95 Comments - wndycty - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 11:35 am: 2 technical questions on Black’s release: 1) Its dated for release for August 9, was the intent for it to be embargoed until tomorrow? 2) Given that this announcement is in regards to a political matter (his intention not to run for re-election.) Can any state resources be used in its distribution? Not trying to nitpick just want a clarification, after all others (such as Rod) are scrutinized when the worlds of politics and official duties cross paths. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 11:37 am: wndycty, the announcement was about his retirement, so it’s fine. Also, he sent me the release and talked to me about it. I didn’t even notice the date. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 11:37 am: First Schock, now Black? I haven’t looked at the numbers in that district lately, but last time I checked, Black’s district leans a little to the Democrats. It appears Rod Blagojevich’s war of attrition against Speaker Madigan is having the opposite effect. House Republicans are dropping like flies. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 11:38 am: BTW, unlike Schock, Bill Black is one Republican that I’ll really miss. Black’s known as a character, but he’s also got alot of character. - Janet - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 11:40 am: Seiben’s is “retiring” from the House also. - wndycty - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 11:41 am: Thanks Rich. State ethics classes and overzealous attention to detail have ruined me. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 11:41 am: Janet, Sieben is a Senator, and he made that announcement several days ago. - Lora - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 11:43 am: Todd Sieben is a state sentator who has announced the he will retire. - Lora - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 11:43 am: Looks like Rich beat me to it. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 11:51 am: Yeah, but unlike Sieben and Dunn, who’s seats run pretty hard Republican, the Black, Schock and Krause seats are all either Democratic or trending that way. All three have Democratic State Senators. - NWSider - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 11:54 am: This is off the subject but I just wanted to interject how proud we northwest-siders (of Chicago) are that our Senator’s name came up in the ongoing Mob Trial. Congrats to Sen. James DeLeo. - Bluefish - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 11:54 am: At what point will it be time for Tom Cross to turn off the lights? This must really hurt. - So Ill - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 11:55 am: Rich, a House Dem told me off the record this morning he thought voting wouldn’t happen until tomorrow. Just FYI. - Gus Frerotte's Clipboard - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 11:57 am: YDD, I don’t always agree with you, so I want to do so here. Rep. Black could be abrasive and have a temper, but he is often extremely funny, and, more importantly, he really knows what he’s talking about. His political speeches about the political bills are entertaining, and on the serious and potentially bipartisan bills, he’s able to ask the kind of insightful questions that can help lead to more informed votes and/or worthwhile amendments. He’ll be a loss for the House Republicans even if they hold the seat. - anon - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 12:24 pm: So where is everyone who was saying for people to calm down about not getting paychecks? “Everyone needs to calm down”, “There’s not reason to panic.” Are these people going to assist those who are required to go to work not getting paid? I think the panic was legit and still is legit. There are three people making decisions for millions and I’m sure they can go a year without getting paid. - A Citizen - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 12:26 pm: House has adjourned until tomorrow, Comptroller by law can’t pay state employees or schools or contractors, no appropriation in place. So just when does the State officially go into Shutdown status? Rich? Anyone? Seems to me it should be by now . . . - Siyotanka - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 12:29 pm: FYI… Just received a letter from the Gov to Hynes telling him to pay employees. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 12:31 pm: anon, if you and your fellows want to panic, please go to the SJ-R website. Don’t do it here. Thanks. - Loose Cannon - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 12:32 pm: Regarding Blago’s announcement of $175 million in no-interest loans to school districts. Does he check with anyone and I mean anyone before he goes shooting off his mouth? - Jaded - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 12:34 pm: The state ran for 17 or 18 days without a budget in 1991. My guess is that the Governor could have a budget on his desk as early as Friday morning. What he does at that point is anyone’s guess. This won’t be the first time vendors, schools and employee’s had to wait for a check. It is not a good thing, but it is not Armageddon either. Shutting down government is not the answer, it would just exacerbate the problem. - Toto - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 12:35 pm: Have you bought gas or been to the grocery store lately? If I potentially had no paycheck coming, I’d panic too. You’re too hard on the little man in this situation Mr. Miller. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 12:36 pm: Siyotanka, I saw that letter. There’s nothing really new in it. - Sick Of It! - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 12:38 pm: Wonder if there will be any problem geting downstateres to vote for a budget if Blago has not taken any action on the rate relief bill? - Lainer - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 12:38 pm: “It’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine …” - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 12:42 pm: Toto, I will say this one more time… If you want to panic, go elsewhere. I’ll be deleting those comments from now on today. I have great respect for state employees, but try to show a little dignity here. Panic gets you nothing but indigestion and heart attacks. I sympathize with them, but it’s still no excuse to flood this blog with screaming posts. - Siyotanka - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 12:44 pm: Rich… Is this another ploy from the Gov to be “the good guy” here? - Blagojevich End Game - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 12:45 pm: Is it any doubt now that Madigan could have a veto-proof majority by 2009? GOP could lose four districts - Krause, Schock, Black, Lindner - and end up below 48 seats. Is Illinois THAT blue at this point? - Team Sleep - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 12:55 pm: Unless Judy Myers runs for Black’s seat, I think the GOP will lose it. Bill Black is the reason that seat has been in GOP hands. I don’t know about Schock’s seat, though. It could stay in Republican hands if the right candidate runs. However, Bill Spears could step up and, even though he did not make a great showing last year, he has the name ID and experience to run again. Bluefish is right. At what point does Tom Cross throw up his hands and scream while he’s running to his parking spot? I have never been that impressed with him, and his staff is very lackluster. There’s a reason why the HRO has lost a lot of races it should have won in the past few cycles. - Team Sleep - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 12:57 pm: But if Granberg steps down, the 107th changes hands. That’s IF. - Juice - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 12:58 pm: In honor of Rep. Black, I would like to post this quote during last year’s debate on a proposed study to examine the effects that wind turbines have on birds. “I can tell you what impact it’s going to have on birds. Some of them are going to fly into the turbines. And that is a battle they will lose.” I really hope that in retirement, someone has the sense to get this man his own TV show. - MOON - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 12:58 pm: The Gov. proposed bailout of the schools via the IFA is a complete fraud. IFA does not have the money nor the power to issue these bonds. - Jaded - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 12:59 pm: Cross is running for Governor. He has been since November 2006. - Team Sleep - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 1:01 pm: Rich, I just read the SJ-R story on paychecks. Good grief! That topic board is as toxic as it gets. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 1:08 pm: Gus — One of my favorite moments in Illinois politics is when a reporter from the Danville paper called Madigan to ask his opinion about the chances for Black’s Democratic opponent. We all know Madigan doesn’t talk to alot of reporters, but Madigan called this one back: Madigan told the reporter that he thought Black was a heckuva lawmaker who would be easily re-elected. - M.S. - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 1:12 pm: Blagojevich counts most people’s short attention spans. Most people don’t read beyond the flashy headlines. - publius - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 1:14 pm: as the repubs fade at the polls what is the green party doing—after their showing in the gov’s race they can get on the ballot easier than before—i think the voters—not the inside baseball folks on this blog—generally blame both major parties for the mess—how does this factor affect “veto proof” scenarios? - Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 1:14 pm: Jaded - I believe Cross is running for Attorney General, but you can ask him. I don’t think any Republican with half a brain wants to run against Lisa Madigan. I also don’t think that Cross can get past Sen. Brady, given Cross’s support for abortion rights and stem cell research. - Lainer - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 1:17 pm: Team Sleep… not quite as toxic as the Pantagraph comment board… their story yesterday on the budget impact brought comments from some seriously cracked black-helicopter lunatics. - Healthcare Worker - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 1:17 pm: “There’s still a capital plan/casino and the governor’s health insurance plan to deal with, and the governor has said he won’t sign a budget until he gets those two things…” Okay, if he veto’s it, the GA overrides it and we are fine. What options are available if he just sites on it, like the electric relief bill? - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 1:18 pm: Lainer, I’ve been wondering whether the Pantagraph even moderates comments. Very, very weird stuff over there. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 1:22 pm: Healthcare Worker - We get to wait 60 days without a budget. That will be 60 days of the angriest editorials, phone calls, news releases, e-mails, and effigy-burning the Governor (and perhaps Illinois) have ever seen. YDD - Captain America - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 1:25 pm: As a former government employee, I empathize with State employees’ predicament. However,like Rich Miller,I see no cause for panic. It looks to me as if everything is coming together finally. The Governor is wildcard - he can still really botch things up. His proposal to have the IHA fund the schools on an interim basis appears illegal just on the basis of common sense. His advice to Hynes to issue the checks is clearly illegal based upon the existing legal precedent. The Governor, like our President, appears to consider the law as a technicality that can be easily circumvented, at will, to accomplish his personal political objectives. I don’t think the general public will have any trouble figuring out who to blame if the Governor screws up again. Maybe a captal bill will suffice to save face for Blago politically. His health care plan is going nowhere - it appears to have no chance primarily because to the Governor’s self-defeating tactics. - Retired State Employee - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 1:25 pm: The governor’s latest attempt to blame the comptroller. http://illinois.gov/publicincludes/statehome/ documents/GovernorLetter080807.pdf Didn’t he take an oath to uphold the laws of the State of Illinois? - Vermilion Whispers - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 1:30 pm: I’ve heard that the Vermilion County Chairman Don Dunavan may be interested in the Bill Black vacancy. After the Frerichs victory, I think the party would be energized and ready to take the House seat, too. - Team Sleep - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 1:41 pm: The Pantagraph needs a filter or a moderator. Rich, I think you should call the Pantagraph publisher and tell them Paul the Intern would make a good moderator! - potomac fever - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 1:53 pm: Russ Stewart column- Russ needs to get a bit more current on his knowledge of who is in and whose out. He is about 90% correct however in the 14th CD; both Schmitz and McConnaughay have publically stated that they won’t run for Congress and are running for re-election to their current offices. Burns, Lauzen and Oberweis have all filed exploratory committees with the FEC so in the event that Hastert does announce his retirement those three are the expected line up on the GOP side vying for the nomination. And a question on the congressional theme; What is Luis Guiterrez doing? Is he in or is he out? Lots of folks lining up in that safe Dem district which could make it an entertaining race to watch. - Macbeth - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 1:56 pm: Why are you people — Rich included — so obsessed with the messages on *another* blog? Who cares? Who cares what anybody posts on a blog? The whole point of blogs is to bring out the tinfoil hats and black helicopters. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 2:01 pm: ===The whole point of blogs is to bring out the tinfoil hats and black helicopters.=== Wrong. And particularly wrong with this blog. You should know better. - jwscott72 - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 2:08 pm: How many House members answered the quorum call today? I will miss Rep. Black. He always made watching the House entertainig. You could always look to him for a raw and unfiltered take on the matter under discussion. I wish him all of the best in retirement. - Anonymous ZZZ - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 2:10 pm: Macbeth - speaking for myself, I wouldn’t say I’m obsessed with the messages on another blog, although I do have to say that with the SJ-R, you only need to read the first three blogger comments for each story - the rest are all a rehash of those 3 comments. And, they generally fall into one of these four categories: 1) Vote the bums out! 2) Chicago should be very proud of itself for voting Blago in (of course, Chicago is the root of all evil for those folks). 