A state law requiring that public buildings, parks, highways and other works be named after Illinoians who lost their lives fighting for our country. Their sacrifices should be honored first, before we allow another politician, judge or other elected official the honor.
We have had it with politicians building edifices to themselves with our tax money.
Ethics Reform. Pols should be prohibited from doing business with the state or any other governmental entity, directly or indirectly, for at least a year.
How about a law that outlaws introducing any bill attempting to ban talking on cell phones while driving. There truly are so many things just as distracting. Besides, what would the police officers to? I constantly see them on cell phones while they are driving.
Allow smoking in bars and casinos that install the latest in air quality technology. Allow smoking in designated areas of beer gardens.
My reasons are transparently selfish, but I also think these business owners should have a choice of continuing a practice, albeit on a restricted basis, that had been allowed since the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock.
College Textbooks. I know it seems like a small issue, but college kids are getting screwed everyday by the bookstores and publishers.
The publishers may require the professor to use a new edition every six months, even though only one or two words were changed. One book I am using now is on its 18th edition.
Durbin sponsored legislation on a federal level and HB 461 sponsored by Rep. Jacobsson would address the issue on a state level.
This is not a state law, but I wish Congress using its commerce power would ban states and local governments giving away tax dollars to get businesses to locate in their jurisdiction. Something like 20% of Illinois and local taxes have been forgiven in tax abatement deals.
- Kevin Highland - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:45 am:
Concealed Carry Permits, but all of the other suggestions are very good too.
A recall provision for voters to oust elected officials.
A bill to elect officer holders for vacant positions, no appointments by the governor, legislator, or anyone.
Campaign finance reform. No unlimited amounts for donations.
$1000 per person or corporation. NO EXCEPTIONS
- Central_IL_farm_boy - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:45 am:
I know, we could pass a measure to expand locally elected representation & ensure that more diverse opinions where represented in the legislature. Instead of artificially dividing each Senate district into two Representative districts we could elect three Representatives at large from each Senate district. Maybe just to make sure that everyone was heard we could let people cast their three votes for Representatives any way they wanted — all for one person or for three individual candidates!
Application of the Illinois Open Meetings Act to State budget deliberations and process.
- lake county democrat - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:48 am:
Ban attorneys and law firms from contributing to judges’ election campaigns which they appear before (i.e., make it a self-executing ground for recusal).
I’m going to cheat and name another: an anti-gerrymandering bill that requires all legislative districts be drawn by a neutral algorithm that makes minimal adjustments for population/geographical barriers.
- 32nd Ward Roscoe Village - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:49 am:
The anti-granny snatching bill introduced by Rep. Ryg as HB 759, which adopts the Uniform Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act. It deals with adult guardians for disabled adults and will help in cases where relatives shop for the best state forum by luring granny to another state away from where she lives to get control of her and her money.
Political campaign contribution limits and full disclosure of sources and connections to the candidate supported.
Term limits on every state and city office, allowing for no more than two terms or ten years.
Eliminate the Mayor of Chicago’s (Daley’s) appointing almost every significant board or commission. (This would end total control of all civic action.)
Eliminate the Mayor’s ability to appoint Alderman. (which seems like a violation of the separation of the branches of government)
Something to address gerrymandering and perhaps clarifying ‘compact and contiguous’ legislative districts. As has been written often, we don’t pick our politicians, they pick their voters. Show any schoolkid a map of Illinois’ CDs and ask them if they are ‘compact and contiguous’..That should change, but as long as I’m dreaming I would also like a pony.
Concealed carry. Many states have this provision. As a woman I resent being unable to defend myself against an attacker, more than likely male, with greater upper body strength than me. Other states allow concealed carry. The criminals already carry, they just don’t register. PLEASE allow us to protect ourselves. Also note that crime rates are lower in states where criminals know guns are possibly being carried around. If you were a criminal on the Indiana State line, would you commit a crime in Indiana where you might get your head blown off? Or would you go a few blocks over to Illinois where the chance of someone having a gun is much less?
Law abiding citizens who carry and are responsible, many even trained in firearms do NOT pose a risk to the general population.
Vanilla Man - I am 100 percent in agreement with you. I am offended by the number of public buildings who are named after current or former elected officials who simply muscled some of our money towards a certain project and in response get their names plastered on it. See: Emil Jones Center at CSU or the Stroger Hospital, or the JRTC even.
If we are going to change the culture of politics in this state, don’t stop by taking the Governor’s name off the twollways - let’s prohibit the naming of any public building for any current or living elected official completely. VM’s suggestion is even better I believe.
Alternatively, I’d like to see a state energy plan that provides for more nuclear and wind power. We have got to stop burning so much coal.
