This blog is focused on the politics and social news of the 58th District of Illinois (Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Highwood, Highland Park, Deerfield, Northbrook, Riverwoods, Bannockburn and Glencoe) and serves as a discussion group for concerned residents of the District and the State of Illinois who want to change the direction of our broken state government and improve the lives of all Illinoisans.

Friday, June 27, 2008

Blame the Democrats

Editorial from the Joliet paper...

Joliet Herald
June 8, 2008

Next time you drive over a pothole-filled road or become upset that your child is in an overcrowded classroom, think of the Illinois House Democrats and especially their "leader," House Speaker Michael Madigan.

In an amazing display of political idiocy, the House Democrats have failed to show any backbone to pass a $34 billion capital bill. That bill would have funded roads, bridges and schools, including $149 million for school construction in the Joliet Grade School District. Why did the House members choose a path of inactivity?

Because they were concerned that Gov. Rod Blagojevich might have too much power in deciding where the funds come from and where they will go.

In other words, the Democratic governor isn't trusted by many House Democrats, and because of this "mistrust," money won't be available on the innumerable projects that are so desperately needed.

Ironically, many of these same House Democrats had no problem giving former Republican governor and current federal inmate George Ryan free rein to spend in his $12 billion Illinois FIRST program, which was funded by higher license plate stickers and a raise in liquor taxes. Ryan gave $5.5 million for an ice arena in his hometown of Kankakee and used FIRST money to pay for an Italian-American Sports Hall of Fame. No House Democrats voiced concerns about Ryan's handouts.
But now the Democrats have a problem with Blagojevich. What's obvious is this problem is rooted in the inability of House Democrats to work for the people and instead cater to the petty interests of the misguided, bitter House Speaker who is having another of his endlessly exasperating and childish standoffs with the governor.

Republicans, led by House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego, see the Democrats' inaction as unacceptable, and we agree.
"Do they trust him or not?" Cross said of the House Democrats' attitude toward the governor. "The fact that we don't like someone is not an excuse for not getting our work done."

Cross crystallizes our view. The Democratic-controlled Senate found the capital plan acceptable, including funding the bill by leasing the state lottery and expanding gambling.

Lawmakers haven't passed a new statewide construction program in nine years. And it appears that House Democrats are going extend the wait until at least the November veto session.

It's very clear. If you want road repairs, school additions and construction, then contact the House Democrats. They must decide whether to serve the people's interests or continue blindly following Madigan.

Monday, June 23, 2008

New Poll Shows Illinois Voters Ready for Change

Poll shows deep level of distrust in Illinois government
6/20/2008

Kathleen Haughney, St. Louis Post Dispatch

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois politicians have been largely mired in scandal and controversy the past few years, and voters are tired of it, according to a recent poll.

Former Gov. George Ryan was sent to prison last fall on conspiracy and fraud charges. A top fundraiser for Gov. Rod Blagojevich was recently convicted for using his political influence to squeeze bribes from contractors seeking business with the state. And political infighting between lawmakers and Blagojevich has stopped a state infrastructure plan and balanced budget from materializing so far this year.

It's a problem that seems unlikely to yield a quick solution, and according to a recent poll by political reform coalition Midwest Democracy Network, voters aren't happy about it.

The poll, which surveyed 402 Illinoisans and had a margin of error of 4.9 percentage points, gave Blagojevich a 13 percent approval rating and the legislature a 17 percent rating.

"If any of us only had a 17 percent approval rating, we'd lose our jobs," said Cynthia Canary, director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform and a spokeswoman for Midwest Democracy Network.

The poll was conducted from April 21 through May 4, during the highly publicized trial of Blagojevich fundraiser Tony Rezko, who was convicted.

According to the poll, 3 percent of those polled "almost always" trust the government to do what is right, down from 7 percent in 2006. Meanwhile, 25 percent of respondents said they "almost never" trust the government, up from 14 percent in 2006.

Canary said voters are always grumbling about politicians, but recent years have been particularly bad in Illinois.

