Thu Jun 28, 2007
It's a safe bet they won't print this.
A letter to the editor is response to this Cindy Richards column in the Sun-Times. One of my last shots before I leave.
Cindy Richards' latest column, "Quit sniping and pass budget" includes dangerous suggestions for our political leaders in Illinois. The false assumption that the hard-working and poor people of Illinois owe state government more of their income only contributes to the budget mess we currently see.
State revenues have increased by $5 billion the last two years. Much of that increase in state revenues has come from the working poor in Illinois through higher gasoline, electricity, and utility taxes. Illinois families have been hit hard this year by higher electricity and gasoline prices. Cindy Richards' proposed solution of "higher sales and income taxes on regular folks" will only serve to damage our state's economy and the millions of families trying to get by.
No amount of tax increase is reasonable when we have a Governor flaunting his power with expensive daily flights to and from Springfield. No amount of tax increase should even be considered while we expect the poor people of Illinois to pay for $200,000-per-year state government employee pensions. The only people that will benefit from higher sales and income taxes are people with lucrative government jobs that are in line to receive million-dollar pensions and benefits at the expense of the taxpayers.
Cindy Richards has it exactly backwards. Higher taxes will make things worse for families in Illinois, not better. If we truly want to help Illinois families, the leadership in Illinois should be looking at cutting taxes, especially on electricity and gasoline.
If government's purpose really is to help people, one would think that at the very least, they would stop taxing the poor. Taxing them even more, as Cindy Richards suggests, is just plain cruel.
Jeff Trigg
Executive Director
Illinois Taxpayer Education Foundation
Posted at 6:50 pm |[3] comments | permalink | Illinois Politics
Fri Jun 22, 2007
I'm back, but...
...not for long. I know I've been absent for a few months. I blame Chicago Democrats for that, along with most everything else come to think of it. The Chicago Transit Authority has a way of sucking the life out of people that have to rely on it daily. Actually the entire city will do that, not just the CTA. I refer to Chicago now as "The City of Assholes", since it seems you have to be an asshole to live here. The Mayor, City Council, and Cook County President certainly set the tone in town that landlords, cabbies, valets, CTA passengers, government employees, and way too many others seemingly try to emulate. So that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it, for now.
Probably more influential in my lack of blogging is something I've been dealing with since before I moved up here a year ago. I've been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. And it's starting to kick my butt more frequently and more aggressively. So it's time for yet another major life change.
I'll be leaving NTUI towards the end of July and moving to the left coast. Illinois is almost hopeless anyway as demonstrated with the current budget mess the Democrats have going on. And the only way Speaker Madigan (D-City of Assholes) was going to let SB733 even come for a vote would be to catch him in bed with an underage boy. You know how it goes. Democrats in Illinois do not believe in democracy, they only believe in maintaining their power.
So anyway, I thought I'd put up an update before rumors and such start spreading around more. My downtown Chicago job is available, so if you or someone you know is interested in fighting back against government corruption, waste, and ever-increasing taxes, send me an email ASAP. Or fax resumes to 312-427-5139.
Read More...
Posted at 5:02 pm |[3] comments | permalink | Personal
Fri Mar 30, 2007
SB 733 Passes Senate ... 53-0
Senate Bill 733 just passed the Illinois Senate and now heads to the Illinois House, where you should now focus your attention. Please contact your State Reps. ASAP to lodge your voice in favor of this legislation. A call or letter to the Speaker's office wouldn't hurt either (just change Senator to Representative and can the P.S.). Thank you to everyone working on this issue and to all the Senators that have seen the light. I'm floored. And Congrats to Sen. Michael Frerichs for his first piece of legislation arriving in the House.
Democrat Speaker Michael Madigan
Springfield Office:.....................District Office:
300 Capitol Building.................6500 South Pulaski Road
Springfield, IL 62706................Chicago, IL 60629
(217) 782-5350........................(773) 581-8000
(217) 524-1794 FAX.................(773) 581-9414 FAX
and
Republican Minority Leader Tom Cross.