Here’s one that goes in and out of fashion, every so often. And the governor backed it at some point, I believe. (If I’m wrong, I’m sorry. But I don’t think I’m wrong.) I know it’s not budget-related but it could be a revenue generator: auction off low-numbered license plates. And while we’re at it, make it so they can’t be willed down from family member to family member in perpetuity.
Ted Kord
Kord Industries
- Don't Worry, Be Happy - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:57 am:
1. Cap campaign contributions at the federal level ($2300).
2. Require a computer drawn remap.
3. Move the primary election to June.
These would fix a lot of the problems in Springfield.
Tho nonpartisan redistricting is good government, there’s no reason the legislature would agree to it. Something that might pass legislative muster, however, is recall of the executive branch.
i’ve advocated for redistricting reform on here before so that’s still #1 for me. still, although it would take a federal initiative, i wish that members of the g.a. could vote to repeal the 17th amendment. let’s go back to what the founding fathers intended and place the selection of u.s. senators in the hands of the legislatures and not by direct election.
VanMan and CD: don’t forget the Jay Hoffman Center at Lewis & Clark CC in Edwardsville
- jerry morrison seiu - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 11:03 am:
REAL campaign finance reform with $1,000 dollar limits and a total ban on corporate and union contributions. Closing the loophole that allows the state parties to ignore the contractor ban is essential to making it work.
Add a non partisan redistricting to my list of things to do.
Open meetings Act changes, and Freedom of Information Act
changes, get rid of the huge list of exceptions.
Do not allow campaign finance war chests to be used by anyone but the candidate the money was donated for. Stop the practice
of large war chest pols, trying to buy other elections.
True Civil Service Reform. All State employment issues (hiring, promotion discipline, etc.)transferred to the Civil Service Commission which would be under the jurisdiction of the General Assembly. Remove the Governor and CMS from the process.
Change the way we fund our schools. With funding being based on property taxes, many cities have TIF districts, and others are depressed and will never pass a school referendum to incease property taxes, while the Chicago suburbs, will always pass tax increases for their schools. Put all schools, regardless of location, on an even playing field
A resolution declaring that Blagojevich was incapacitated as of the date of his arrest and annulling all actions he took as governor on or after that date. This would of course include both the Senate and DNR appointments.
Placing all candidates capable of getting valid signatures for office on equal footing (ending 2-party favoritism).
Enacting some sort of “run-off” system so that no candidate gets elected with out a majority vote.
- Jake from Elwood - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 11:45 am:
I agree that TIF reform is needed and is a top priority, but it is a tax matter, so you did not follow Rich’s rules.
I would prefer election reform to eliminate all the ousted public candidates from running for office because of some minor technicality. These objections need to be narrowed. These are the burglar’s tools of the incumbent politician.
- Hoping For Rational Thought - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 11:45 am:
A tougher FOIA law. Blago’s people abused this law without penalty because the penalities are so minor it was easy for them to intentionally obstruct and ignore. Getting public information shouldn’t be like pulling teeth it should be simple and easy and done without push back from the State or local governments.
Of course, it would be nice to see a law that requires gov’t officials who are impeached and convicted to be exiled. Pack up and leave within 60 days of conviction.
- Middle of the road - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 11:48 am:
Recall provisions for all state wide elected officials. I would like to see it for the whole General Assembly but it is hard to get a member thrown out by his/her own district.
A bill to NEVER allow a building, park, highway, or anything funding with tax dollars to have the name of a politican. Also to remove the names that are currently on these state properties. It just about makes me sick whenever I take the byepass around Freeport that is called “The Richard “Dick” Mulcahey Byepass.”
As part of ethics and civil service reform, a requirement that anyone brought on to the state payroll as a Public Service Intern must be enrolled in an accredited Masters of Public Administration program (or similar program accredited by the American Society for Public Administration)at the time of appointment or be a recent graduate us such a program (within three years of the appointment). Additional accredited programs in specialized areas could be added to the list with the approval of the Civil Service Commission.
There would be no fiscal impact and this would address a loophole that allows agencies to circumvent civil service requirements. Currently an agency can hire anyone with a college degree, have them serve as an intern for six months, and then place them in a permanent position without this hire going thru the normal testing process.
For all elected offices, any vacancy would be filled by a special election. No appointments. And for executive offices (sheriff, clerk, etc.) the interim head could not run for the vacancy.
It’s shameful that Illinois is one of only two states that do not allow citizens to effectively defend themselves outside their homes.
To top it off, the other state not allowing CCW has managed to pass legislation (twice?) but wasn’t able to override a gubernatorial veto. We can’t even get that far.
