Comments on: Sweating the little stuff https://capitolfax.com/2011/01/31/sweating-the-little-stuff/ Your Illinois news radar Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:18:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: dupage dan https://capitolfax.com/2011/01/31/sweating-the-little-stuff/#comment-11111597 Tue, 01 Feb 2011 15:26:33 +0000 https://capitolfax.com/2011/01/31/sweating-the-little-stuff/#comment-11111597 =We’ll have to see how popular cuts will be when they start hitting home. Exactly.= Might as well raise the white flag of surrender. We are doomed if you can't even cut $1million from the budget without a conflagration. I believe the correct course of action would have been for the ag dept to have communicated better (doesn't cost much) to all concerned so that alternative plans could have been made that may have avoided the cancellation. Or, we could just suck it up and deal with it. In my town, they cancelled the annual festival due to the high cost of producing same. Many people were understandably upset. Some folk got together, found a sponser for a smaller event and put same on. Not the same but a loss people can live with. =We’ll have to see how popular cuts will be when they start hitting home.

Exactly.=

Might as well raise the white flag of surrender. We are doomed if you can’t even cut $1million from the budget without a conflagration. I believe the correct course of action would have been for the ag dept to have communicated better (doesn’t cost much) to all concerned so that alternative plans could have been made that may have avoided the cancellation. Or, we could just suck it up and deal with it. In my town, they cancelled the annual festival due to the high cost of producing same. Many people were understandably upset. Some folk got together, found a sponser for a smaller event and put same on. Not the same but a loss people can live with.

]]> by: rdb https://capitolfax.com/2011/01/31/sweating-the-little-stuff/#comment-11111578 Tue, 01 Feb 2011 04:35:45 +0000 https://capitolfax.com/2011/01/31/sweating-the-little-stuff/#comment-11111578 Going back to the posted April 20, 2010, Group Insurance Contract approval meeting audio of the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, it was noted (approx. 47 minutes into the meeting) that there is not a significant difference in cost (to the State) for Quality Care versus Managed Care Insurance Going back to the posted April 20, 2010, Group Insurance Contract approval meeting audio of the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, it was noted (approx. 47 minutes into the meeting) that there is not a significant difference in cost (to the State) for Quality Care versus Managed Care Insurance

]]> by: 13th https://capitolfax.com/2011/01/31/sweating-the-little-stuff/#comment-11111577 Tue, 01 Feb 2011 04:20:46 +0000 https://capitolfax.com/2011/01/31/sweating-the-little-stuff/#comment-11111577 It should be the same for everyone in state government funded health insurance, including all elected and/or appointed positions. These are out of line compared to most Illinois citizens. But we all know that the Dems and Repubs will not do anything that might affects them, self serving, no leadership anywhere once they are elected :( It should be the same for everyone in state government funded health insurance, including all elected and/or appointed positions. These are out of line compared to most Illinois citizens. But we all know that the Dems and Repubs will not do anything that might affects them, self serving, no leadership anywhere once they are elected :(

]]> by: Michelle Flaherty https://capitolfax.com/2011/01/31/sweating-the-little-stuff/#comment-11111576 Tue, 01 Feb 2011 03:48:13 +0000 https://capitolfax.com/2011/01/31/sweating-the-little-stuff/#comment-11111576 How about a forensic audit of the Rodeo subsidy before we just sign a million state taxpayer bucks over on the gold-plated word of the Springfield convention and visitor's bureau? I mean a session worth of drinking with Miller probably has a $1 million economic impact but you don't see him getting subsidized by the state ... oh, wait. Not a good example. How about a forensic audit of the Rodeo subsidy before we just sign a million state taxpayer bucks over on the gold-plated word of the Springfield convention and visitor’s bureau?
I mean a session worth of drinking with Miller probably has a $1 million economic impact but you don’t see him getting subsidized by the state … oh, wait. Not a good example.

]]> by: Me https://capitolfax.com/2011/01/31/sweating-the-little-stuff/#comment-11111575 Tue, 01 Feb 2011 02:46:06 +0000 https://capitolfax.com/2011/01/31/sweating-the-little-stuff/#comment-11111575 When I reired from a county, the county didn't pay any of my health Insurance. It cost $1047.00 per month for my wife and I when I retired in 2002 with 28 years of service. After 1 yr it when to $1347.00 per month. I had to go back to work. So let state employees paid a share of the cost When I reired from a county, the county didn’t pay any of my health Insurance. It cost $1047.00 per month for my wife and I when I retired in 2002 with 28 years of service. After 1 yr it when to $1347.00 per month. I had to go back to work. So let state employees paid a share of the cost

]]> by: Budlong Woods https://capitolfax.com/2011/01/31/sweating-the-little-stuff/#comment-11111574 Tue, 01 Feb 2011 02:33:38 +0000 https://capitolfax.com/2011/01/31/sweating-the-little-stuff/#comment-11111574 We have an aging population, some of whom with chronic health conditions. The health care system, as it currently stands, can only raise costs. There are other models focusing on reducing health care costs by focusing on those who use it the most. Not by increasing their cost but by increasing their disease management, making sure they take their medicine, see the physician, take care of themselves. State retirees don't pay a premium after 20 yrs of employment but do pay co-pays and face a continually shrinking drug formulary. There was a time not that long ago when our health insurance coverage was considered gold. We have an aging population, some of whom with chronic health conditions. The health care system, as it currently stands, can only raise costs. There are other models focusing on reducing health care costs by focusing on those who use it the most. Not by increasing their cost but by increasing their disease management, making sure they take their medicine, see the physician, take care of themselves. State retirees don’t pay a premium after 20 yrs of employment but do pay co-pays and face a continually shrinking drug formulary. There was a time not that long ago when our health insurance coverage was considered gold.

