Giannoulias threatens to pull Wells Fargo's business license unless they do what he tells them to do. (Mark: credit)

[Drover]

Hartmax protest: Illinois treasurer backs workers effort to keep factory open for Hartmax, maker of Obama's suits -- chicagotribune.com

Can anyone explain to me that this is anything short of flat-out corruption and official blackmail? Since when did the state have the authority to dictate a company's perfectly legal, legitimate business decisions? Does this guy have no conception of how damaging stuff like this is to the reputation of the state's business climate? Who the hell would want to set up a business in Illinois if they know they'll be working for Alexi Giannoulias and not for themselves?

[US-Traveller]

How did Giannoulias get elected? Elect my liberal Republican Congressman to Senate - Mark Kirk 2010.

Giannoulias and his family are an example of what is wrong with Illinois. Giannoulias, Jackson, and Daley families are all opportunist faux-liberal idiots.

[QuadCityImages]

He didn't threaten to pull their business license. He threatened to stop giving them the state's business. The state of Illinois can't tell them what to do, but Wells Fargo can't tell the state they have to keep their money in their bank either.

[Avengerfire]

He did not get my vote in the past and will not get my vote in the future.
This guy is going to run for governor or senator. Mark my words.

Don't vote for him.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by QuadCityImages

He didn't threaten to pull their business license. He threatened to stop giving them the state's business. The state of Illinois can't tell them what to do, but Wells Fargo can't tell the state they have to keep their money in their bank either.

Ah, they've changed some vital details of the story. But this is still sheer blackmail and it's a great way to 1) shrink the number of companies willing to do business with the state, and 2) build inefficiencies into the state's economy, which will hamper recovery efforts in the short term and drive business away in the long term.

Additionally, Mr. Giannoulias should be reminded that he is not in charge of the liquidation process, the bankruptcy judge is. And bankruptcy law generally favors recovering as much value as possible for the creditors. So maybe he should write his letter to the bankruptcy judge and see what he thinks about it. My guess is the judge would feed it to a billy goat.

[Lookout Kid]

This sort of anti-corporate and anti-upper class populism is big right now. It's a good way to sort out the idiots, though. I'm suprised Joe Moore isn't marching around with Alexi.