The reason I dislike the “The Richard “Dick” Mulcahey Byepss” is because I know that he was not the only person that worked hard to get the funding for that. The late Senator Harlan Rigney had worked as hard at getting that to become a reality and I just have to wonder why they would just choose one of the many people that made it a reality. As far as the Eisenhower, Kennedy, Reagan and Lincoln highways I would think maybe it should be limited to presidents. I just get so tired of these egocentric politicans getting things named after them just because they were doing their job.
I would say caps on campaign contributions–it would go a long way towards cleaning up the corruption that has embarrassed our state recently.
- Ready to Reform - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 12:32 pm:
1. Proposed Law: Campaign finance reform as proposed for the national level by William F. Buckley, Jr. Buckley’s proposal is to remove all caps on giving but require full and immediate disclosure on the Internet in a searchable database. Donors’ names cannot be concealed via LLCs or trusts; the beneficial owners must be disclosed.
Benefit: This will end the gamesmanship of giving.
2. Proposed Law: The seats of elected officials, once vacated, can be filled only at the time of the next general election or, if the general election is more than nine months away, by a special election.
Benefit: This will end the nepotism/hand-picked successor system that have elected officials resigning during the last year of their term so that their offspring can be appointed to succeed them.
3. Proposed Law: Move the property tax installment date to September 30, and all state and municipal elections to October 1.
Benefit: Campaigning in milder weather will encourage more candidates. Voting in milder weather will encourage higher voter turnout.
4. Proposed Law: Concealed/Carry law with background checks and mandatory training.
Benefit: This will leave Wisconsin as the only one of the 50 states that does not allow properly-trained, law-abiding citizens to protect themselves outside the safety of their homes.
5. Proposed Law: Term limits.
Benefit: It will encourage the return of the citizen/legislator by ending the self-perpetuating professional political class. No more Rich Daleys and no more Mike Madigans concerned more about the accumulation of personal power than are they in efficiently and transparently providing public services.
Term limits - 2 per constituional office, 4 for legislative.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 12:53 pm:
Campaign finance reform and term limits are idealistic in nature but do not solve the salient issue at hand, which is corruption in IL. If we can’t have people who are honest by nature in government, at least we can make them more fearful of getting caught. Toughen up the Inspector General’s role, insulate them from political manipulation and make their investigations public.
- Lakefront Liberal - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 1:01 pm:
Ditto what Jerry Morrison said.
Also, to the person who commented about TIFs, Alds. Waguespack and Flores have introduced a TIF Sunshine Law to the city council. If you live in Chicago ask your alderman to sign on to it and ask your friends to do the same.
I would like to see a helmet requirement for kids on motorcycles. Unfortunately, an 8 year old relative’s stepdad thought it a great idea to take my nephew on the highway on a motorcycle. Bad diea-nephew of course fell off.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 1:19 pm:
Criminal Justice Equity Act - Everything from paroling all non-violent drug offenders into community montoring to ending indeterminate sentences for serious felons.
It IS good public policy. Its also true that the annual appropriations for IDOC is $1.4 BILLION.
To fix pay to play the following changes are needed.
1. What ever remains in the campaign finance war chests should be turned over to the state at the end of each election. This way at least some good would be made of all that money that was collected. Allowing the politicians to keep them and treat them as their own piggy bank is what’s getting us into all these problems.
2. Place term limits on all elected officials. We can’t afford professional politicians.
- ConservativeVeteran - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 1:31 pm:
We need a law which would state that each school district must have at least one high school, at least one junior high, and at least one elem. school. Too many districts only have one school. Each district has a superintendent, with an average salary of about $120,000, per year, and each district charges property taxes, on the homeowners, of the district. If the state has fewer districts, they would be more efficient, and the homeowners would save money.
1)Changing election law so that there is a “level playing field” for party and independent candidates. Make the signature requirements the same for party and independent candidates.
2) Return to cummulative voting to increase minority representation in the state legislature. Can we put the “Quinn’s Folly” genie back into the bottle? Since single representative districts were passed, we had a political Oligarchy froced on Illinois.
3) Change the PTELL(tax cap) law so that taxes can rise based upon increases in the number of students in a district rather than the district EAV and new construction. Schools with growing enrollment could exceed current caps, and those with increasing EAV and decreasing enrollment would actually have lower tax revenues to match lower need.
4) Prohibit campaign contributions from any company, individual, or union receiving state funds directly or indirectly.
5) Cap school, university and municipal labor contracts to about 70% of new unrestricted revenues. At the end of the fiscal year, this “pot-o-money” would be divied up as agreed by the Board, Administration, and Unions by contract proscribed formula. This “bonus” would supplement a static salary and benefit schedule. This could end the cycle of gutless school Boards giving out contracts they can’t afford, borrowing and raising taxes through working cash bond sales to supplement other revenues to pay for the raise far exceeding COLA, then hurting the children to pass a referendum to start the ramped up salary schedule cycle once more.
