9 Comments - Anonymous - Monday, Dec 1, 08 @ 8:56 am: Regarding increased home assessments - there has always been a lag built into the system. When home values were skyrocketing, nobody complained about the lag and Houlihan certainly did nothing to “catch up”. In fact, he tried to reduce even the lagged increases with his “freeze”, which was really a shift in the tax burden from faster increasing areas to slower increasing areas (i.e., reverse Robin Hood). Now that values are falling, people are upset the drop isn’t instantly recognized by the assessor and Houlihan is blaming “the system”. Well, he could have fixed the system before, but that would have been unpopular during a rising market. Now, suddenly, he’s Mr. Reform. - Johnny USA - Monday, Dec 1, 08 @ 9:05 am: How much do one of those alcohol detection systems cost? Don’t get me wrong…I am all for brutalizing the undesirable class (terrorists, drunk drivers, pedophiles, drug dealers, etc) with heinously oppressive laws. I am just curious how much it costs. - Johnny USA - Monday, Dec 1, 08 @ 9:06 am: Oops..never mind, I got to the article - anon - Monday, Dec 1, 08 @ 9:06 am: The Sun Times is reporting that Dean MArtinez is being named Deputy Governor for Budget and Economy to replace John Filan, and Mike McRaith is replacing Dean as the head of IDFPR. Great moves! Two great guys who have served this state well and will continue to do so in their new posts. - Plutocrat03 - Monday, Dec 1, 08 @ 9:11 am: Why do we have articles abut the ripple effect in the economy when the economy goes down, but a denial of the ripple effect when the economy goes up? It would seem that if it works in one economic direction, it would work in the other. Just say’in - Bill - Monday, Dec 1, 08 @ 9:15 am: Don’t be so hard on Houli. He has been very busy this year unsuccessfully trying to ram Con Con down people’s throats and trying to get more of his relatives elected to public office. He doesn’t have much time to do the job he gets paid for…kinda like Pat Quinn. - Skeeter - Monday, Dec 1, 08 @ 9:19 am: Bill, What IS Pat Quinn’s job? If anybody can explain why exactly we need a Lt. Gov., I would appreciate it. Don’t get me wrong. I generally like Pat Quinn. I’m just not sure what he does for a living. - Bill - Monday, Dec 1, 08 @ 9:45 am: Skeeter, What a Palin-esque question! I think it is Pat’s job to take over as Governor in the unlikely event that something happens to Blagojevich. Other then that guess his job is to shill for various pseudo-populist causes that if enacted would cause great harm to the state and its citizens. Remember the Republican Lt. Gov who was going to quit because he was bored and wanted to be a disc jockey? - Skeeter - Monday, Dec 1, 08 @ 9:50 am: Interesting, Bill. I thought he job was “To say apparently controversial, but ultimately irrelevant, stuff to make sure Springfield and/or Chicago reporters have `news’ on otherwise slow days.” Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.