"In Illinois, in many ways this does stem back to the conviction of Gov. Ryan and the sense that our former governor went to jail and the response of our current governor and Legislature was nothing," she said. "They did nothing. They made no changes."

Brian Williamsen, a spokesman for Gov. Rod Blagojevich, said many voters are upset because of high prices at the pump, grocery stores and elsewhere. However, he added that the governor would not base any future decisions on public opinion polls that could swing up or down at any time.

"One thing that is pretty clear — times are rough, people are not pleased with the political games and the lack of action that they are seeing from their leaders, and really who can blame them," he said.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Excellent Article in Sun-Times about the Dangers of One Party Rule and Their Advice to Vote Republican!

June 17, 2008
Just Say No To Incompetent Government
Chicago Sun-Times

How to say 'no' to incompetent government



June 17, 2008
Recommend (1)

STEVE HUNTLEY shuntley.cst@gmail.com

Voting matters. Sometimes folks find that out the hard way. That unhappy lot would include Cook County suburbanites jousting at windmills in their uphill campaign to secede from the county.

Two years ago these suburban residents probably didn't think it much mattered who ran county government -- only half of the registered voters cast ballots in the election that made Todd Stroger Cook County Board president. He rewarded their indifference with a big 1 percentage-point increase in the county sales tax. That will bring in more than enough money to cover a current budget shortfall -- enough to ensure more spend-thrift business-as-usual in county government for years. Now, despite the secession dreams of Palatine and a few other suburbs, voters have little choice but to wait until the 2010 elections to register their displeasure with Stroger.

Similarly, Illinois voters disillusioned by the incompetency of government under Gov. Blagojevich and disgusted by its corruption have to wait until 2010 in hopes of replacing him. A recall movement died in the state Senate. Impeachment is on the table, but as columnist Rich Miller wrote last week, House Speaker Michael Madigan is using that issue to try to win Republican seats and pad his majority. Although Blagojevich shoulders the lion's share of the blame for the breakdown of state government, he is not solely responsible. Madigan and Senate President Emil Jones have had a hand in the mess that Democratic one-party rule brings to Illinois.

But voters don't have to wait until 2010 to voice their dissatisfaction with that. They can vent in the balloting for the seats in the Illinois General Assembly at stake in the November elections.

Their watchword should be: Just say no to one-party rule.

That means voting Republican.

Yes, that's a hard sell in this blue state. With Barack Obama heading their ticket, Democrats are salivating over their prospects. The GOP brand nationally is in trouble. Many voters remember the corruption that sent former GOP Gov. George Ryan to prison. Still, those have to be weighed against a Democratic vote that is, in effect, a vote of confidence in a one-party stranglehold in Springfield, its petty bickering, poisonous feuds and incompetence.

The state Republican Party could do its part by coming up with a campaign to persuade voters that it is worthy of their trust. The Illinois GOP might take a page from Newt Gingrich's strategy in capturing the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994. His masterstroke was the "Contract with America," a simple and short list of goals that the Republicans would work to achieve if they gained control of the Congress. National Democrats stole the idea two years ago with their "six for '06" agenda of six goals if they retook the Congress, which they did.

Republicans need something like a five-item "Contract with Illinois" and a comprehensive media campaign to sell it to the voters. It should be clear-sighted and confined to bread-and-butter issues like jobs, taxes, health care, pension reform and ethics reform.

A media campaign would be expensive. Maybe one or more of the wealthy Republicans contemplating running for governor in 2010 could help out. After all, a successful wooing of voters to the idea of a stronger GOP role in Springfield could only help their chances two years down the road, just as Obama's change theme is riding the Democratic tide of 2006.

Sure, some worthy Democratic lawmakers might be lost. But Springfield is run by the party generals, not the field soldiers.

A GOP takeover in the Legislature likely isn't in the cards (especially as just 40 of the 59 Senate seats are in play). But just cutting into the big majorities of foot soldiers would tell the irresponsible generals Blagojevich, Madigan and Jones that the voters are mad as hell and aren't going to take it any more. It also might boost impeachment prospects. Voting matters.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Daily Herald Blasts State Legislators for Failing to Enact Pension Reform

The Daily Herald took the State Legislature to task today for not proposing a solution to the state's runaway pension problem before they adjourned for summer vacation. This may be the single biggest issue facing the state and certainly has the biggest potential negative impact on our state's fiscal health. I will make pension reform a central part of my time in Springfield as your State Representative.