Springfield Office:........................District Office:
316 Capitol Building....................530 W. Lockport St., Suite 204
Springfield, IL 62706...................Plainfield, IL 60544
(217) 782-1331..........................(815) 254-0000
(217) 782-3234 FAX...................(815) 609-3994 FAX
Posted at 11:42 am |[2] comments | permalink | Election laws
Wed Mar 21, 2007
Open Letter to Senators on SB733
SB733 was "Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading March 21, 2007" so that means it could come up for a vote in the full Illinois Senate any day, even tomorrow. So if you haven't contacted your State Senator yet, please do so now. Here's a letter you can use.
Dear Honorable State Senators,
Restore Democracy to Illinois and Pass Senate Bill 733 today, please.
The voters have spoken.
More than 360,000 voters in Illinois cast their choice for an "other" candidate for Governor in 2006 with the Green Party's Rich Whitney achieving well over 10% of the vote. A survey cited in a June 17, 2006 Chicago Sun-Times editorial said, "Seventy-four percent say they are 'dissatisfied' with the way things in the country are going, the highest in 13 years, and 72 percent say they'd like a wider choice than just the GOP and Democrats in 2008."
The courts have spoken.
On September 16, 2006 the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled sections of the Illinois election law unconstitutional regarding independent candidates for the General Assembly in the case Lee v. Keith. In January 3, 2007, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals refused to rehear the case in front of a full panel and upheld their earlier ruling. The deadline for the state to appeal Lee v. Keith to the U.S. Supreme Court is approaching in early April 2007.
Zero independent candidates for the General Assembly have been on the ballot in the last 26 years. (Sen. James Meeks ran as an Honesty & Integrity Party candidate in 2004). Last year, 67 of 157 (43%) General Assembly races were unopposed. In 2004 it was 70 of 140 (50%). In 2002 it was 71 of 157 (45%). In 2000 and 1998, 50% of General Assembly races unopposed.
Several states have even lower ballot access requirements than SB733 proposes, and they do not have problems with cluttered ballots, voter confusion, and they all still have Republican or Democrat majorities. There is nothing to be afraid of in implementing a better democracy, and it sends a much better message to the children here and around the world than our current system does.
It's past time for the Illinois General Assembly to act.
Senate Bill 733 is a bi-partisan bill introduced by Sen. Michael Frerichs and also sponsored by Sen. William Haine and Sen. Gary Dahl that would make ballot access requirements for all candidates almost equal as is prescribed in our State Constitution. SB733 passed unanimously in the Senate Local Government committee on March 14, 2007. It is past time for the General Assembly to get rid of the worst ballot access requirements of any election jurisdiction in the world. We are better than that in Illinois, and we hope your vote on Senate Bill 733 reflects that.
P.S. If this is Senator Frerichs' first legislation up for debate, have fun, but please don't forget that democratic elections are no laughing matter in much of the world and shouldn't be taken for granted.
Posted at 9:32 pm |[0] comments | permalink | Election laws
Tue Mar 20, 2007
GRT gets headlines while Madigan plays with HB750
Phil Kadner at the Daily Southtown has the scoop that I haven't seen anywhere else.
The Illinois House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations -- Elementary and Secondary Education is expected to hold a public hearing today on House Bill 750.
This is a measure that would change the way public schools are funded by increasing the state income tax from 3 percent to 5 percent....
Lots of good stuff in his column. Last year Speaker Madigan didn't let this tax increase go anywhere even after a Senate committee approved it. Now he's apparently allowing a House committee vote on it, which should raise more than a few eyebrows. Blago's gross receipts tax and new 3% payroll tax are horrible, but HB750/SB750 is also bad.
Not that I think they are smart enough to pull it off, but it almost looks like Madigan and Blagojevich are working together to make sure some form of tax increase is passed this year. Blago proposing the awful gross receipts tax sure does make HB750/SB750 look a lot better in comparison and sets HB750/SB750 up to be a compromise. Watch your wallets.
