90 Comments - Undercover - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 10:55 am: YES! So awesome. I can’t wait to see what they do! - OneManBlog - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 10:58 am: Does Paul have a video camera? - Commonsense in Illinois - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 11:03 am: If memory is serving me correctly, the last time a group invaded the House Chamber, it was the “Chain Gang” in 1982 when George Ryan was Speaker. They rushed the podium where they chained themselves together in protest of Illinois not passing the Equal Rights Amendment. Then-Speaker Ryan just let them sit there, and adjourned the house a few moments later. Great theater then…great theater now. - gotta be anonymous - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 11:06 am: Don’t we usually make a big dig about the separation of church and state? What does “ministers with political clout” mean in relation to separating church and state? - Downstater - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 11:07 am: Waste of time. Wasted trip. They’ll never be allowed to carry out their plan. - Disgusted - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 11:12 am: I hope they have one bus loaded with psychiatrists because the usual statehouse group could sure use some, especially Milarod and Emil. - VanillaMan - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 11:12 am: There is something terribly wrong when four buses of ministers plan a government takeover. It sounds like something out of the Middle East, not the US. There is something wrong when community leaders normally seen as spiritual advisers, publically demand that state government does the providing to their communities, instead of their church members. What’s happening here? Why do these men and women believe that the State of Illinois owes them and their communities financial succor? How do these people view their relationship to the State if they somehow feel inclined to physically demand money from Illinois taxpayers? There seems to be some kind of blurring between what is the Church’s and what is the State’s role to these ministers. Any church organization that believes a government should do the providing to their communities should reconsider their basic beliefs. If these ministers were a group of TV evangelists, Bible-thumping fundamentalists, or seen in any way as a group of politically conservative ministers, would the reactions from the political world and the public press be different? Just who is these people’s God? - Patriot - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 11:12 am: I love it!!! - The 'Broken Heart' of Rogers Park - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 11:13 am: Why don’t these ministers do something constructive and take over the gang drug houses the line their neighborhoods? - Highland Online - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 11:16 am: Awesome! Statehouse Jihad! I’m taking my next vacation at the statehouse. - Disgusted - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 11:17 am: Maybe they will finally set the “bus” in motion so the whole statehouse full of lawmakers will stop letting the governor have his way. What are they afraid of? He’s an unknown outside of IL and a laughing stock. Their constituants can’t stand him, so they have nothing to lose by going around him. And why are they so set against removal from office for to failure to attend to the duties of the office? They have numbers - he has himself and Patti, because he has no other family except a brother whom we never see or hear from and his father-in-law won’t touch him with a ten foot pole. He could be jettisoned with no problem. But they don’t want to seem to bite the bullet and throw him out. He hasn’t been around long enough to have dirt on all of them. Even the Chicago contingent is fed up with his stupidity. I just don’t get it. C’mon P. Fitz. - Gene Parmesan - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 11:19 am: These “ministers” should be ashamed of themselves. I’d love to know who wrote the check for those buses too. - Southern Right - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 11:23 am: Do you think the Governor is getting ready for another “up day” ? - Mrs. Fisher's Chips - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 11:26 am: The first thing they could vote on is extending the property tax to churches. They can protest when they pay their fair share like everyone else. - Undercover - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 11:29 am: Please. Why shouldn’t ministers be concerned with their communities losing funding? Providing good quality, well-funded education to ALL kids isn’t a moral issue? Just more reasons why Republicans just can’t get a foot hold in Illinois. They’re too busy calling the community’s religious leaders jihadists. You people are self-defeating idiots. - VanillaMan - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 11:44 am: When you get to heaven, ask St. Peter if people heavily taxed to provide for nanny-state government programs get special treatment. Those that claim it is a moral issue, fail to understand that being forced to pay taxes or go to jail doesn’t make one moral. It irks me to see people who has such disrespect for traditional religion claiming that forcing communities to pay for social programs somehow makes for a moral society. - wndycty - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 11:45 am: “Why don’t these ministers do something constructive and take over the gang drug houses the line their neighborhoods?” Is the assumption that since they are Black ministers they all come from neighborhoods where there are gang drug houses? I love the underlying bigotry that clouds how some view this action. Nice. - Rich Miller - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 