The League of Women Voters makes a serious effort to educate citizens at the local level
about local, state and national issues. They sponsor candidates forums (fora?) and send members to important meetings such as school board, Cook County Board, and so on with members writing up reports on these meetings for the League general membership.
If it were not for my local OPRF League, I would know far less about local and state issues, which are the ones which truly impact our day to day lives.
I find the League’s positions on some issues far too liberal, and my local league members have not always welcomed viewpoints which clash with their overwhelmingly liberal ones (after all, this is Oak Park) but they deserved huge credit for at least ensuring that discussions take place and for ensuring that many state and local candidates appear in the flesh to explain and be held accountable for their positions and their actions.
IARF, AND CBHA do a fabulous job. although they are supported by consumers of disability services.
they have a most compelling story. for most of the past 25 years and certainly the past 15 years the state’s approp process has ignored the disability community.
I work with Tony Rezko and his real estate development company. We have no problem getting anything we need. Very efficient form of government if you know what I mean.
My union, like most unions, is so removed from contemporary life, it still thinks the year is 1950. It seems to think that rich people are evil, we work in factories, we have no education, we have no idea how government works, picketing is a successful means of impacting issues, and we read newpapers.
Rich. Most of the people on here (except for state workers) are probably the people running the union, association, business, etc. that lobbies. Since I am one of those, yea, I think our association does a great job of representing us in Springfield.
- CountOnSocialSecurityNOOO - Tuesday, Mar 7, 06 @ 12:53 pm:
State retirement systems have several groups lobbying for their interests, unfortunately some of these groups did not strongly oppose the current raids on the future retirement of those they represent. A state legislator said in a public forum of retirees that he thought SB27 was ok with the people because the union representing many of those impacted said it was better than the alternative. So he thought it was ok! What?? How effective would you rate that lobby effort. As for the general assembly, they will go with the votes and that is why retirees and current state employees need to stop waiting for some group to wage this funding war and take up their own cause. Apathy, the fuel of poor representation, will cost those future retirees millions in lost benefits.
- Long Time Reader; First Time Poster - Tuesday, Mar 7, 06 @ 1:21 pm:
7:06 - You must be crazy. It is because of Rick Garcia that I do not donate to Equality Illinois.
After his PR stunt where he wrote horrible things about President Reagan in the dead president’s memorial book at the State House, he lost all credibility with me. How can any Republican elected official even think about supporting him after he says those things about Ronny? If he believes those things he should have kept them to himself. No lobbying strategy works by condeming an entire political party.
After the state went democratic, it still took him two entire years to pass even simple gay protection legislation, and even then it didn’t take effect for another 12 months because Garcia was asleep on the job. (I might add it took a lot of Republican votes to support that bill too.)
To top it off, the man is publicly supporting the Governor on this anti-hate panel issue even after the Governor appointed someone specifically because of her relationship with an anti-jew, gay-bashing, bigot.
I am a resident of a small county. Recently, the county board chairman started a group called The Association of Small Counties. They hired a lobbiest and have done… not so much as of right now.
The IEA has done a good job of representing their membership–until the pension bill. I was very disappointed in their efforts/lack of effort in that area. It is a sore point with many of us and may have caused the former director of gov. relations his job. We were told he went elsewhere on his own but I have my suspicions since there was a change in elected leadership.
Smartest thing IEA did was become bipartisan years ago. They recommend to their members almost as many Republicans as Democrats. This helped tremendously with such issues as the original collective bargaining bill that was passed in the 1980’s and signed by Gov. Thompson.
Many of the NON MANAGEMENT and NON CLERICAL employees at IDOT belong to Teamsters 916 based in Springfield. They have done a pretty good for the last 2 contracts.
- Dreamed I saw Joe Hill - Tuesday, Mar 7, 06 @ 6:54 pm:
Margaret, you’re too deep in with Blago, you’re his thrall and you’re throwing AFSCME brothers and sisters under the bus. What happened to unity?
The League of Women Voters is not a lobbying organization, rather, they are a tool of the very liberal left which capitalizes on the ennui of their largely elderly and uninformed membership.
AFSCME - pathetic, can’t seem to get new members on board in less that 3 years because they let CMS dictate to them. AFL-CIO - more pathetic. Their main reason for supporting Hairdo is that he’s a Democrat, according to one of their officials. How’s that for supporting the rank and file. And Joe Hill, you’re dead nuts on target.
The associated Firefighters of Illinois. They are suppose to lobby for Firefighters in Illinois. From the latest appointments to the State Fire Marshal’s Office, They are doing a good job of lobbing for theirselves.
- The Broken Heart of Rogers Park - Tuesday, Mar 7, 06 @ 7:06 am:
Equality Illinois + Rick Garcia = Success
- Cassandra - Tuesday, Mar 7, 06 @ 8:15 am:
The League of Women Voters makes a serious effort to educate citizens at the local level
about local, state and national issues. They sponsor candidates forums (fora?) and send members to important meetings such as school board, Cook County Board, and so on with members writing up reports on these meetings for the League general membership.
If it were not for my local OPRF League, I would know far less about local and state issues, which are the ones which truly impact our day to day lives.