]]> by: Question? https://capitolfax.com/2011/01/31/sweating-the-little-stuff/#comment-11111524 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 23:12:31 +0000 https://capitolfax.com/2011/01/31/sweating-the-little-stuff/#comment-11111524 Thanks Senator Schoenberg. There is another issue you can look at to save a significant amount of money. Several thousand state employees can retire on last day of pay, while the others retire on the average last 4 years. This is causing some to retire at a very elevated pension, so maybe this can be fixed and reflect the same for (4 yr avg) everyone. Also, I just want to point out just because someone has a big title next to their name; it doesn't mean their pay reflects it. The the pay scale in this state is way out of whack. Thanks Senator Schoenberg. There is another issue you can look at to save a significant amount of money. Several thousand state employees can retire on last day of pay, while the others retire on the average last 4 years. This is causing some to retire at a very elevated pension, so maybe this can be fixed and reflect the same for (4 yr avg) everyone.

Also, I just want to point out just because someone has a big title next to their name; it doesn’t mean their pay reflects it. The the pay scale in this state is way out of whack.

]]> by: Greg https://capitolfax.com/2011/01/31/sweating-the-little-stuff/#comment-11111511 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 22:24:51 +0000 https://capitolfax.com/2011/01/31/sweating-the-little-stuff/#comment-11111511 One license plate on the rear, Why not? I've always wanted one of those "Eat Mo Possum!" plates on the front of my truck like the hillbilly's in Kentucky have!!!!! One license plate on the rear, Why not? I’ve always wanted one of those “Eat Mo Possum!” plates on the front of my truck like the hillbilly’s in Kentucky have!!!!!

]]> by: BOB https://capitolfax.com/2011/01/31/sweating-the-little-stuff/#comment-11111437 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 20:27:01 +0000 https://capitolfax.com/2011/01/31/sweating-the-little-stuff/#comment-11111437 An employee of the state before he retires, considers his income. If he has enough income he can retire. The employee thought that they would receive a set amount, every month. Then Gov Quinn decides that they can now start charging the retiree for his health insurance. So put the burden of the states mistakes on the elderly, An employee of the state before he retires, considers his income. If he has enough income he can retire. The employee thought that they would receive a set amount, every month. Then Gov Quinn decides that they can now start charging the retiree for his health insurance. So put the burden of the states mistakes on the elderly,

]]> by: McLean Farmboy https://capitolfax.com/2011/01/31/sweating-the-little-stuff/#comment-11111428 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 20:15:46 +0000 https://capitolfax.com/2011/01/31/sweating-the-little-stuff/#comment-11111428 The rodeo business is not all that surprising. IDOA has already been saving lots of money for several years now. There are buildings on the fairgrounds that have not been maintained for years. They saved enough money on maintaining the Jr Home Ec and dorm building that no one has been allowed in the upper floors for a number of years, and this year that building has been all but condemned. The rodeo business is not all that surprising. IDOA has already been saving lots of money for several years now. There are buildings on the fairgrounds that have not been maintained for years. They saved enough money on maintaining the Jr Home Ec and dorm building that no one has been allowed in the upper floors for a number of years, and this year that building has been all but condemned.

]]> by: How Ironic https://capitolfax.com/2011/01/31/sweating-the-little-stuff/#comment-11111420 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 19:52:37 +0000 https://capitolfax.com/2011/01/31/sweating-the-little-stuff/#comment-11111420 @piling on- Again, the audit only shows that the 10 day fair doesn't generate enough revenue itself to pay for the event. However, what your article DOESN'T show is the revenue generated YEAR ROUND on the fair grounds (ISF, or DuQuoin SF) through events that carry the fairs. The fairs do not get GRF funding, but rely on revenues generated during non-fair events to carry the main 10 day event. @piling on-

Again, the audit only shows that the 10 day fair doesn’t generate enough revenue itself to pay for the event. However, what your article DOESN’T show is the revenue generated YEAR ROUND on the fair grounds (ISF, or DuQuoin SF) through events that carry the fairs.

The fairs do not get GRF funding, but rely on revenues generated during non-fair events to carry the main 10 day event.

]]> by: Peter Snarker https://capitolfax.com/2011/01/31/sweating-the-little-stuff/#comment-11111410 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 19:31:23 +0000 https://capitolfax.com/2011/01/31/sweating-the-little-stuff/#comment-11111410 On the rodeo thing - I dont get it - if it is such a big money maker for the area ($8M), then who cares if it is government supported to the tune of $1M? Why doesnt the local area biz, or whomever has a stake in the $8M, privately fund the rodeo? I am not passing judgment on the worth of the rodeo. I am even passing judgment on whether or not the government should be in the business of rodeos... ... more pratically speaking, if there is $8M waiting to be scooped up by a local area, why dont local area businesses pro-rata fund it to the extent they gain from it? Serious question. On the rodeo thing - I dont get it - if it is such a big money maker for the area ($8M), then who cares if it is government supported to the tune of $1M?

Why doesnt the local area biz, or whomever has a stake in the $8M, privately fund the rodeo?

I am not passing judgment on the worth of the rodeo. I am even passing judgment on whether or not the government should be in the business of rodeos…

… more pratically speaking, if there is $8M waiting to be scooped up by a local area, why dont local area businesses pro-rata fund it to the extent they gain from it?

Serious question.

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