SPRINGFIELD -- State lawmakers had the incentive and the opportunity to work on the nation's worst pension debt problem, but they left town last month without a new solution -- and with even more money problems because of their inaction.

Here are some questions and answers about the latest on state government pensions.

Q: What is the financial condition of the pension systems today?

A: Pretty sad. The five state systems have a combined debt of about $44 billion, and they only have about 63 percent of the funding they'll eventually need to cover all their obligations to retirees. Those two factors combine to create the worst pension debt problem in the nation.

Q: Will any retirees be shorted this year?

A: No. The systems have enough cash and assets to cover their yearly obligations. State pensions will all be paid.

Q: Then what's the problem?

A: Debt -- costly, costly debt. The entire state budget is $59 billion, so $44 billion in long-term debt to the pension systems is a huge liability. The debt's growth rate is even scarier. The systems essentially are owed 8.5 percent interest every year their full costs aren't covered. That equates to more than $3.6 billion a year in interest -- or $120 a second.

Q: Did lawmakers do anything to deal with the problem this year?

A: Not to this point. Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration and Senate Democrats wanted to issue $16 billion worth of pension bonds to pay down the debt. That would then free up money destined for pensions to be spent on other state budget needs: education, health care, etc.

Q: How would this pension bond work?

A: The governor and lawmakers did the same thing in 2003, only with $10 billion. The idea is to put that borrowed money into the pension systems to cut their debt and reduce interest costs. The Blagojevich administration hopes the bond debt would have an interest rate of less than 6 percent, compared to 8.5 percent for the pension debt, so the state would come out ahead.

Advocates say paying down the debt quickly and spending less in debt payments each year will save Illinois a whopping $55 billion by 2045. And they estimate it would cut this year's required payment to the pension systems from $800 million down to $300 million. The "leftover" $500 million would be directed to other spending needs.

Q: What happened with this idea?

A: The Senate approved it with only Democrat votes. Democratic Speaker Michael Madigan never called it for a vote in the House, where it needs some Republican votes to pass.

Q: What's behind the opposition?

A: Critics point to several problems. They say it's unwise to borrow more money to pay off existing debt, particularly when it means converting pension debt that can be paid off any time into bond debt with a strict payment schedule.

They argue it could be risky to invest such a large amount of money at a time when the stock market and economy is shaky. If the investments don't cover the costs of the extra borrowing, the pension debt problem would grow worse. They also protest spending the "leftover" $500 million on other needs when the pension systems are woefully underfunded.

Q: How long has this been a problem?

A: For decades. Lawmakers failed to put aside enough pension money for years. That added up over time, leading to the massive debt problem.

Q: What is the state doing about it?

A: There's a payment schedule that began in 1995 and is supposed to get the systems up to 90 percent funding over 50 years. But it was structured to require small payments in the early years and increasingly large payments later. As a result, the state is finding it harder and harder to make the required payments and has skipped them in some years.

Q: Where does all this leave the budget for the coming year?

A: Under state law, the pension systems automatically get an additional $800 million. But legislators approved a budget that assumes the pension bonds will be issued, cutting the payment. Since the bond plan failed, the budget will have a $500 million hole -- part of a deficit that, according to the governor's estimates, totals $2 billion.

Q: What will happen next?

A: Blagojevich could bring lawmakers back to town this summer to try to pass the pension bond and make other budget changes. Or the pension bond could be discussed again after the fall elections during the veto session.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

House Democrats Playing Politics with Impeachment

This is an interesting development. For those of you who have not yet heard, Domcratic House Leader Mike Madigan's office authored a memo that contains talking points on impeaching the governor. I think many of us would agree that impeachment is something that should be on the table given the situation. However, reading the memo is an illustrative example of how the Democrat majority operates. It is filled with politics as usual and is certainly a brand of politics that Barack Obama would reject given his recent public statements! If you support impeachment or not you should be concerned with the pure political sleaze of the memo.