11:50 am: Good point, wndycty. I also wonder what the reaction would be of some commenters if a group of white, downstate and suburban ministers traveled to Spfld to protest against a tax hike or to rally for an abortion or gay marriage ban. Cool the tinged rhetoric, please. - RickG - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 11:59 am: But it’s one thing to travel to Springfield…it’s another to try and sit in the legislature’s chairs and hold your own vote. I’m just saying…I don’t care WHO they are, white, black, men of the cloth or moneychangers…don’t you think they don’t belong in the chamber, at least without an invite? - A Citizen - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 12:04 pm: This is just a great example and a real headsup! Next we could have MADD take over and then the NRA and the Illinois Rifle Association. The possibilities are exciting. At least they can’t get less done than the legislators. - RickG - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 12:06 pm: Also…hooray, Rate Relief! - A Citizen - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 12:06 pm: And of course there’s DAMM, the dyslexic branch of mothers against drunk driving. - Objective Dem - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 12:16 pm: My sense is the threat to take over the chamber is just that a threat. A classic tactic of the late Chicago community organizer Saul Alinsky was to make a wild threat to throw everyone off base and get media attention. People are paying attention to the ministers when normally a few busloads of protesters would barely register with anyone. - Mongo - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 12:41 pm: Actually, Mrs. Fisher’s Chips hit the nail on the head. Start collecting property taxes from every church and that sure would help fund schools and municipal government. Now we got something to talk about! - Civil Disobedience - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 12:56 pm: I can only hope they open some eyes, so perhaps it will encourage others to send busloads of their own particular group…don’t care which ones…just something to keep the pressure on the GA, and hopefully make them look like idiots. - steve schnorf - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 12:58 pm: “the power to tax is the power to destroy” - Huh? - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 1:11 pm: I am just wondering why it took nearly 6 hours for a trip that should usually take 3 1/2 hours. - Rich Miller - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 1:15 pm: Lunch? - RightGirl - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 1:17 pm: Why did the trip take so long? It seems that all these “grassroots” groups the Gov. buses in get lunch in some way-it’s part of the hook. Anyone know if Father Phleger is coming…and will he be looking to take someone “out”? - 47th Ward - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 1:20 pm: A Citizen said: “And of course there’s DAMM, the dyslexic branch of mothers against drunk driving.” No, DAMM is an acronym for “Drunks Against Mad Mothers.” - Rich Miller - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 1:20 pm: rightgirl, offering lunch to people being bussed in from anywhere is standard procedure. All sides do it. - RightGirl - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 1:23 pm: Rich…I agree…just making an observation…trying to be an ant in the Gov’s picnic. - Underdog - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 1:26 pm: Does anyone know which minister is representing the 8th house district? I personally favor the income/property tax swap instead of the GRT and I wanted to make sure my minister votes the right way on the symbolic budget. I keep looking for updates on the General Assembly website, but they just have the information for my usual state rep there. - wndycty - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 1:27 pm: “It seems that all these “grassroots” groups the Gov. buses in get lunch in some way-it’s part of the hook…” Not sure if the Gov had anything to do with the ministers coming today, 1) I don’t believe he will be in Springfield, 2) On Chicago news today a minister said he was upset that the Gov. and other elected officials visit their churches when they need votes but aren’t doing anything about education (he said nothing about healthcare, Rod’s pet project). The trip seems to be a day too early given the Madigan Jones Madigan fly around and my belief that the Gov. is in not in town. I believe Rod is signing the smoking ban legislation in Chicago. So before anyone claims this is set up by the Gov they may want to do some fact checking. - keepin up with the jones - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 1:54 pm: Did I read some place over the weekend that the power relief was only about $7/month? What is the figure that average home owner will get? Or is this BS fly around going to cost us more? - Bill - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 2:03 pm: “But a spokesman for the speaker suggested that the aldermen “are not fully aware of the facts” and that “rich people” do not need property tax relief.” Now, who is trying to “tear people apart”? Nothing like a little class war to get the blood flowing, eh Mr. Speaker? - Gene Parmesan - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 2:08 pm: Bill, the Speaker is right, the legislation proposed by Houlihan is so complicated that only a property tax attorney can understand it (not my words, but those of Assr. Houlihan’s staff). It robs from the poor to pay the rich already, and the expansion only provides more relief for homeowners with higher appreciating real estate. - A Citizen - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 2:09 pm: -Bill- You’re right - if the rich don’t get property tax relief too they won’t be rich for long at the