Posted at 12:45 pm |[0] comments | permalink | Illinois Politics
Fri Mar 16, 2007
SB733 passes out of Senate Committee I'm in shock. Richard Winger has the news. I don't have much time, but I have to give it up to the Local Government committee for passing this bill in their committee unanimously. Also thanks go to Frerichs and President Jones. And William Haine and Gary Dahl for signing on as co-sponsors. And any of you that called your legislators. It works sometimes. Do it again please. Posted at 8:23 am |[2] comments | permalink | Election laws
Fri Mar 09, 2007
Archpundit is noticeably silent I pick on Archpundit because I can. Gross receipts sales tax increase and new 3% payroll tax? Anything? Biggest tax increase in Illinois history, 4 months after not a word during the campaign? Anything? Biggest state government tax increase in the US in the last ten years at least, while poverty rates are increasing, and while failing to recognize that Illinois businesses pay a higher percentage of taxes than the average of the other US states? Anything? Notoriously under-estimated costs of social programs just like Blago's nearly universal healthcare? Borrowing more money ($16 billion) to pay into pension obligations that include $100,000 and $200,000 per year government pensions? Selling the lottery ($10 billion in dreams) like a lottery winner taking $1 million up front rather than $200,000 a year for 15 years. While we're at it, where do you stand on tax money for the Olympics in Chicago? Posted at 8:50 pm |[2] comments | permalink | Illinois Politics
Mon Feb 19, 2007
Legislation Series at Illinoize
I've been posting a series of posts highlighting different bills that have been introduced in the Illinois General Assembly. Here are the links so far in case you want to check them out.
Smoking and Pot
Pension Reforms or Padding?
Wash Your Hands. It's The Law
Tax Credits for Government Lawyers
Posted at 4:02 pm |[0] comments | permalink | Illinois Politics
Thu Feb 08, 2007
Equal Ballot Access Requirement Bills Introduced
Believe it or not, but we have at least one State Representative and one State Senator who believe "all elections shall be free and equal" and that all candidates should have the same opportunity to be on the ballot. This is really good news for the principles of democratic elections in Illinois.
House Bill 158 was introduced by State Representative William B. Black (R-104, Danville). (I mentioned this bill a few days ago.) This bill would change the petition signature requirement for "new party" candidates. Instead of needing signatures equal to 5% of the total votes cast in the previous election, "new party" candidates would need signatures equal to the highest requirement of the "established" parties. So if a Republican needs 460 signatures, a Democrat needs 380 signatures, and a Green needs 290 signatures, the "new party" candidate would need 460 signatures.
The Rs, Ds, and Gs, signature requirement is based on needing the number of signatures equal to 0.5% (one half of one percent, not five percent) of the qualified primary electors (the number of voters that took a primary ballot for their party, not the total votes cast) of his or her party in his or her district. However, that mumbo jumbo is largely irrelevant for State Rep. and State Senate districts. In a State Rep. race, Rs, Ds, and Gs need either 0.5% OR 500 signatures, whichever is greater. That's almost always 500. For State Sen. races, Rs, Ds, and Gs, need either 0.5% OR 1,000 signatures whichever is greater. Again, that's almost always 1,000. It does come into play more in US House races, but I'll deal with that another day.
So this bill, for practically all State Rep. and Senate races would make the requirements the same for all political party candidates. (But not independents, which we'll get to.)
When I mentioned House Bill 158 earlier I pointed out it would not put our election laws in compliance with the Lee v. Keith ruling. I also pointed this out to the Honorable William Black, and he listened.
House Bill 632 was introduced by Representative Black a few days later, and it will make our election laws constitutional to comply with the 7th Circuit's ruling in Lee v. Keith.
HB 632 changes the requirement of independent candidates in the same way HB 158 changes it for "new party" candidates. In addition to changing the signature requirement, HB 632 also changes the deadline to submit petition signatures for independent candidates. Instead of filing them at the same time "established" parties file for the primary, independents will file their's at the same time "new party" candidates file for the general election.