It is worth a read just for the interesting aspects of the memo. Any reasonable person would look at this and see the House Democrats as attempting to use impeachment talk against an unpopular governor to curry favor with the voters but while at the same time advising members of the house not to say that Madigan put them up to it. This is what I hate about our political system in Illinois and this is why I am running for office. Do what you say you will do--Say what you will do--and Stick to your word. C'mon, it's really not that hard guys.


Fallout continues in Illinois' 'Memo-Gate'
6/12/2008

Kevin McDermott, St. Louis Post Dispatch

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has long been known around Springfield as "The Velvet Hammer" for his ability to quietly crush political adversaries.

But the velvet has slipped off the hammer this week.

Madigan is in a rare defensive position in his year-long tussle with Gov. Rod Blagojevich, after the airing of a secret memo from his staff directing legislative candidates to call for Blagojevich's impeachment — complete with instructions to deny that they're getting instructions.

The leaked memo may already have weakened Madigan's position in ongoing conflicts over state spending and other issues, with the Democratic governor's allies emboldened in their defense of him and even some Republicans taking his side.
"It's outrageous," state Rep. Kurt Granberg, D-Carlyle, said Wednesday of the Madigan memo. "It's very transparent now that this is just a personal vendetta" by Madigan against Blagojevich.

The episode has chipped at the aura of political infallibility that Madigan has long enjoyed.

"It was pretty heavy-handed and out of character … for someone who has a reputation of nothing happening by accident," said Kent Redfield, a political scientist at the University of Illinois at Springfield. "If the idea was to draw attention to the governor's problems, what it's ended up doing is drawing attention to this memo."

That was clear on Wednesday, as Blagojevich and other leaders met in Chicago on budget issues.

House Republican Leader Tom Cross, talking to reporters, accused Madigan of "a scheme to lie" to the public about his own involvement in anti-Blagojevich campaigns.

Senate President Emil Jones chided Madigan (who in addition to being House Speaker is the State Democratic Party Chairman) for going after a Democratic governor.

Madigan is the only leader who hasn't been at the recurrent budget meetings, sending surrogates and generally refusing to negotiate, Blagojevich says.

State Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Collinsville, a top Blagojevich ally, suggested Wednesday that fallout from the memo gaffe might ultimately force Madigan to take a softer stance.

"Using a Democratic office to carry out his personal feud with a Democratic governor, to me, that's offensive," said Hoffman. "If that brings him to the realization he's got to stop these games, then it's a positive."

Madigan's office says the memo was merely a staff-written response to inquiries from numerous Democratic legislative candidates this year who asked Madigan's office how to respond to questions the media have been asking about whether Blagojevich should be impeached.

Madigan spokesman Steve Brown rejected the assertion by Hoffman and others that, as a top Democrat, Madigan had a duty to support Blagojevich.

"We're not going to fall over the cliff with these people," said Brown, who cited a widespread belief among the public that Blagojevich's administration is inept and perhaps corrupt. "If Mr. Hoffman thinks Democratic Party resources ought to be used to defend the schemes of this administration, he's whistling in the dark."

The 14-page memo — first revealed by The Associated Press on Tuesday — advises legislative candidates to call for Blagojevich's impeachment for myriad reasons, including the recent corruption conviction of his top fundraiser, Antoin "Tony" Rezko.

"Criminal activity in the Blagojevich administration is no longer theoretical — it is proven," the memo advises them to say.

Ultimately, the impeachment memo could have the ironic impact of making it less likely that Blagojevich actually faces impeachment — because his defenders certainly will point to the memo as evidence that such talk is merely a cynical political tool.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

House Republican Plan to Reform Illinois

The Illinois House Republicans have put forward a real agenda for change in Illinois. I embrace this agenda and look forward to working with other concerned legislators to implement these much needed bills to reform Illinois and get this state moving forward again. Check out more at my website: www.timforillinois.com

House Republican
“Agenda for Illinois”

Give us 6 days and we will change Illinois

House Republicans support an economic stimulus package to boost business productivity and individual purchasing power. Also critical to Illinois’ business climate is the need to begin a comprehensive capital program that would target resources to roads, school buildings, higher education facilities, state facilities, and mass transit, creating jobs and community prosperity.