3) Let’s send Blago our bills to pay, since we won’t get a paycheck and can’t afford to pay them. 4) Let’s all boo him at the State Fair. Honestly, it’s the same thing over and over and over on that site. - Tired - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 2:19 pm: To Retired State Employee & Rich - I can’t get to the site posted on here re: the latest letter from Gov to Hynes. Can anyone else?? Possibly post in on this site perhaps?? - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 2:19 pm: Besides, Macbeth, if we can talk about their stories, columns and editorials, why can’t we talk about their goofy commenters? - Ivote - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 2:19 pm: I join in the chorus of folks praising Bill Black. A bright guy, a thoughtful guy, funny as hell, and yet serious about his job and his beliefs. It’s not just the House Repubs that will miss Bill Black. . . the House (Dems too) as an institution will indeed miss this very fine man. - Bluebyrd - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 2:28 pm: Why can’t we comment on Russ’ column over at Illinoize? Seems like your friends get protected. - Macbeth - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 2:28 pm: :) Okay, well, I have a pretty low view of the blogging world. I appreciate this one and a few others — but in general, blogs (as I see it) rank down there with fingernails across a blackboard, eating pickled jellyfish, and listening to Ann Coulter. But Thomas Jefferson would approve, no? - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 2:31 pm: Bluebyrd, you’re lucky I let you comment here occasionally. lol. No, seriously. I didn’t do it because I was protecting a friend. He hasn’t given me permission yet to open comments. It’s an option that all Illinoize posters have. He’s no different. Please remove tinfoil hat. Thanks. - Retired State Employee - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 2:42 pm: Just go to the home page http://illinois.gov/ to get the gov’s latest on why paychecks are the comptroller’s fault, never mind state law. The link is on that page. The link in my previous message got broken into two lines. - Off Subject But.... - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 2:52 pm: DEFRATIES/CASEY JUST WIN JOBS BACK! - This Guy - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 2:59 pm: Raise income or sales tax (prefer the latter) and be done with it. Sheesh. It’s not like GRod hasn’t gone back on his “word” before. - This Guy - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 3:02 pm: “DEFRATIES/CASEY JUST WIN JOBS BACK!” Got a source for this claim? - Lainer - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 3:04 pm: I appreciate the moderation on this site. Reading the SJ-R comments really gets me down sometimes, especially when the posters start ranting about state workers, the homeless, etc. At least here you can expect vigorous but rational and reasonable debate. But be grateful the SJ-R makes at least some attempt to moderate. I suspect that the Pantagraph and also the Peoria Journal Star don’t moderate their comments at all. Some of their commenters are absolutely vicious… particularly when it comes to crime stories. - Just In - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 3:12 pm: DeFraties, Casey reinstated by circuit judge Last Updated 8/8/2007 3:00:15 PM A Sangamon County judge has ordered the reinstatement with back pay and benefits of fired state workers Dawn DeFraties and Michael Casey. Circuit Judge Patrick Kelley ruled the state Civil Service Commission lost jurisdiction in the case when it failed to rule on the case within 60 days after it had received transcripts of proceedings. Lawyers for the Civil Service Commission and the agencies that DeFraties and Casey last worked for argued that the commission’s desire to remand the case to an administrative law judge for more testimony constituted a decision. Springfield attorney Carl Draper said he will file paperwork with the court on Friday and expects his clients to be ready to go back to work on Monday. - Congratulations! - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 3:18 pm: Way to hang in there! Dawn DeFraties and Michael Casey…. Draper should send his bill directly to Rod Blagojevich instead of letting the Illinois taxpayers pay arrogance and ignorance. - Jaded - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 3:26 pm: That was a pretty good one-liner from Rev. Blackwell. - Huckleberry - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 3:26 pm: The good Reverend does have a point. Not that I care whether or not a Chicago casino is corrupt. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 3:30 pm: Let’s move the DeFraties/Case discussion to this post, please. Thanks. - pennypincher - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 4:13 pm: Senate has adjourned till 10am thursday - NI80 - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 4:51 pm: I agree Lainer…the SJR comments are like mass, over the top hysteria. Believe me, I know the “panic” of the situation, but I’m more interested in knowing how this situation is going to be resolved and how Blagojevich is going to deal with a budget when it comes to him. I only hope that the Democratic Party remembers this in 2010 when Blago decides he wants to run again and attempts to brush aside this mess. Rich, any thought on having a question on how Blago can redeem himself politically? I certainly can’t think of anything, so I’d be interested to know what others have to say on the subject. - HoosierDaddy - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 4:54 pm: “Actually, Tom, pulling a budget out of your @$$ is a lot like delivering a baby. First, you….” - steve schnorf - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 5:17 pm: I’m trying to remember, but as to Blacks D district, I don’t think until 2006 a dem had ever been elected to that House/Senate seat since the three member districts/bullet voting (Stuffle)..Most of downstate is increasingly blue. Black, Lindner, Krause, all gone, I’m feeling desolate Peterson, and Sieben too. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 5:17 pm: The Governors office sent a letter to Hynes stating he would be breaking the law if the checks were not issued to state workers. This letter was also sent to all state directors to be e-mailed to all state workers. This can’t help his case with the democrats. What a disgusting PR move.Does he actually think the state workers are to dumb to see the pandering. Message to the gov. Stop it. This childish behavior is below the office of Governor. - Retired State Employee - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 5:34 pm: The letter AFSCME sent the gov and comptroller is here: http://afscme31.org/articleDetail.asp?objectID=1179 - Little Egypt - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 5:47 pm: What I’m going to say hasn’t been said before about missed paychecks and Rich, I’m sorry if you interpret this as feeding the fire of panic. There are a lot of people today who live from paycheck to paycheck and even then, that’s stretching it a bit. Even though it is illegal to write checks knowing you have no money in the bank to cover them, in my younger and leaner years I did it. I would make out my bills the day before being paid, drop them in the mail the morning of and pray nothing came up to cause my check to be delayed. I’m sure this is a common practice still today, although I find it no longer necessary. There are people whom I’m sure are used to doing this who now cannot because those who were supposed to get a check this week are in the dark as to when it will be received. Now add onto that the common practice today of our credit card companies penalizing us if we are a day late with a payment. Our lateness is reported to the credit bureaus and other credit card companies can check our history and arbitrarily raise our interest rates. Plus our insurance companies now look at credit reports and can charge according to what kind of financial risk they feel they have. These late paychecks have far-reaching repercussions for some, not all, employees. My sympathy is with those people because Blago is clueless as to what chaos he has created. Oh sure, they can go to a bank and get a no interest loan but will it be an “immediate” loan? Will they walk out 30 minutes later with cash in hand or will they have to wait another day or so? I really don’t think Blago understands how the quickest way to lose votes and alienate people is to mess with their hard-earned money. - Retired State Employee - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 6:04 pm: According to the 6p news, there is a budget that the leaders have agreed upon. Could be voted on tomorrow. We’ll see. My bet is the gov isn’t going to like it. - Little Egypt - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 6:09 pm: RSE - I’ll take that bet with you. Blago technically has 60 days to act on a bill. Let’s see what dog & pony show he comes up with now. I’m thinking if he gets the budget tomorrow, he just might want to go ahead and sign it before showing up for the State Fair Parade. Home grown tomatoes are definitely in their prime ripe season right now. - A Citizen - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 6:24 pm: - Little Egypt - It is my understanding that the air currents and gravitational forces are much more advantageous at numerous locations throughout Washington Park and the route from there to the Mansion. I am sure a few well placed “throwers” with a bushel or so each could have a reasonable contest via this age old and accepted form of political protest. Also might improve his running time for the route. - A Citizen - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 6:27 pm: - Little Egypt - Come to think about it, I think similar favorable conditions exist on the State Fair Parade Route! - Might Be. Could Be. It is! - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 7:06 pm: A task force to study “health care for all” could be the only fig leaf the gov gets. That, and he takes credit for getting a capital bill so he can travel round the state and cut ribbons. - SouthernILRepub - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 7:17 pm: IEA sent out an action notice opposing the state budget… IEA Opposes the “No-Solution” Budget On August 8, 2007, a proposed state budget for FY 2008 was unveiled, calling for $568 million in additional money for education. Some of the details of this proposed budget: $308.8 million to increase the foundation level by $400 to $5,734. $185.5 million to fully fund mandated categoricals. A two percent increase for Illinois’ public colleges and universities. $10 million for a block grant program for private schools. After analyzing this proposal, IEA Government Relations and governance have determined that the organization must oppose this “no-solution” budget. It is imperative that you and all your colleagues, friends and neighbors immediately contact every member of the Illinois House and Senate and urge them to reject this budget plan. Talking points This budget uses one-time money to fund education. Education needs and deserves a permanenent, predictable and sustainable revenue stream. No more year-to-year