These two bills combined are almost perfect and everything I could hope for as far as signature requirements go. All candidates having an equal chance to run for office is exactly how a democracy should work.
And just when I think it can't get any better, State Senator Michael Frerichs (D-52, Champaign) pleasantly surprises with Senate Bill 733.
Senate Bill 733 combines HB 158 and HB 632 into one glorious piece of democratic election heaven. It is especially suprising coming from Senator Frerichs. Why?
Frerichs won by 542 votes in a close 3-way race for open Senate seat. Yes, 3-way race which say Socialist Equality candidate Joe Parnarauskis also on the ballot and getting 1,894 votes good for 3.4%. But before Joe was on the ballot, the Democrats were so afraid of not getting those socialist votes that they tried just about everything to throw him off the ballot.
Even though the petition challenge found that Joe had enough signatures to be on the ballot, the 4 Democrats on the State Board of Elections refused to vote to certify Joe's name on the ballot. After suing, those 4 Democrats were finally forced by the courts to do their statutory duty and put his name on the ballot. They were soo desperate to keep Joe off the ballot they went so far as to refuse to obey the laws until the courts forced them to. That was one of the most dispicable acts against democratic elections we have seen in Illinois or America for quite a while.
During that whole ordeal, Frerichs did try to distance himself from the process but he caught a lot of heat anyway. I'd venture to guess some of Joe's 1,894 votes were motivated by sympathy for what Michael Madigan's Democratic Party had tried to do. I have no doubt Party Chair Madigan was calling the shots, not Frerichs.
Whatever the Honorable Senator Frerichs' motivations are for introduing SB 733, I certainly admire him for it. Does he feel guilty for what happened to Joe? Is he worried he almost lost the election because of the anti-democratic actions of his party? I would be very interested to know, but it really doesn't matter to me. Senate Bill 733 is, again, a glorious piece of democratic election heaven and Senator Frerichs has my deep respect for that.
So now the bills are there, and it's up to us true believers in democratic elections to help get them passed. Call your State Rep. and ask them to co-sponsor HB 158 and HB 632. Do it today. You'd be amazaed what one phone call can do. Call your State Senator when your done and ask them to co-sponsor SB 733. Us whiners (as Rich Miller calls us) have been asking for this opportunity for years and years and years. Let's at least do all we can do, even if the mighty Democratic Party leaders want to shun the very meaning behind their party's name.
This post was mostly informational, but rest assured I will be providing more about what we can do to achieve free and equal elections in Illinois.
"All elections SHALL be free and equal" - Article III, Section 3. Illinois Constitution.
UPDATE: Thank you Chris in comments for asking. These bills would reduce the signature requirement for indies and new party candidates for statewide office from 25,000 to 5,000, the same as for Rs Ds and Gs.
Posted at 7:21 pm |[7] comments | permalink | Election laws
Wed Jan 31, 2007
Interesting Bill from Rep. Dan Brady
HB 195
Amends the Election Code. Provides that the State Board of Elections shall not accept for filing any petition for nomination for State Senator or Representative if the petition contains less than 10% of the number of signatures required by the Code. Effective immediately.
It took them long enough. I figured they would have tried to close the "spaghetti on the wall" loophole years ago. What that means is a candidate can turn in one signature, but if they are not challenged, they are on the ballot. I've probably done that more than anyone else in the state this decade. hehehehehehehe.
And it even works sometimes. Marsellis Brown got on in 2002 for Governor, two LP candidates for US House made it on this way in 2004, and there were a few State Rep. candidates in 2002 and 2004 that got on I believe. The LP didn't even try to do this in 2006, in fact, they didn't even slate any candidates where they already had ballot access, which is why I can't even consider them a political party any more as they aren't recognized anywhere in the state of Illinois for the first time in more than 20 years. The Greens have complete established party status everywhere in the state while the Libertarians have it nowhere. And so I'm an independent.