How about if we start all over with “Jessica’s Law” and get it strengthened & signed this time. Illinois is one of only 8 states that doesn’t have some form of it on the books.
A concealed carry law would also be good to get passed & signed.
Computer generated redistricting at all levels of government sounds like an unbiased way of dealing with that.
I’m with Ready to Refom, I would vote for you if you ran…..
I believe that limitations on contributions are a form of infringement on free speech. The solution with donors and amounts available on the internet is the best way to protect the public interest.
Appointments should simply not be done. A vacancy should trigger an election. Too many bloodline based dynasties in Illinois with unqualified beneficiaries.
Election day should also have a spring component, so there should be an election after income taxes are paid as well as one in the fall when property taxes are paid.
Concealed carry is a good idea. The states that have it have a reduced amount of violent crime because the criminals fear an armed populace.
Finally, end the gerrymandering of legislative districts. Use a computer with a priority to keep a community together if possible. Too much division leads to apathy.
Name stuff after real heros, not just the people in charge. The list of Washington based bureaucrats on the Hover Dam without listing the workers who lost their lives was shameful.
- With Liberty For All...... - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 4:42 pm:
Mandatory jail time (30 days) for driving without insurance on the 2nd offense in 5 years. There are far too many crashes in which one or both drivers don’t carry the mandatory insurance. Let’s send a clear message, with driving comes responsibility.
1)Changing election law so that there is a “level playing field” for party and independent candidates. Make the signature requirements the same for party and independent candidates.
Also, make it so all voting in all elections in the state is done by mail (I hear they do this in Oregon and it works well).
- Can't Say My Nickname - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 6:15 pm:
Allow Licenced Physicians from Puerto Rico to work in Illinois. Stpo discriminating against licenced MD’s from Puerto Rico and allow them to come to Illinois to help with the need for more MD’s and especially the need for more bilingual and bi cultural physicians!
So many good ideas mentioned already. My peeve is shell bills and bundled bills, bills that make you hold your nose for something terrible just so that three good and needed things go thru. That’s not right. I know it would slow things down, but I would love a one topic per bill law. There already exists something like this, but it’s never used. If every bill had to stand on its own merits, a lot of bad bills wouldn’t get submitted in the first place, knowing they were doomed.
- R_K - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:26 am:
Easy. A special election bill so we can avoid future Roland Burrises
- Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:30 am:
True campaign finance reform, at long last.
- Nearly Normal - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:33 am:
I agree with R_K.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:33 am:
===True campaign finance reform, at long last.===
Please explain. Thanks.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:35 am:
A state law requiring that public buildings, parks, highways and other works be named after Illinoians who lost their lives fighting for our country. Their sacrifices should be honored first, before we allow another politician, judge or other elected official the honor.
We have had it with politicians building edifices to themselves with our tax money.
- Cynic - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:35 am:
Ethics Reform. Pols should be prohibited from doing business with the state or any other governmental entity, directly or indirectly, for at least a year.
- JaySeaBee - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:36 am:
How about a law that outlaws introducing any bill attempting to ban talking on cell phones while driving. There truly are so many things just as distracting. Besides, what would the police officers to? I constantly see them on cell phones while they are driving.
- Cynic - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:37 am:
The ability to recall a pol with a 60% majority wouldn’t be such a bad idea either.
As a practical matter, I’m not sure how it would operate, since recall elections could cost big $.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:37 am:
Allow smoking in bars and casinos that install the latest in air quality technology. Allow smoking in designated areas of beer gardens.
My reasons are transparently selfish, but I also think these business owners should have a choice of continuing a practice, albeit on a restricted basis, that had been allowed since the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock.
- John Bambenek - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:40 am:
A law that requires all future laws to be in plain language and beneath a certain word count.
- DCM - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:40 am:
College Textbooks. I know it seems like a small issue, but college kids are getting screwed everyday by the bookstores and publishers.
The publishers may require the professor to use a new edition every six months, even though only one or two words were changed. One book I am using now is on its 18th edition.
Durbin sponsored legislation on a federal level and HB 461 sponsored by Rep. Jacobsson would address the issue on a state level.
- Team America - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:42 am:
How about requiring computer-drawn/generated legislative remaps?
- Just Because - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:43 am:
Conceal and carry. I truly believe it would help reduce crime.
- SIUPROF - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:44 am:
This is not a state law, but I wish Congress using its commerce power would ban states and local governments giving away tax dollars to get businesses to locate in their jurisdiction. Something like 20% of Illinois and local taxes have been forgiven in tax abatement deals.
- Kevin Highland - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:45 am:
Concealed Carry Permits, but all of the other suggestions are very good too.
- downstate dem - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:45 am:
A recall provision for voters to oust elected officials.