rate those taxes are increasing. Cook is virtual usury but the rest of the counties aren’t far behind. God help those on fixed incomes - the tax becomes confiscatory in their cases. - Bill - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 2:20 pm: Gene, Homeowners with higher appreciating real estate are exactly the ones who need the most relief. The property taxes in Cook County, particularly Lake township, are forcing middle income earners and people on fixed incomes out of the homes that they have lived in for over 30 years. They paid off their mortgages only to have the county confiscate their property or force them to move. We all deserve a break from these ever rising assesments. The portion of property tax paid by businesses has steadily declined over the last decade or so thanks, in part, to the tireless efforts of tax attorneys. This inequity will continue if the Madigan tax plan is passed. - A Citizen - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 2:21 pm: Is there a contingency security plan if they start blowing a sheep’s horn and marching around the brass rail. This could be the end of the Capitol, as we know it. - downhereforyears - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 2:30 pm: When do the ministers go back? They’ve had their 15 minutes. - Ben - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 2:30 pm: Let me get this right…..”tax relief” for the “poor” more social services and health care “for the poor”. How many “rich people” (Bill’s words) are left in Illinois to support this? - Anon - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 2:31 pm: Gene Parmesan, i think you may have it reversed. The Assessor’s plan is the fairly simple one - a $40,000 cap across the board for ALL homeowners. It’s Speaker Madigan’s plan that is complicated with residency requirements, financial thresholds and assessed values. It also puts the burden of proof on the homeowner and it’s not evenly applied. - wndycty - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 2:31 pm: Go back? I hope they spend the night, if this action is going to be effective they need to be there tomorrow. - Crimefighter - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 2:32 pm: What a joke with these ministers… - downhereforyears - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 2:34 pm: Did I read this right, he governors chief of staff invited the ministers to join them at the leaders meeting tomorrow? Yep, that’ll get thing goin! - Gene Parmesan - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 2:35 pm: Bill, tell that to the folks down in Harvey who have higher property taxes due to these breaks Houlihan wants to extend to the rich. Tell that to the businesses that leave Cook County for the lower taxes of the collar counties, whereby they destroy the tax base and force higher tax responsibility on all residential property. And what do you say to the Senior Citizens enrolled in the Freeze program who will have higher property tax bills because the assessment caps raise the tax rate? Got any answers for them? Have you read the U of I study? It clearly illustrates how Houlihan’s plan raises the taxes on 52% of residents of Cook County. And if this is such a great plan then why haven’t any other counties in the state adopted it? It’s available to every county in the state, but they all decided it was a bad idea. At least you can see it’s nothing more than a means of shifting the tax burden to businesses. - Macbeth - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 2:37 pm: Actually, the whole thing with the ministers is creepy. I don’t want any so-called “religious” folks involved the budget. They don’t speak for me — and I’m not even sure who they’re speaking for in the first place. They seem like Blagojevich stooges who can’t even muster enough strategy to figure out how to be “disobedient” and get their points — whatever the points are — across. Activism is apparently lost on this bunch. - Ghost - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 2:38 pm: so the ministers have formed a political action cult which seeks to fix the budget by traveling to springfield and complaining only about the general Assembly…but they are not just stooges for the Gov. If they are truly an independent cult would it not make more sense to rally around the Gov’s home in Chicago with their supporters carrying signs etc urging the Gov to spend more time working with the general Assembly to reach a budget? - Downstater - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 2:44 pm: As stated at 11:07 a.m. - waste of time, wasted trip. What a joke! - A Citizen - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 2:45 pm: I can’t believe Jesse J. missed out on a press/publicity opportunity. Where was he? Maybe Blago and Emil asked him not to “help”. - the Patriot - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 2:46 pm: Write this down.. There were four bus loads of people who took up the Governor’s cause, but non willing to spend a day in jail for him. I bet Patrick Fitzgerald is taking notes! - Bill Baar - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 2:48 pm: I think they’re just paying back the Gov. This isn’t a real protest of much of anything. - the Meeks shall inherit - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 2:49 pm: speaking of ministers… ‘Meekly’ - interesting choice of words, Rich. slip of the tongue? : ) - Disgusted - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 2:53 pm: “I’m just saying…I don’t care WHO they are, white, black, men of the cloth or moneychangers…don’t you think they don’t belong in the chamber, at least without an invite?” I don’t care what group they belong to but they (and we) shouldn’t need an invitation into a place that has been luxuriously remodeled and funded by our tax dollars. Especially since it is occupied by people we elected