But this is a bad, un-necessary bill that over-burdens the various election boards and will only serve to keep a handful of candidates off the ballots if that many. If no one objects to the candidates being on the ballot, why should the election boards spend our money and resources verifying ALL the candidate's signatures. There is no problem to be solved here, so this bill is a waste. The real problem is when 40% and 50% of General Assembly races go unopposed election after election. Let's see Reps. Brady and Osmond address that issue. Send them a note to tell them their priorities are way off base.
That is unless some ingenious person (ah ah aaahhh) came up with a plan for civil disobediance and found, say, 1,000 people to file to run for Governor in 2010 in protest of our worst in the world ballot access laws, which would completely tie up the State Board of Elections and make it impossible to hold required hearings for each and every candidate that filed before the deadline to certify ballots. Of course, though, if this bill did pass, it would only make an effort like that even more successful since the Board would be required to hear every case and not just the objected cases. Bring it on Rep. Brady, your poorly thought out stop Trigg's spaghetti bill only amuses me.
Posted at 12:54 pm |[0] comments | permalink | Election laws
Good bill from Rep. Bill Black
HB 158
Amends the Election Code. Makes the minimum petition signature requirement for a new State political party the same as that for a State office candidate of an established political party (now, the lesser of 25,000 or 1% of the number of voters voting in the most recent general election). Makes the minimum petition signature requirement for a new local political party the same as that for an established party candidate for the local office on the slate with the highest petition signature requirement (now, 5% of the number of voters in the relevant district or political subdivision who voted in the most recent election when district or subdivision officers were elected by the district or subdivision as a unit).
It doesn't address the needed changes as a result of Lee v. Keith, but it's nice to know someone else in Springfield thinks all candidates should be treated equally and fairly. Wanna bet the ruling Chicago Democrats won't let this bill go anywhere and none of them will so-sponsor?
Send him a thank you and ask your own state rep. to sign on.
Posted at 12:52 pm |[2] comments | permalink | Election laws
Go Bears! Does this mean the taxpayers get some of our $400+ million we paid for the newer, uglier, no longer landmarked Soldier field back? Posted at 12:47 pm |[0] comments | permalink | Sports
Gang symbols on websites illegal?
House Bill 447
Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Creates the offense of Internet gang recruitment. Provides that it is a Class 4 felony for a person to post on any Internet site or establish any Internet site that displays gang insignia or icons with the intent of coercing, soliciting, recruiting, or inducing another person to join or remain a member of a gang or in furtherance of gang-related activity.
Really? Republican Reps Dennis M. Reboletti and Ruth Munson think so. And exactly how will they determine the intent of the posting of a gang symbol? Seeing as many Chicago Democrats have been convicted of and involved in racketeering, mob activity, gang activity, collusion to limit political competition and the like, will this bill also ban the use of the Chicago Democrats logo?
I'm no fan of gang recruitment and activity (hello Chicago Alderperson Troutman), but this is beyond ridiculous and a complete waste of our police resources, court dockets, and taxes.
Posted at 12:46 pm |[0] comments | permalink | Illinois Politics
Wed Jan 24, 2007
Who wants an income tax increase?
My ITEF Comment released yesterday points to the main tax increase pushers in Illinois. As you could probably guess, government employee unions (fronted by A+ Illinois) are spending millions of dollars (in addition to millions more they throw at candidates) pushing for an income tax increase and big businesses with profitable government contracts and sizeable corporate welfare checks are the ones behind the push for an income tax increase of up to 67%. Special interests are pushing this enormous tax increase on us when the majority of your regular voters would much rather see tax cuts than tax hikes.
Today I learned of another one, hat tip to Dave Diersen's Daily News Clippings at Illinois Review and Greg's post about Republican State Senator Dave Syverson.
I sure would like to see the ILGOP get their heads out of their butts regarding these state income tax increase proposals. Talk about destroying families, that is the biggest threat to families we face in Illinois right now.