A bill to elect officer holders for vacant positions, no appointments by the governor, legislator, or anyone.
Campaign finance reform. No unlimited amounts for donations.
$1000 per person or corporation. NO EXCEPTIONS
- Central_IL_farm_boy - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:45 am:
I know, we could pass a measure to expand locally elected representation & ensure that more diverse opinions where represented in the legislature. Instead of artificially dividing each Senate district into two Representative districts we could elect three Representatives at large from each Senate district. Maybe just to make sure that everyone was heard we could let people cast their three votes for Representatives any way they wanted — all for one person or for three individual candidates!
- One of the 35 - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:47 am:
Application of the Illinois Open Meetings Act to State budget deliberations and process.
- lake county democrat - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:48 am:
Ban attorneys and law firms from contributing to judges’ election campaigns which they appear before (i.e., make it a self-executing ground for recusal).
I’m going to cheat and name another: an anti-gerrymandering bill that requires all legislative districts be drawn by a neutral algorithm that makes minimal adjustments for population/geographical barriers.
- 32nd Ward Roscoe Village - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:49 am:
The anti-granny snatching bill introduced by Rep. Ryg as HB 759, which adopts the Uniform Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act. It deals with adult guardians for disabled adults and will help in cases where relatives shop for the best state forum by luring granny to another state away from where she lives to get control of her and her money.
- chimack - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:50 am:
The Real Reform Act of 2009
Political campaign contribution limits and full disclosure of sources and connections to the candidate supported.
Term limits on every state and city office, allowing for no more than two terms or ten years.
Eliminate the Mayor of Chicago’s (Daley’s) appointing almost every significant board or commission. (This would end total control of all civic action.)
Eliminate the Mayor’s ability to appoint Alderman. (which seems like a violation of the separation of the branches of government)
- chimack - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:51 am:
Forgot at least on other big area needing reform:
TIF’s, creation, accounting & reporting; transparency; and sunseting TIFs.
- Vote Quimby! - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:51 am:
Something to address gerrymandering and perhaps clarifying ‘compact and contiguous’ legislative districts. As has been written often, we don’t pick our politicians, they pick their voters. Show any schoolkid a map of Illinois’ CDs and ask them if they are ‘compact and contiguous’..That should change, but as long as I’m dreaming I would also like a pony.
- Say WHAT? - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:54 am:
Concealed carry. Many states have this provision. As a woman I resent being unable to defend myself against an attacker, more than likely male, with greater upper body strength than me. Other states allow concealed carry. The criminals already carry, they just don’t register. PLEASE allow us to protect ourselves. Also note that crime rates are lower in states where criminals know guns are possibly being carried around. If you were a criminal on the Indiana State line, would you commit a crime in Indiana where you might get your head blown off? Or would you go a few blocks over to Illinois where the chance of someone having a gun is much less?
Law abiding citizens who carry and are responsible, many even trained in firearms do NOT pose a risk to the general population.
- carbon deforestation - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:55 am:
Vanilla Man - I am 100 percent in agreement with you. I am offended by the number of public buildings who are named after current or former elected officials who simply muscled some of our money towards a certain project and in response get their names plastered on it. See: Emil Jones Center at CSU or the Stroger Hospital, or the JRTC even.
If we are going to change the culture of politics in this state, don’t stop by taking the Governor’s name off the twollways - let’s prohibit the naming of any public building for any current or living elected official completely. VM’s suggestion is even better I believe.
Alternatively, I’d like to see a state energy plan that provides for more nuclear and wind power. We have got to stop burning so much coal.
- Ted Kord - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:56 am:
Here’s one that goes in and out of fashion, every so often. And the governor backed it at some point, I believe. (If I’m wrong, I’m sorry. But I don’t think I’m wrong.) I know it’s not budget-related but it could be a revenue generator: auction off low-numbered license plates. And while we’re at it, make it so they can’t be willed down from family member to family member in perpetuity.
Ted Kord
Kord Industries
- Don't Worry, Be Happy - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:57 am:
1. Cap campaign contributions at the federal level ($2300).
2. Require a computer drawn remap.
3. Move the primary election to June.
These would fix a lot of the problems in Springfield.
- reformer - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:57 am:
Tho nonpartisan redistricting is good government, there’s no reason the legislature would agree to it. Something that might pass legislative muster, however, is recall of the executive branch.
- colt 45 - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:58 am:
i’ve advocated for redistricting reform on here before so that’s still #1 for me. still, although it would take a federal initiative, i wish that members of the g.a. could vote to repeal the 17th amendment. let’s go back to what the founding fathers intended and place the selection of u.s. senators in the hands of the legislatures and not by direct election.
- BannedForLife - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:59 am:
ban on incumbents’ names on signage
- Little Egypt - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 11:00 am:
VanMan - agree with you about naming public buildings for those who have served honorably in the Armed Forces.
