Trenches of Democracy

With the present mess down in Springfield, it couldn’t hurt…


Rutherford pushing for recall amendment by Diane Wilkins, Marion Daily 3-26-08

I find it humorous that Lt. Governor Pat Quinn is quoted in support of the measure. He commented, if the “recall is even on the books[, it] makes all of us as officeholders in the executive branch and every other branch be on our toes, not just on Election Day, but 365 days a year[.]”

Pat Quinn for Governor 2008!

Tags: Blagojevich Governor, Illinois, Quinn, Recall, Rutherford

Yesterday State Representative Bassi and State Senator Murphy introduced legislation into their respective chambers, which would ease the process of secession of townships from Cook County.

Bassi called it a “Boston Tea Party response” against Cook County taxes. Both legislators recognize the bills probably won’t go anywhere, but they want to make point of protest. Bassi continued, “This is not a joke. … If the city of Chicago is not going to pay attention to the suburbs, by golly, we should be seriously looking at secession[.]”

[read more here]

(”Proposal would ease suburbs’ break from Cook County” Daily Herald)

Tags: Bassi, Lincoln County, Murphy, Palatine, Palatine secession, Reagan County, secede

The Daily Herald covers a rare example of fiscal responsibility in Illinois politics:

Mayors seek an end to pension sweeteners

SPRINGFIELD — Mayors from across the suburbs and state asked lawmakers Thursday to halt all enhancements to police and firefighter pensions until the growing debt and its consequences for taxpayers can be studied.

Skokie Mayor George Van Dusen said cities and villages increasingly find themselves unable to keep up with pension payments and the result could be higher property taxes or budget cuts in many communities.

Van Dusen said a review of 52 Northwest suburban communities found more than half — 30 — reported falling below the 75 percent ratio for pension funding, up from only six a few years prior. (read more)

I stumbled upon this tv series online while studying in Ohio. It’s a little dated, but it offers a fascinating look inside Illinois politics.

Connecting the Dots James Ylisela Jr. and Terrence Brunner of Chicago Clout

Chicago’s two most famous crime fighters team up to expose the Clout and Corruption in Mayor Daley’s and George Ryan’s plan to expand … all » Chicago O’Hare Airport. This video scratches the surface of some Chicago political misconduct.

More Episodes (no particular order):

1. Connecting the Dots Patrick McDonough and Terrence Brunner of Chicago Clout
2. Connecting the Dots James Ylisela Jr. and Terrence Brunner of Chicago Clout
3. Connecting the Dots Tom Roeser and Terrence Brunner Chicago Clout
4. Connecting the Dots Cliff Kelly Tom Roeser
5. Connecting the Dots with Terry Brunner
6. Connecting_The_Dots_3
7. Connecting the Dots #7

Yesterday Gov. Blagojevich floated the idea of demolishing Cole Hall (the site of a tragic shooting at Northern Illinois University - NIU) and rebuilding a new one in it’s place to the tune of $40 million. Here I’d like to echo the Daily Herald editorial, “Don’t rush to raze NIU’s Cole Hall.”

Cole Hall isn’t a new building, discussions of renovation preceded the shooting. So this idea isn’t completely reactionary. But, if NIU wants to replace Cole Hall, the university should eat the bill. They can sell more bonds and shuffle the bond revenue costs into the traditional “student fees” category.

We don’t need our pandering Governor to erect a direct money funnel from Springfield up to NIU.

Tags: Blagojevich, NIU

My fallen political hero, former state senator Steve Rauschenberger, speaks candidly about Barrack Obama and the state of Illinois politics on Public Affairs with Jeff Berkowitz.

Tags: Berkowitz, Illinois, Obama, Public Affairs, Rauschenberger

Illinois Works

While Illinois’s economy slows, Gov. Blagojevich responded last week with an unprecedented capital spending program, Illinois Works. Blagojevich’s $32 billion dollar budget eclipses the legacy of his big spending predecessor, convicted Gov. George Ryan.

Meanwhile, these grand visions for government spending fall on a backdrop of fiscal chaos. Illinois is already heavily in debt, unable meet it’s present financial commitments. Dennis Byrne of the Chicago Tribune comments:

Gov. Rod Blagojevich did it again last week. The roof is leaking, the electricity has been shut off, they’re coming to repossess the car, and he’s talking about adding a swimming pool and taking a Caribbean cruise.

Illinois is perhaps in the worst financial shape in memory and has the largest budget deficit of any U.S. state. But he’s proposing new programs and bigger giveaways. Blagojevich’s state of the state speech should have been delivered by Mad magazine’s Alfred E. Neuman. What, me worry?

To mask the state’s frightful condition, the governor reverted to the usual political blather that everything he’s doing is about the kids, families and people. The premise being, of course, that if you oppose his headlong dash into the financial bayou, you’re against kids, families and people… (read more)

Comptroller Dan Hynes complains “With the General Revenue Fund cash balance so low, there simply is not enough cash on hand to pay all of the bill presented for payment on any given day… it provides Illinois the dubious opportunity to retain its status as having the worst deficit in the nation for the fourth year in a row. (Tribune)”

Prosperity through Gov’t Spending

Convicted Gov. George Ryan’s massive pork barrel project, Illinois First, cost $12 billion in 1999. Now, Gov. Blagojevich’s Illinois Works program approaches $25 billion. Blagojevich rationalizes “I like the idea of a capital bill of the size and scope I am proposing because first and foremost, it means that we will put more than 700,000 people to work. More than 700,000 jobs. Good jobs. Jobs that pay good wages. Jobs that have good benefits. Jobs that help families. Jobs that help businesses. Jobs that strengthen our economy. . . (budget speech)”

There’s no such thing as a free lunch. The question is, how many jobs will a $25 billion dollar tax bill cost us? Which tax payers will eat this bill? Who will appease the big construction union, Local 150, the International Union of Operating Engineers?

Tags: Blagojevich, Illinois Works