· Negotiate a comprehensive capital plan that will reinvigorate Illinois’ economy and create jobs statewide.

· Introduce job-creating business incentives, such as (1) broadening the investment tax credit for businesses, (2) readopting the job training expense credit, (3) reinstating the entire research & development income tax credit.

Real tax relief for Illinois families and seniors

Senior Property Tax Relief

· Reduce the of property taxes on seniors by:
i. exempting Social Security income from the definition of income assessment freeze eligibility purposes;
ii. decreasing the age limit from 65 to 55 to qualify for the senior citizens’ assessment freeze;
iii. increasing the “ceiling” level of income needed to qualify for the assessment freeze;
iv. expanding the senior citizens’ Homestead Exemption from $4,000 to $5,500; and
v. indexing the Homestead Exemption and the assessment freeze to the inflation rate. (All in HB 4916)

Property Tax Relief for Families

· Double the Income Tax Credit for property taxes paid from 5% to 10%.

Reducing the cost of gas in Illinois

· Suspend the State sales tax on motor fuel for a 4.5 month period. (HB 6318)

Creating a sales tax holiday

· Authorize a one-time sales tax holiday to provide consumer tax relief and encourage consumer spending. (HB 6319)

Require a “real” balanced budget be approved

· Prohibit unpaid obligations of the State from being transferred from one fiscal year to the next, thereby ensuring a true “balanced” budget.

· Require the State to establish a single, updated, searchable database website accessible to the public at no cost that includes each entity that receives Illinois funding.

· Provide “sunshine” to the budgeting process by requiring defined, minimum time periods a budget bill must be made available for inspection and scrutiny by legislators, the public, and the media.

Safe families. Safe communities.

Technology in the 21st century is easy to access and, more importantly, dangerous for our youth when used without supervision. Social networking sites have become popular venues for child predators, House Republicans are pushing for (1) more child protections and parental control when youth access social networking sites and (2) tougher penalties for individuals who prey on children.

Educating parents how to protect children using the Internet
· Require owners of social networking websites to obtain parental notification and enforce age requirements of minors. (HB 4874)

· Ban sex offender access to social networking websites.
(HB 4875)

Protecting families from domestic violence
· Provide for electronic surveillance of violators of orders of protections.

· Formally establish a violence surveillance program that requires police authorities to use specific monitoring equipment.

· Mandate intervention treatment as a remedy in every order of protection issued by the court. Make it a violation of a protective order for an abuser to not complete intervention treatment.

Restoring ethics to state government
Enhance Illinois ethics laws to (1) end pay-to-play tactics that have become all too pervasive in State government, and (2) bring sunshine to investment advisor and consultant fees, commissions, and expense reimbursements made to outside lobbyists or other consultants.

· Require individuals who lobby boards and commissions to register as lobbyists. (HB 5737)

· Prevent elected officials and other state appointees and employees from receiving fees related to legal, banking, and consulting work with state bonds.
(HB 1)

· Increase disclosures for investment advisors and consultants with work before a State board or commission. (SB 1305)

· Require bids for state contracts worth over $10,000 to disclose all political contributions over $500 made within the previous 2 years to the officeholder that will award the contract. (HB 1)

· Prohibit any entity, or affiliated entities or persons, with an aggregate total of more than $25,000 in state contracts from making political contributions to the officeholder that awards the contract. (HB 1)

Making higher education affordable

Affordability is a key element of college opportunity. Families want, and understand, that education and job training is important beyond high school. To keep higher education a reality for families, and to maintain the academic excellence of our institutions of higher learning, we must increase the State’s financial commitment to our universities and community colleges.

· Make higher education funding a budget priority.

· Increase student financial aid opportunities to a broader number of qualified students to help working families afford educational expenses.