Band-aid budgets! This budget does little to address the inequities in the Illinois school funding system. This budget diverts money from public schools to private schools. Public dollars are for public schools. If this budget can be stopped, we will be well-positioned, in the days and, if necessary, weeks to come, to push for a modest increase in the state income tax to fund education. This is a crucial time. Contact your Illinois State Representative and Senator immediately. Tell your legislator, whether you are represented by a Republican or a Democrat, that you expect them to vote “NO” on this “no solution” budget and that you want them to support an income tax increase for education. We will keep you informed of any significant developments as they occur. - A Citizen - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 7:35 pm: It’s time for a budget, Vote Yes and like the cubs “Wait til Next Year”. Your battle was lost 5/31. There’s more to this state than educators’ self interest. You’re getting an increase, most others are not. Sounds a bit greedy to me! - Anonymous - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 7:46 pm: The AFSCME letter was not the letter sent to state workers. This letter came directly from the Governor. What an insult that he now thinks he can be the champion of the state worker. Like I said before he needs to grow up. - Lincoln - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 7:58 pm: A Citizen How many times are we going to “wait til next year?” It’s time we DEMANDED our elected officials do something real for schools, not the band aids they have been giving that don’t even keep up with inflation. Why shouldn’t we demand EFAB funding, special ed funding and transit funding. If we want a great state we have to pay for it. We have the second largest transit system in the nation, that hundreds of thousands rely on every day, yet we can’t even give it a paltry $100 million. They are afraid to raise taxes because they are afraid of the opposition in the next election…well you know that’s not what they are elected and paid to do…they were elected and paid to do what’s needed to keep our state great. - Lincoln - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 7:59 pm: OH - and I didn’t even mention the pension mess they have been skirting. - A Citizen - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 8:10 pm: I guess I’m just not that Greedy. I think the budget proposal/agreement they’ve worked out is what I hoped my elected officials would accomplish. I don’t believe the electorate wants your vision of Utopia. Sorry, but ed IS getting a very sizable increase. Spend it wisely, please. Thanks - Lincoln - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 8:28 pm: It’s not greed or some utopia. Have you read any of the information on what it takes to educate children? Illinois state spending on education ranks last in the nation. Even the independent EFAB panel found we are spending $1,200 less per student than we should be and that doesn’t even include special ed or any other categoricals. Why is the response always, “spend it wisely.” Yes there are the few bad apple schools that get bad press, but go to most schools, they are making their dollars go very far even when it includes cutting extra curricular activities, music, last period, etc. - A Citizen - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 8:42 pm: Yes, you should hear “Spend It Wisely” and that means cut outrageous administrator salaries in excess of $150,000 before you cut into your little pity party list. Principals and Sups and the myriad assistants are not WORTH those salaries - Cut the FAT, you’ll find all the money you need there. - Team Sleep - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 8:44 pm: The IFT and IEA will not like anything the GA will pass this year. God forbid! We need to start scrutinizing education spending before we continue sinking boatloads of cash and put a “band-aid” on the “boo-boo”. And we as a state cannot continue to come up with yearly budget schemes and rabbits in a collective hat. - A Citizen - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 8:52 pm: Oh and on the Pension issue you raise - STOP the fraud of artificially increasing salaries in the last few years to grossly inflate pensions and maybe some folks will take you seriously. That practice should be indictable and should be prosecuted, it is just plain theft of the taxpayers money. And you want more and won’t admit it is wrong and pure greed? Give me a break, buddy. - an idea... - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 9:02 pm: Because of the budget fiasco that has been created this year, I would like to suggest an idea for a new bill/law that would make sure there would be a budget in place where we don’t have to worry about all this overtime, services not being met, possible government shutdown, etc. It would read something like this: In the event that a budget has not been passed and put into place by the end of the regular legislative session, the previous fiscal budget would then automatically become the new fiscal budget and all departments and programs would continue… The only thing is I’m not sure if this could be done legislatively or if it would need to be done constitutionally. - A Citizen - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 9:11 pm: - an idea… - Not bad, but I would suggest that the extension be at 90% just to add a bit of motivation. These guys need a cattle prod sometimes just to see if they are alive. - Little Egypt - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 9:32 pm: Lincoln - the following website, dated 5/07, lists the bottom 5 states in educational spending and we are not one of them. http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN2438214220070524?feedType=RSS&rpc=22 - Our leaders behind the scenes! - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 9:39 pm: AN OPEN LETTER TO CONGRESSMAN LUIS GUTIERREZ Dear Congressman Gutierrez, (Luis) We’ll get to the point quickly – please don’t retire from Congress just yet, there’s work still to do. Retirement can’t be easy and we know this probably won’t make it any easier, but then again easy has never been your style. You’re a fighter, Luis, it’s what you’ve done, it’s who you are. Whether it was standing with the late Mayor Harold Washington to help bring Chicago out of the stalemate of the Council Wars, or fighting to naturalize hundreds of thousands of U.S. citizens, or standing up for the people of Vieques you’re a fighter. And today, the people you fight for, those who often can’t make their voices heard on their own, need you to stay in the fight and bring home a victory — and bring home the hope of the American Dream. As you’ve learned while in the struggle to help pass comprehensive immigration reform in Congress, this isn’t just about Illinois’ 4th Congressional District. In fact, any and all of the leaders who have expressed interest in succeeding you in Congress would represent your district well. But the work that lies ahead requires your brand of leadership and passion. The people of our great country need you to fight for them; the people of the 4th Congressional District need you to fight for them, here at home, in the halls of Congress and in communities across the country. And since fights like these are never fought alone, we’re here to lend our voice, our help and our support. But we need you to stay. We need you to fight. We need you, Luis, in Congress. Respectfully, The Honorable Commissioner Joe Berrios, 31st Ward Democratic Organization The Honorable State Representative Maria Antonia ‘Toni’ Berrios The Honorable State Representative Dan Burke, 23rd District The Honorable Alderman Edward Burke, 14th Ward – City of Chicago The Honorable Alderman Tony Figueroa, Waukegan City Council The Honorable Alderman Billy Ocasio, 26th Ward – City of Chicago The Honorable Alderman Richard Mell, 32nd Ward – City of Chicago The Honorable Alderman Ricardo Munoz, 22nd Ward – City of Chicago The Honorable Alderman Ariel Reboyras, 30th Ward – City of Chicago The Honorable Alderman Danny Solis, 25th Ward – City of Chicago The Honorable Alderman Ray Suarez, 31st Ward – City of Chicago Elvira Arrellano, President – Familia Latina Unida Freddy Calixto, Executive Director - BUILD Ruben Castellan, Executive Director – Gads Hill Center Omar Duque, President & CEO – Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Judy Fried, Executive Director – NICASA Empe Guerra, Program Director – NICASA Rory Guerra, Director – The Saints of Humboldt Park Joshua Hoyt, Executive Director – Illinois Coalition of Immigrant & Refugee Rights Marco Jacome, Executive Director – HAS Emma Lozano, President – Pueblo Sin Fronteras Eliud Medina, Executive Director – Near Northwest Neighborhood Network Stewart Munoz, President – Cuban American Chamber of Commerce Maria Ploch, Executive Director – Latinos En Accion Anita Rico, Director – Zocalo Urbano Juan Salgado, Executive Director – Instituto del Progreso Latino Mary Santana, Executive Director – The Miracle Center Gina Zuniga-Baldwin, Executive Director – Youth Service Project Click Here to unsubscribe: http://ihccbusiness.net/content/mailing-list-unjoin/27/235f6a90ad0b4e170ff7e858ba08caad099d8557 - A Citizen - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 9:46 pm: - Little Egypt - Uh oh. Add prevarication to the pro ed-funders arsenal. Good research LE. If the truth doesn’t get you where you want then invent something that supports you. Pitiful and dishonest - AND this lie probably if not certainly came from someone responsible for educating our CHILDREN! What other lies are they passing along as truth? Time for a revolution and overhaul of the broken education system - starting with the administration from the state level on down to the elementary schools. Too much in resources and treasure is consumed by the elitist overhead with which we are saddled. Far too little reaches the classroom. - Holdingontomywallet - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 10:51 pm: Hey, all of the interest groups including the Teacher’s union, you get what you paid for. You backed, Blago, gave him tons of money, don’t complain. Ugggghhhhh….. - A Citizen - Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 11:04 pm: I guess it’s like with the Teachers Union - No matter how much money you give Blago or the Teachers Union it’s Not Enough to obtain favorable results. But will they respect the givers in the morning? Nope, they don’t respect them now. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.