to represent us and all they represent are their own pockets. After all, we can’t decided the time and the date for OUR next pay raise. Unlike the “House of Lords” we have to work for it. - Macbeth - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 2:53 pm: Does this mean Blagojevich will go back to their churches and thank them for their actions today? Were there soundbites? Did these guys (and gals?) *complain* about anything? Did they have an agenda? Did they speak up and offer interviews? Were there schools that they were attempting to represent? - Anonymous - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 2:54 pm: Their biggest error was in revealing their full intentions preemptively. Had the group merely made their press release a more mercurial statement about ministers coming to speak en masse to legislators, and present a listing of grievances, or something bland of the like, then perhaps they would not have had the difficulty in storming the castle, so to speak. Of course, if this group was simply a manipulation by the governor or some other interested party, it is all moot, because the events showed their lack of conviction. - Bill - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 2:55 pm: Gene, I agree that it does shift some of the burden back to businesses that have been not paying their fair share as indicated by the U of I study which you refer to and that I have read. Rates are capped by law and in most communities are routinely raised to the max allowable so that argument is specious at best. It is a faulty argument to call the residents of Englewood and Austin, who have seen their assesments rise by triple digits,rich. They are not the ones with the resources to hire the expensive tax attorneys who stand to benefit from the watered down plan as they routinely win big reductions for businesses and downtown landowners. - Civil Disobedience - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 2:56 pm: Was looking forward to overturned vehicles, smashed windows, trash can fires…shucks! - RightGirl - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 2:58 pm: No House, No Senate, No Gov’s office…No room at the Inn. - Chicago Cynic - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 3:02 pm: What a waste of pollution… - nino - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 3:07 pm: ministers are about the lowest form of life. It does not surprise me that they did nothing. Isn’t that what they always do? Who cares who sent them I am just glad that they are gone. It doesn’t matter if they are southern Illinois southern baptists dressed like rednecks or chicago “ministers” dressed like pimps they all do the same thing. What did Jesse Ventura say again? - Objective Dem - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 3:13 pm: I stand by my earlier comment, that the threat to take-over the legislature was a way to get more media attention. I am not surprised by the earlier comment that the ministers were not well-organized. I think too many people view them as a monolithic block. While there are a few decent size African-American denominations, most of the African-American ministers are Independent,with a capital I. Each is the head of their own congregation. They have different views on theology and the church’s role in the world. They compete directly with one another for church membership, visibility, grant money and government assistance. Whenever any minister tries to take the lead, a large number of ministers go the other direction. Even when Martin Luther King was the “leader” of the civil rights movement, many African American ministers did not support him. In fact one prominent church on Martin Luther King Boulevard in Chicago, change their address to a side street when the Boulevard was renamed in his honor. - Chicago Cynic - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 3:14 pm: Nino - Youch! Stop beating around the bush and tell us how you really feel… - Wile Coyote - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 3:16 pm: The ministers picked a bad day as Jones & Madigan are doing a 4 city fly around today. How would you like to be on that flight?? http://www.bnd.com/homepage/story/87320.html - 312 - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 3:18 pm: Bill - Have you cross-checked these visiting ministers with the churches that signed the A+ Illinois ad today? Were there any that were in both groups? - Anon - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 3:23 pm: Gene: How many businesses have left Cook County because of taxes? Take a look at the Civic Federation report that says Cook County tax rate for business is better than its neighbors. As for seniors, they will pay LESS in taxes next year then they did the previous year under Houlihan’s plan. And you may want to read that U of I study a little closer. It says 52% of property owners (NOT homeowners)could pay slightly more. Homeowners, the ones that Houlihan is trying to protect, would see favorable results. Businss has been shifting taxes to homeowners for years, Houlihan is just trying to slow the shift down. - Gene Parmesan - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 3:25 pm: Bill, you can’t agree with me that taxes are being shifted back. I never said that, and quite honestly I think that’s completely rediculous. I also never said the residents of Englewood or Austin are rich. Nice try, how bout we talk about the issue. The issue is this legislation robs from the poor and gives to the rich, while also harming the business commmunity (and tax base) of Cook County. This is tax relief for the wealthiest residents of Cook County, who have homes that are appreciating at a much faster rate than those in the north and south suburbs. As we’ve both read the U of I study, I’m sure you remember the section where they outlined how the suburbs of Cook County were footing