More Republicans have been quoted supporting an income tax increase than those who have opposed it. In fact, I'm still looking for even one Illinois Republican that has been quoted in any article as being opposed to any income tax increase. I'm also still looking for one bill introduced by any Illinois Republican that proposes even $1 in budget cuts.
I'm afraid we are at the point where the only argument will be over how much to hike taxes for our future generations, not if they should hike taxes. The silence from the ILGOP really is pathetic. Well, not complete silence since all the Republicans talking about income tax increases are in favor of it.
Rep. Robert Pritchard (R-DeKalb) recently told the Chicago Tribune, "I want to make sure we've got a coordinated package here before I sign on to a tax increase."
Current Hutsonville CUSD # 1 School Superintendent AND double-dipping State Representative Roger Eddy (R - IEA, IFT/CTU) told the Belleville News-Democrat, "If it takes an income tax increase, it takes an income tax increase." Must be great getting 2 full-time pay checks for 2 part-time jobs.
And now Syverson says on video courtesy of Jeff Berkowitz, "I think we have to raise the income tax. I said that during my campaign." He didn't say that to any reporters during his campaign that I found.
Posted at 5:21 pm |[1] comments | permalink | Illinois Politics
Barack Obama (D-Daley)
This is classic. Steve Rhodes from The Beachwood Reporter sums up Barack Obama's endorsement of King Dick Daley very well.
For those Obama llamas (I assume they herd like sheep), his Daley endorsement shows his real character. Obama endorses corruption for political gain instead of doing the right thing. Chicago politics and government is corrupt to the core and Obama knows it and Obama has done absolutely nothing about it. With this he proves he will do the wrong thing if it helps him politically. It was bad enough when he endorsed Todd Stroger for Crook County Board President, but this seals the deal for me. Barack Obama is just as corrupt as the politicians he grew up with.
Obama represented downtown Chicago in the State Senate. This is where the Hired Truck scandal occurred. This is where city jobs were passed out to family, friends, and campaign operatives. This is where minority set-aside contracts were obtained illegally. This is where poverty has increased, wages have become stagnant, population has left, taxes have increased, jobs have moved away from, and where 4 of the top 5 employers are units of government and the other is a grocery store chain.
The best predictor of future performance is past performance. Barack Obama looked the other way while the district he represented was raped and pillaged by corrupt Democrat politicians. Barack Obama will do the exact same thing in Washington D.C. So if you bought the Obama hype, get your head out of your ass and pay attention. Even I would pick Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama
Posted at 5:17 pm | permalink | National Politics
The North Face I think I missed the cool, hip, be a sheep memo in Chicago that says you must own a winter coat from "The North Face". It seems like a quarter of the Chicago population are wearing walking advertisements for that brand of coats. I just don't get the attraction people have with them, especially the ones with their logo on the back of the coat. Posted at 5:13 pm |[0] comments | permalink | Personal
Thu Jan 04, 2007
Strike 2 for Lisa Madigan and anti-democrats
Hat tip to Richard Winger.
On January 3, the 7th circuit refused to rehear the Illinois ballot access case called Lee v Keith. The 7th circuit had struck down the ballot access law for independent candidates for the state legislature in September 2006, and now has told the state that the decision stands. It is possible the state will now ask the U.S. Supreme Court to take the case.
Will Lisa go for strike 3 by appealing to the US Supreme Court? Let's hope not since that would be an even further waste of our taxes and government resources. Illinois ballot access requirements are awful, plain and simple, and this ruling was a good one. I'll blog more on this later I'm sure, but I wanted to get the news out.
Now, how many newspapers and media outlets will report the story? How many editorials will be written questioning Lisa Madigan's judgement in furthering this case in the first place? How many of YOU will call Lisa Madigan's AG office and tell them NOT to try to appeal this to the US Supreme Court?
More on Lee v. Keith and other election law stuff here
Posted at 12:28 pm |[2] comments | permalink | Election laws