Also would like a concealed carry law. What is Illinois afraid of?
Would like to see an IQ and elocution test for political candidates. That’s self explanatory with Gary Forby in the Illinois Senate.
- Pot calling kettle - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 11:00 am:
Pretty much every law has a budget impact, if only for enforcement.
- Sangamon - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 11:01 am:
I am not sure if it is a law, yet - but one that outlaws riding in the back of a pickup truck.
- Vote Quimby! - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 11:02 am:
VanMan and CD: don’t forget the Jay Hoffman Center at Lewis & Clark CC in Edwardsville
- jerry morrison seiu - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 11:03 am:
REAL campaign finance reform with $1,000 dollar limits and a total ban on corporate and union contributions. Closing the loophole that allows the state parties to ignore the contractor ban is essential to making it work.
- Penelope Pitstop - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 11:04 am:
A law reducing the legislative session to every other year. They meet too often and pass too many laws. Other states do it!
- downstate dem - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 11:09 am:
Add a non partisan redistricting to my list of things to do.
Open meetings Act changes, and Freedom of Information Act
changes, get rid of the huge list of exceptions.
Do not allow campaign finance war chests to be used by anyone but the candidate the money was donated for. Stop the practice
of large war chest pols, trying to buy other elections.
- Eagle/Legal - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 11:14 am:
True Civil Service Reform. All State employment issues (hiring, promotion discipline, etc.)transferred to the Civil Service Commission which would be under the jurisdiction of the General Assembly. Remove the Governor and CMS from the process.
- Heartless Libertarian - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 11:15 am:
Really…? I could go on all day….
1. Conceal and Carry
2. Smoking allowed in bars
3. The repeal of adult seat belt laws
4. Decriminalize marijuana
Why?
Because I am a heartless libertarian….
- Cookie Monster - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 11:33 am:
Change the way we fund our schools. With funding being based on property taxes, many cities have TIF districts, and others are depressed and will never pass a school referendum to incease property taxes, while the Chicago suburbs, will always pass tax increases for their schools. Put all schools, regardless of location, on an even playing field
- Cookie Monster - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 11:35 am:
Woops, didn’t read the no-tax clause
- Excessively rabid - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 11:36 am:
A resolution declaring that Blagojevich was incapacitated as of the date of his arrest and annulling all actions he took as governor on or after that date. This would of course include both the Senate and DNR appointments.
- howie - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 11:37 am:
CCW. There is no rational, logical reason for Illinois to not have a CCW law, period.
- Bruno Behrend - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 11:43 am:
Placing all candidates capable of getting valid signatures for office on equal footing (ending 2-party favoritism).
Enacting some sort of “run-off” system so that no candidate gets elected with out a majority vote.
- Jake from Elwood - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 11:45 am:
I agree that TIF reform is needed and is a top priority, but it is a tax matter, so you did not follow Rich’s rules.
I would prefer election reform to eliminate all the ousted public candidates from running for office because of some minor technicality. These objections need to be narrowed. These are the burglar’s tools of the incumbent politician.
- Hoping For Rational Thought - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 11:45 am:
A tougher FOIA law. Blago’s people abused this law without penalty because the penalities are so minor it was easy for them to intentionally obstruct and ignore. Getting public information shouldn’t be like pulling teeth it should be simple and easy and done without push back from the State or local governments.
Of course, it would be nice to see a law that requires gov’t officials who are impeached and convicted to be exiled. Pack up and leave within 60 days of conviction.
- Middle of the road - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 11:48 am:
Recall provisions for all state wide elected officials. I would like to see it for the whole General Assembly but it is hard to get a member thrown out by his/her own district.
- The Doc - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 11:52 am:
Add my name to the list of those calling for computer-generated redistricting, at both the state and municipal levels of government.
- NWillinois - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 11:53 am:
A bill to NEVER allow a building, park, highway, or anything funding with tax dollars to have the name of a politican. Also to remove the names that are currently on these state properties. It just about makes me sick whenever I take the byepass around Freeport that is called “The Richard “Dick” Mulcahey Byepass.”
- Cogito - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 11:55 am:
As part of ethics and civil service reform, a requirement that anyone brought on to the state payroll as a Public Service Intern must be enrolled in an accredited Masters of Public Administration program (or similar program accredited by the American Society for Public Administration)at the time of appointment or be a recent graduate us such a program (within three years of the appointment). Additional accredited programs in specialized areas could be added to the list with the approval of the Civil Service Commission.
