Trenches of Democracy

(Rob Winner photo)
At a time of record fuel prices, where 20% of the price is already taxes in Chicago, Illinois Congressman Foster and Senator Durbin have a unique solution. More taxes.

Do something help energy costs and regular citizens? No, they said raise taxes. Raise taxes on the bad guys. Declare congressional attack on the oil companies. Investigate, tax, and regulate oil companies into submission.

Rather then revise backwards oil industry regulations or liberate our domestic oil reserves, Durbin and Foster want more taxes. Rather then make good energy policy, these Illinois politicians seem to think they can extort oil executives with endless investigations and threats of taxation.

(crossposted from the Kane County Chronicle)

ELGIN – As the price of fuel remains at all-time highs, the area’s federal legislators believe the time has arrived for the federal government to grab the attention of oil companies.

Thursday, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., stopped in Elgin and Aurora to pitch a series of proposals he believes could bring some relief to motorists and business owners throughout the country…

But investigations are just one step in the process, Durbin and Foster said.

They also suggested levying taxes on oil companies’ “windfall profits.”

While critics charge such taxes will do little to bring down prices, Foster said the taxes could be used to spur oil companies to develop alternative energy sources.

“I’d like to see a higher fraction of their profits go into alternative sources of energy, instead of just handing out dividend checks,” Foster said.

Tags: Durbin, Elgin, Foster, fuel prices, gas, Illinois, Kane County Chronicle, oil

Mudville Continues…

Following publicity regarding a racial slur, Carpentersville Trustee Linda Ramirez-Sliwinski surrenders her super delegate role for the upcoming Democratic National Convention.

A spokesman for Obama said Ramirez-Sliwinski early Tuesday quit her post as a delegate, but the first-term trustee denied that in a report posted on ABC 7 Chicago’s Web site.

Ramirez-Sliwinski did not return repeated calls for comment Tuesday.

Ramirez-Sliwinski is a pledged delegate - one who declares to support a specific nominee at the August Democratic National Convention in Denver.

“We discussed it with her and given the incident, she decided to step down,” said Ben LaBolt, a spokesman for Obama. “She will be replaced as a delegate.” [Read Full]

See previous Carpentersville coverage here (Mudville Round-up)

Tags: C'ville, Carpentersville, Democrat National Committee, DNC, Linda Ramirez-Sliwinski, Obama, super delegate

Democracy has it’s limitations, primarily the citizens it’s comprised of.

Over the last year or so, politics in Carpentersville, my distinguished hometown, has adopted a Jerry Springer style. If you think your town has problems, read on…

*Our Town (8/5/07 New York Times)


*Battle over embattled village trustee rages on (3/19/08 Chicago Tribune)

*Names may change, but embarrassing outcome never does (4/6/008 Daily Herald)

*Racially tinged comment may be end of Carpentersville trustee’s career (4/7/08 Daily Herald)

Tags: C'ville, Carpentersville, Kane, Mudville

Kendall leads the County with the highest growth rate(96,818), but Will is the fastest growing large county(673,586).

Cook County Continues Decline
Meanwhile, unique to the Chicagoland, Cook County continues to leak population.

Tags: Boone, Chicago, Cook, County, Dekalb, Dupage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kenall, Lake, McHenry, population growth, US Census bureau, Will

Today I’m flying to Santa Monica, California for the 2008 Pollie Awards. It’s a regular awards ceremony held in conjunction with the American Association of Political Consultants.

This evening I’ll receive two pollie awards under the student category for TV spots.

Tags: 2008 Pollie Awards, Bliss Institute, pollie awards, student awards

Legal Bills Gobble up new Villages Budget: $174,000 and counting…

Yesterday, the newfounded Village of Campton Hills (Pop. 10,000) paid a second legal bill in it’s struggle to hold on to residents. Village board members passed a $124,000 payment to the Chicago legal firm Arnstein & Lehr LLP. This is in addition to $50,000 paid in January (Daily Herald).

Since the villages incorporation during the municipal election last year, by Illinois law, outlying property owners are allowed a one year window for easy disconnection. However disconnection from Campton Hills hasn’t proven easy. Until recently the village opted to challenge all disconnections in court. Late last month two of the thirteen properties in court for disconnection were released.

Disputes over incorporation sparked the grassroots Free US from Campton Hills movement.

Taxes Used to Collect More Taxes

That leaves eleven more disconnection cases pending, and more legal bills to come. Ironically, the state of Illinois is subsidizing this villages efforts to prevent residents from disconnecting (Kane County Chronical). The’re using our taxes to preserve their tax-base.

To learn more about Campton Hills see these older posts:

FREE US - from Campton Hills

Making a Stand

Making a Stand… continued

Two Properties Secede from Campton Hills

Tags: Campton Hills, Property Rights

Letter appears to come from Aurora’s Board of Election Commissioners
16th Judicial Circuit

An Aurora lawyer who lost the Feb. 5 primary for a judicial subcircuit seat has received an anonymous letter suggesting more than 1,000 faulty ballots influenced the outcome of the election.

A copy of the letter, postmarked Monday and mailed in an envelope from Aurora’s Board of Election Commissioners, has been given to the Kane County state’s attorney, who is investigating. (read more)

(”Kane County election complaint under review,” Daily Herald, 3/1/08)

Tags: Aurora, Ballot Fraud, Judicial Race