the Detroit bailout has become an urgent topic dominating the news cycle.

Who are they kidding? Who needs a media study to be done to prove how little coverage it is getting - especially on NBC/MSNBC. What did Dateline do a bit on last night? Caylee Anthony.

And if it were Senator Clinton, John McCain or Gov Palin or anyone other than barry?