There would be no fiscal impact and this would address a loophole that allows agencies to circumvent civil service requirements. Currently an agency can hire anyone with a college degree, have them serve as an intern for six months, and then place them in a permanent position without this hire going thru the normal testing process.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 12:02 pm:
===It just about makes me sick whenever I take the byepass around Freeport that is called “The Richard “Dick” Mulcahey Byepass.” ===
Why do you get ill, and doesn’t that say more about you than the rest of us?
Also, would that ban include renaming the Eisenhower, Kennedy and Reagan Expressways? Lincoln Highway? Lincoln’s tomb? lol
Let’s not get excessive here.
- Pot calling kettle - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 12:05 pm:
Computer-generated, non-partisan redistricting should be number one.
- Anon - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 12:12 pm:
For all elected offices, any vacancy would be filled by a special election. No appointments. And for executive offices (sheriff, clerk, etc.) the interim head could not run for the vacancy.
- Ken in Aurora - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 12:15 pm:
CCW.
It’s shameful that Illinois is one of only two states that do not allow citizens to effectively defend themselves outside their homes.
To top it off, the other state not allowing CCW has managed to pass legislation (twice?) but wasn’t able to override a gubernatorial veto. We can’t even get that far.
Shameful.
- NWillinois - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 12:24 pm:
The reason I dislike the “The Richard “Dick” Mulcahey Byepss” is because I know that he was not the only person that worked hard to get the funding for that. The late Senator Harlan Rigney had worked as hard at getting that to become a reality and I just have to wonder why they would just choose one of the many people that made it a reality. As far as the Eisenhower, Kennedy, Reagan and Lincoln highways I would think maybe it should be limited to presidents. I just get so tired of these egocentric politicans getting things named after them just because they were doing their job.
- Ben S. - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 12:28 pm:
I would say caps on campaign contributions–it would go a long way towards cleaning up the corruption that has embarrassed our state recently.
- Ready to Reform - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 12:32 pm:
1. Proposed Law: Campaign finance reform as proposed for the national level by William F. Buckley, Jr. Buckley’s proposal is to remove all caps on giving but require full and immediate disclosure on the Internet in a searchable database. Donors’ names cannot be concealed via LLCs or trusts; the beneficial owners must be disclosed.
Benefit: This will end the gamesmanship of giving.
2. Proposed Law: The seats of elected officials, once vacated, can be filled only at the time of the next general election or, if the general election is more than nine months away, by a special election.
Benefit: This will end the nepotism/hand-picked successor system that have elected officials resigning during the last year of their term so that their offspring can be appointed to succeed them.
3. Proposed Law: Move the property tax installment date to September 30, and all state and municipal elections to October 1.
Benefit: Campaigning in milder weather will encourage more candidates. Voting in milder weather will encourage higher voter turnout.
4. Proposed Law: Concealed/Carry law with background checks and mandatory training.
Benefit: This will leave Wisconsin as the only one of the 50 states that does not allow properly-trained, law-abiding citizens to protect themselves outside the safety of their homes.
5. Proposed Law: Term limits.
Benefit: It will encourage the return of the citizen/legislator by ending the self-perpetuating professional political class. No more Rich Daleys and no more Mike Madigans concerned more about the accumulation of personal power than are they in efficiently and transparently providing public services.
- Niles Township - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 12:35 pm:
Term limits - 2 per constituional office, 4 for legislative.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 12:53 pm:
Campaign finance reform and term limits are idealistic in nature but do not solve the salient issue at hand, which is corruption in IL. If we can’t have people who are honest by nature in government, at least we can make them more fearful of getting caught. Toughen up the Inspector General’s role, insulate them from political manipulation and make their investigations public.
- Lakefront Liberal - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 1:01 pm:
Ditto what Jerry Morrison said.
Also, to the person who commented about TIFs, Alds. Waguespack and Flores have introduced a TIF Sunshine Law to the city council. If you live in Chicago ask your alderman to sign on to it and ask your friends to do the same.
- Citizen6 - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 1:15 pm:
I would like to see a helmet requirement for kids on motorcycles. Unfortunately, an 8 year old relative’s stepdad thought it a great idea to take my nephew on the highway on a motorcycle. Bad diea-nephew of course fell off.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 1:19 pm:
Criminal Justice Equity Act - Everything from paroling all non-violent drug offenders into community montoring to ending indeterminate sentences for serious felons.
It IS good public policy. Its also true that the annual appropriations for IDOC is $1.4 BILLION.
- Fixit - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 1:23 pm:
To fix pay to play the following changes are needed.
1. What ever remains in the campaign finance war chests should be turned over to the state at the end of each election. This way at least some good would be made of all that money that was collected. Allowing the politicians to keep them and treat them as their own piggy bank is what’s getting us into all these problems.