I find the League’s positions on some issues far too liberal, and my local league members have not always welcomed viewpoints which clash with their overwhelmingly liberal ones (after all, this is Oak Park) but they deserved huge credit for at least ensuring that discussions take place and for ensuring that many state and local candidates appear in the flesh to explain and be held accountable for their positions and their actions.
- amos garcia - Tuesday, Mar 7, 06 @ 8:59 am:
IARF, AND CBHA do a fabulous job. although they are supported by consumers of disability services.
they have a most compelling story. for most of the past 25 years and certainly the past 15 years the state’s approp process has ignored the disability community.
- PJS - Tuesday, Mar 7, 06 @ 9:04 am:
the general assembly performs miserably. Oh, wait, you mean my group?
- the NRA - Tuesday, Mar 7, 06 @ 10:28 am:
We do a magnificent job. Just ask any downstate legislator.
- Rezmar - Tuesday, Mar 7, 06 @ 10:40 am:
I work with Tony Rezko and his real estate development company. We have no problem getting anything we need. Very efficient form of government if you know what I mean.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Mar 7, 06 @ 11:33 am:
All this mocking! For shame!
My union, like most unions, is so removed from contemporary life, it still thinks the year is 1950. It seems to think that rich people are evil, we work in factories, we have no education, we have no idea how government works, picketing is a successful means of impacting issues, and we read newpapers.
My union is pathetically obsolete.
- Walking Wounded - Tuesday, Mar 7, 06 @ 11:45 am:
Mine is the FOP. They do fine as long as they comply with Speaker Madigan’s bidding.
- anon - Tuesday, Mar 7, 06 @ 11:47 am:
Rich. Most of the people on here (except for state workers) are probably the people running the union, association, business, etc. that lobbies. Since I am one of those, yea, I think our association does a great job of representing us in Springfield.
- CountOnSocialSecurityNOOO - Tuesday, Mar 7, 06 @ 12:53 pm:
State retirement systems have several groups lobbying for their interests, unfortunately some of these groups did not strongly oppose the current raids on the future retirement of those they represent. A state legislator said in a public forum of retirees that he thought SB27 was ok with the people because the union representing many of those impacted said it was better than the alternative. So he thought it was ok! What?? How effective would you rate that lobby effort. As for the general assembly, they will go with the votes and that is why retirees and current state employees need to stop waiting for some group to wage this funding war and take up their own cause. Apathy, the fuel of poor representation, will cost those future retirees millions in lost benefits.
- Long Time Reader; First Time Poster - Tuesday, Mar 7, 06 @ 1:21 pm:
7:06 - You must be crazy. It is because of Rick Garcia that I do not donate to Equality Illinois.
After his PR stunt where he wrote horrible things about President Reagan in the dead president’s memorial book at the State House, he lost all credibility with me. How can any Republican elected official even think about supporting him after he says those things about Ronny? If he believes those things he should have kept them to himself. No lobbying strategy works by condeming an entire political party.
After the state went democratic, it still took him two entire years to pass even simple gay protection legislation, and even then it didn’t take effect for another 12 months because Garcia was asleep on the job. (I might add it took a lot of Republican votes to support that bill too.)
To top it off, the man is publicly supporting the Governor on this anti-hate panel issue even after the Governor appointed someone specifically because of her relationship with an anti-jew, gay-bashing, bigot.
- Lovie's Leather - Tuesday, Mar 7, 06 @ 2:06 pm:
I am a resident of a small county. Recently, the county board chairman started a group called The Association of Small Counties. They hired a lobbiest and have done… not so much as of right now.
- Nearly Normal - Tuesday, Mar 7, 06 @ 2:42 pm:
The IEA has done a good job of representing their membership–until the pension bill. I was very disappointed in their efforts/lack of effort in that area. It is a sore point with many of us and may have caused the former director of gov. relations his job. We were told he went elsewhere on his own but I have my suspicions since there was a change in elected leadership.
Smartest thing IEA did was become bipartisan years ago. They recommend to their members almost as many Republicans as Democrats. This helped tremendously with such issues as the original collective bargaining bill that was passed in the 1980’s and signed by Gov. Thompson.
- "B Team" - Tuesday, Mar 7, 06 @ 5:42 pm:
Many of the NON MANAGEMENT and NON CLERICAL employees at IDOT belong to Teamsters 916 based in Springfield. They have done a pretty good for the last 2 contracts.
- Dreamed I saw Joe Hill - Tuesday, Mar 7, 06 @ 6:54 pm:
Margaret, you’re too deep in with Blago, you’re his thrall and you’re throwing AFSCME brothers and sisters under the bus. What happened to unity?
- Anon - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 12:14 am:
The League of Women Voters is not a lobbying organization, rather, they are a tool of the very liberal left which capitalizes on the ennui of their largely elderly and uninformed membership.
- anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 5:51 am:
AFSCME - pathetic, can’t seem to get new members on board in less that 3 years because they let CMS dictate to them. AFL-CIO - more pathetic. Their main reason for supporting Hairdo is that he’s a Democrat, according to one of their officials. How’s that for supporting the rank and file. And Joe Hill, you’re dead nuts on target.
- The Fireman - Wednesday, Mar 8, 06 @ 10:28 pm:
The associated Firefighters of Illinois. They are suppose to lobby for Firefighters in Illinois. From the latest appointments to the State Fire Marshal’s Office, They are doing a good job of lobbing for theirselves.