the bill for the assessment cuts to those in the exploding real estate markets of some neighborhoods of Chicago. Bill, if you really want to help people out with their skyrocketing property taxes, then lets exhibit some fiscal restraint within Cook County government, and replace the Assessor and his “Reverse Robin Hood” schemes. Lets get rid of the EHEA and try to grow business (and the tax base) within Cook County. I thought Rod was all about not raising taxes on “people?” Well Assr. Houlihan’s tax scheme raises taxes on poor people to pay rich people. I thought that was what Republican’s do, not the Dems. But I forgot how good a deal Rod is getting on his property taxes. No increase in assessment for his home. - Cassandra - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 3:37 pm: Hmm….do ministers in Chicago get a lot of state contracts? To help the poor, of course. If you want to tax the rich, change the constitution and put a surcharge on higher incomes. Lose the complicated property tax schemes that people don’t understand until it’s too late. Oh wait. The Democrats who lead us don’t want to tax the rich. Too many of them are rich. The pol’s eternal mantra…take care of yourself first. - Bill - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 3:47 pm: Gene,2:35 “At least you can see it’s nothing more than a means of shifting the tax burden to businesses” Gene,3:25 “Bill, you can’t agree with me that taxes are being shifted back. I never said that, and quite honestly I think that’s completely rediculous” ? - Gene Parmesan - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 3:53 pm: They’re not being shifted back, they’re being shifted to them. - Bill - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 3:55 pm: Gene, your echoing of the rich vs poor argument makes absolutly no sense and attempts to foster the Madigan scheme to make this some sort of class war. You say you want to talk about the issue and then bring up Rod and his taxes. You should probably leave the propaganda spewing to Brownie and the speaker. - Concerned Voter - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 3:56 pm: Maybe that’s the right idea. Every organized group gets one day in Springfiled to create a budget, try to see the guv, have lunch, and go home. Then we get to vote on the budget we like the best. Just a nice lack of leadership coming from the guv’s office taking Illinois further into the toilet. - Gene Parmesan - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 4:02 pm: Bill, I’m no Madigan fan, his version of 7% EHEA is just slightly less rediculous than Houlihan’s. They both have the effect of disproportionally hurting the poorest taxpayers and hurting the business climate in Cook County. - Bill - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 4:08 pm: Gene, If you insist on the rich vs poor paradigm the real truth is that Daley traded support for the Madigan scheme in exchange for expanded TIF authority which shifts hundreds of millions of dollars from schools, parks, and Cook County to wealthy loop landowners and REITS leaving middle class homeowners like Cassie and I to pick up the tab. It is an insiders game and as usual the people lose. - Gene Parmesan - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 4:13 pm: “It is an insiders game and as usual the people lose.” — I can agree with you on that, Bill. - Rich Miller - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 4:15 pm: Bill, that should be “reportedly” traded. - Anon - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 4:16 pm: Gene: How is Houlihan’s plan “rediculous” (sic)? It’s the simplest, broadest plan out there. The only people that support a tiered cap level are business owners and tax attorneys (aka Madigan). Even the Civic Federation - a business group - supports an across the board cap, not some convoluted plan that makes the homeowner jump through hoops to see any real relief. Houlihan is for the homeowner. Who is Madigan for? - Bill - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 4:29 pm: Rich, You’re technically correct. I didn’t actually hear them trade. - Gene Parmesan - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 4:32 pm: Houlihan’s plan is simple? His own staff came out and said only property tax attorneys can understand it. I mean, define “simple” and “broad”? The Civic Federation came out in support of the $20,000 cap. Houlihan has lobbied for a much larger cap. To be clear, I favor neither Houlihan’s measure, nor Madigan’s. I think the 7% EHEA should be allowed to expire. I have no clue who Madigan is for, but Houlihan is clearly in favor of homeowners in neighborhoods where property values are skyrocketing, as opposed to providing property tax relief for the middle class and the suburbs, and providing a better business environment in Cook County. - Bill - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 4:33 pm: Anon, I think we all know the answer to that question. - Arthur Andersen - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 5:26 pm: Bill, your depth and breadth of subject matter knowledge never ceases to amaze me. AA is still trying to figure out how a bus ride from Chicago to the ‘Patch could take six hours, lunch or no lunch. CMS Bus Service? - some former legislative intern - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 6:08 pm: Bill: Can you please point to some specific legislation that has passed either body to give evidence for your allegation of a deal via your 4:08pm comment or are you just making stuff up again? You say there has been a “deal”. A “deal” requires something to have actually occured. Please provide evidence for such a deal, or are you just making stuff up again? - Reddbyrd - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 6:22 pm: Bill— is this big news? Have you forsaken the GRod tank for some fast cash from the Assessor? The Madigan