2. Place term limits on all elected officials. We can’t afford professional politicians.
- ConservativeVeteran - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 1:31 pm:
We need a law which would state that each school district must have at least one high school, at least one junior high, and at least one elem. school. Too many districts only have one school. Each district has a superintendent, with an average salary of about $120,000, per year, and each district charges property taxes, on the homeowners, of the district. If the state has fewer districts, they would be more efficient, and the homeowners would save money.
- Niles Township - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 1:50 pm:
One more….elimination of township government.
- now what - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 2:17 pm:
make it illegal to buy those travel size liquor bottles at a store when your buying a soda…it is pretty obvious and it needs to stop…
- Vote Quimby! - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 2:37 pm:
Oooh….nice to see townships get put on the chopping block. We pay more to take care of country roads than we do inside our town…MUCH more!
- Hickory - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 2:52 pm:
Require the plaintiff to pay all legal fees and court costs if they lose the case.
- PalosParkBob - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 2:52 pm:
1)Changing election law so that there is a “level playing field” for party and independent candidates. Make the signature requirements the same for party and independent candidates.
2) Return to cummulative voting to increase minority representation in the state legislature. Can we put the “Quinn’s Folly” genie back into the bottle? Since single representative districts were passed, we had a political Oligarchy froced on Illinois.
3) Change the PTELL(tax cap) law so that taxes can rise based upon increases in the number of students in a district rather than the district EAV and new construction. Schools with growing enrollment could exceed current caps, and those with increasing EAV and decreasing enrollment would actually have lower tax revenues to match lower need.
4) Prohibit campaign contributions from any company, individual, or union receiving state funds directly or indirectly.
5) Cap school, university and municipal labor contracts to about 70% of new unrestricted revenues. At the end of the fiscal year, this “pot-o-money” would be divied up as agreed by the Board, Administration, and Unions by contract proscribed formula. This “bonus” would supplement a static salary and benefit schedule. This could end the cycle of gutless school Boards giving out contracts they can’t afford, borrowing and raising taxes through working cash bond sales to supplement other revenues to pay for the raise far exceeding COLA, then hurting the children to pass a referendum to start the ramped up salary schedule cycle once more.
- Firebelle - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 3:14 pm:
How about if we start all over with “Jessica’s Law” and get it strengthened & signed this time. Illinois is one of only 8 states that doesn’t have some form of it on the books.
A concealed carry law would also be good to get passed & signed.
Computer generated redistricting at all levels of government sounds like an unbiased way of dealing with that.
- Plutocrat03 - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 4:05 pm:
I’m with Ready to Refom, I would vote for you if you ran…..
I believe that limitations on contributions are a form of infringement on free speech. The solution with donors and amounts available on the internet is the best way to protect the public interest.
Appointments should simply not be done. A vacancy should trigger an election. Too many bloodline based dynasties in Illinois with unqualified beneficiaries.
Election day should also have a spring component, so there should be an election after income taxes are paid as well as one in the fall when property taxes are paid.
Concealed carry is a good idea. The states that have it have a reduced amount of violent crime because the criminals fear an armed populace.
Finally, end the gerrymandering of legislative districts. Use a computer with a priority to keep a community together if possible. Too much division leads to apathy.
Name stuff after real heros, not just the people in charge. The list of Washington based bureaucrats on the Hover Dam without listing the workers who lost their lives was shameful.
- With Liberty For All...... - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 4:42 pm:
Mandatory jail time (30 days) for driving without insurance on the 2nd offense in 5 years. There are far too many crashes in which one or both drivers don’t carry the mandatory insurance. Let’s send a clear message, with driving comes responsibility.
- Cheswick - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 5:36 pm:
I like this from PalosParkBob:
1)Changing election law so that there is a “level playing field” for party and independent candidates. Make the signature requirements the same for party and independent candidates.
Also, make it so all voting in all elections in the state is done by mail (I hear they do this in Oregon and it works well).
- Can't Say My Nickname - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 6:15 pm:
Put an end to “No-Bid Contracts.”
- Inside Cook - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 6:52 pm:
Allow Licenced Physicians from Puerto Rico to work in Illinois. Stpo discriminating against licenced MD’s from Puerto Rico and allow them to come to Illinois to help with the need for more MD’s and especially the need for more bilingual and bi cultural physicians!
- L.F.Buck - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 8:50 pm:
Plutocrat3. The workers are listed as well as how they died. See the Hoover Dam web site.
- Gregor - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:42 pm:
So many good ideas mentioned already. My peeve is shell bills and bundled bills, bills that make you hold your nose for something terrible just so that three good and needed things go thru. That’s not right. I know it would slow things down, but I would love a one topic per bill law. There already exists something like this, but it’s never used. If every bill had to stand on its own merits, a lot of bad bills wouldn’t get submitted in the first place, knowing they were doomed.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:52 pm:
Awww…VMan. That was sweet and makes alot of sense.