version of the 7% shifts reduces the amount of extra tax that renters, seniors and others pay to help the northsiders live in comfort. - WHAT THE HECK - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 7:03 pm: I believe the pastors did not come down to support blago but rich check if A+ Illinois paid for their buses. I think that maybe why they came down! - anon1 - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 7:11 pm: If the Speakers legislation is to help the most needy, why put a residency requirement? A single parent living on a fixed income who has lived in there home less than 10 years gets little relief. No, the only reason to put a residency requirement is to exclude people. Instead of making the savings more accessible to people, madigan’s bill looks to disqualify homeowners. It’s clear that ALL homeowners would rather have an all-inclusive benefit. The only ones that want to exclude homeowners are business owners - the ones already seeing the big breaks. - Macbeth - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 7:12 pm: Whatever — but it’s still creepy. - Arthur Andersen - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 9:21 pm: Rich, if you’re keeping track, 7:56 anon might qualify for the “Bizarre Post of 2007″ semi-finalist list. - no chance - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 11:24 pm: With people like this working for them they have no cahance From: Stout, Michael R Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2007 8:16 AM To: CO.TS - Division Of Traffic Safety Subject: Good morning Good morning everyone, today there will be a press release out announcing the safety belt usage rate in Illinois. In case you’re not aware, our new rate is 90.1 percent. This has been our goal for three years and I wish to thank everyone for their effort in reaching this milestone. Last year only ten states hit the 90 percent plateau and this year we will join those elite states. In the past three years DTS has reached many of its goals only because of the effort of its staff, support from the Secretary and our many safety partners. Last year was the safest on Illinois roads since 1924 and we’re on a pace to better that in 2007. Please keep up the good work and thank you for assisting us in reaching this important goal. A few months ago I announced a contest for writing a public service announcement that would be used by a St. Louis Cardinal. There were many good submittals but the best idea was one from Joe Mercier. The script has been turned over to the Cardinals and we will share the PSA as soon as we receive it. Congratulations Joe, two tickets to a Cardinal game await you. Let me know what game you would like to attend. Thanks everyone that submitted an idea. I would also like to announce the winner of the DTS Art Award, “Double Dippin”! The winner gets to have dinner with me and my wife at Outback! Would the artist please contact me, you didn’t sign your piece of art? Identify the drawing and we’ll arrange a date for the meal. To be honest, there was no contest. Some cowardly employee posted a drawing of someone on a sinking ship. I would say that person wasn’t happy when they read the newspaper on Sunday and found out I have secondary employment. My secondary employment has never been a secret. I work my second job because I enjoy it, is that against the law? If anyone on staff would like to compare their work ethic or hours of work to mine, I say bring it on. Am I mad? Nope! Along time ago I learned that if you’re in a supervisory role and everyone likes you, you aren’t doing your job. Some people don’t like me because of my politics and that’s fine. Some people don’t like me because I expect everyone to put in a full day of work on the job. These are the people that give state employees a bad name. I’m thankful that an overwhelming majority of our employees come to work and do their best each day regardless of their politics. It’s common knowledge which employees work and which ones don’t. Contrary to the artwork, we don’t have to spend much time trying to figure out who these people are. Although there wasn’t an art contest, I will still take the coward artist out for dinner a ve them the chance to be a real man or woman! I doubt they will come forward.nd gi - Truthful James - Tuesday, Jul 24, 07 @ 8:32 am: There is no such thing as a fair property tax. There are too many competing interests, too much ignorance built into the system. The most transparent way would be to freeze every property valuation until the property is sold or improved. Get away from the fractional (33 1/3%, and for Cook County the Byzantine different ratios.) Use 100% valuation (estimated market value) as evidenced by the last reassessment. Freezing the valuation protects the fixed income people. Al taxpayers would then know the consequences of sale and/or improvement. The sales price would then reflect the buyer’s informed estimate of future taxes, something he is not now told by his R.E. agent or his mortgage company. Eliminate the State multiplier for local property tax purposes. It will not be necessary. With valuations in the open air, change the tax rate methodology. Eliminate the tax rate caps (which don’t apply to home rule units anyway.) Let the taxing bodies publish budgets and the tax rates necessary to fund the collections. Limit levy increases to 2.5% of the prior year’s levy, adjusted for new valuation and for the cost of State mandates. Referenda may permit additional increases. Transparency triumphs. No more secret government run for the benefit of the workers and not the taxpayers and residents. The taxpayers have responsibility for surveillance over their elected officials. Because the taxpayer then knowd what his tax bill will be he can take the appropriate political action against his elected officials Having done that Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.