* “Reform” is often defined by reformers as passing a bill. But it’s more than that. Much more. From last night’s blogger conference call with the Senate Democrats…
Q: ArchPundit question about the stability of State Board of Elections data links and making state agencies make their information more useable online.
A: Harmon said he’s glad to hear its not just him having technical difficulties. Said it could be a problem of not enough money to update technology and is something lawmakers need to make sure agencies have the resources to do properly.
Sometimes, reform just means making sure that the technology works like it should. The Board of Elections’ website is in dire need of a complete revamp.
The Illinois Tollway’s board of directors Thursday agreed to pay the company that runs its much-criticized toll-collection program an additional $12.3 million, boosting the five-year contract to $81.8 million.
Board members, who last month balked at the payment, insisted that more oversight be given to the work performed by Texas-based Electronic Transaction Consultants Corp. Tollway staff said ETC was entitled to the extra money, an increase from the company’s $69.5 million contract, because the company performed more work than planned when the contract was awarded in 2005.
Mayor Daley promised that one-fifth of the homes built as part of the massive makeover of the historic Maxwell Street market would be set aside as affordable housing. Damaris Matis, a real estate agent, got to buy one of those 187 affordable homes.
The Maxwell Street units were supposed to go to families, but many were bought by single professionals, some of whom never lived there and some of whom rented them out. Matis, then 25 and single, already owned two condos and was making $43,782 a year when city housing officials deemed her eligible to buy an affordable one-bedroom condominium in the city-subsidized development, called University Village.
She even got a $20,000 taxpayer-funded subsidy when she closed on the $190,500 condo on July 2, 2007, records show. Thirty-eight days later, Matis sold it — at a profit of $29,500.
* And you have to always keep in mind that just because some newspaper editorial boards huff and puff in support of this or that “reform” proposal, the ideas won’t always work in the real world…
Combining the investment operations of the five state-funded pension systems won’t save enough money to make it worthwhile, a key state senator said Thursday. […]
Giannoulias estimated the state could save $50 million to $80 million a year in administrative and management fees - money that could be reinvested into assets that benefit the pension funds’ bottom lines. […]
Under its “more likely” scenario, the study said the pension funds would save about $21 million a year in fees. The most optimistic scenario pegged the savings at $35 million. A worst-case scenario put the savings at only $500,000.
“I think we should shelve the idea,” said Sen. Jeff Schoenberg (D-Evanston), a co-chairman of COGFA who asked for an independent study of the idea.
* And then there are the goofy editorials like this one…
We’re not buying the arguments going around Springfield as to why federal limits wouldn’t work for Illinois. We hear the scoffs, that campaign contribution limits have done little to clean up Washington.
So, of course, that’s an excellent reason to do nothing here.
Nowhere did that editorial explain why limits have been such an amazing success in DC. It also ignored the fact that limits appear to be moving forward. This is from last night’s blogger conference call by the Senate Democrats…
“We will have campaign caps.” [said Sen. Don Harmon]
He said the federal $2,400 limits are too low. Those low limits have some unintended consequences.
Higher caps have been endorsed by a wide array of folks, including Senate GOP Leader Radogno, the Tribune and the SJ-R. But, as always, if you question anything produced by the sacred reform commission, you must be a crook. The trouble with that logic is people have different ideas of how reform should proceed, so then everybody gets tagged with the crook label unless they are in 100 percent lockstep with the reform commission. That’s just downright unAmerican.
Gov. Pat Quinn said Thursday he would consider backing a contribution limit higher than $2,400. And Quinn’s reform panel chairman, Patrick Collins, said the commission is flexible on where the limit ends up.
* And watch Gov. Quinn squirm after being hit with questions about term limits for legislative leaders, another demand of his reform commission…
Under the terms of debate devised by some editorial boards and reformers, Pat Quinn must not be much of a reformer, either.
* The Rod Blagojevich case: Debate over use of federal wiretaps in trial goes on behind closed doors - Prosecutors file response under seal to co-defendant William Cellini’s request to suppress taps
28 Comments
- Phineas J. Whoopee - Friday, May 15, 09 @ 9:38 am:
Mayor Daley, Mayor Daley, Mayor Daley,
he really could drive someone insane. His “we lead by example” is the most truthful statement he has ever uttered, however, it is not as he meant it.
The Blago administration was a copy cat enterprise using mostly the same people who made their corruption bones in the City. Kelly and Harris and virtually all of them brought their vast experience in public disservice in city government to the state.
It’s mind bending that this guy gets to make speeches against reform and isn’t laughed off the stage.
I don’t think it is “money” that is needed to revamp the State site. It is just getting someone there who knows how to properly code a Web site and not just cheat with Coldfusion, etc.
Hobbyists with no money, like Illinoiselections.org, do a better job than they do.
Tutorial for State Board of Elections:
- For an example about how to link directly to a donation, see here:
Maybe I’m “misremembering”, but didn’t Cellini’s lawyer state that Mr. Cellini had never spoken to hot rod? If that is the case, then why would he be concerned about the taps?
There is a “law” that says each TIF district in Illinois must submit its annual report to the comptroller so the public has access to them.
The public does have access, IF it wants to pay the $2,000 the comptroller charges to make copies of the 8,000 pages of reports.
Why can’t they just make those electronic?
What good does it do to give the public “access” when it reasonably cannot get access.
Its all in the execution.
- lake county democrat - Friday, May 15, 09 @ 9:52 am:
Yesterday the Tribune reported that Mike Madigan has 1) taken anti-gerrymandering legislation off the table and 2) killed the bill (originally Fritchey’s, now someone else’s but I forget) to lower the insane 80% veto requirement in cook county. When are democrats going to say “enough!” and stand up to this thug?
Q: ArchPundit question about the stability of State Board of Elections data links and making state agencies make their information more useable online.
A: Harmon said he’s glad to hear its not just him having technical difficulties. Said it could be a problem of not enough money to update technology and is something lawmakers need to make sure agencies have the resources to do properly.
That is an ignorant answer, and completely wrong! I have dealt with this situation for over a decade and the problem is not a technological one. What we have here are government workers who are not modern enough to understand how data is used. They are still living in a paper world and simply cannot make the transition necessary to know how to think differently.
The data supplied has to be presented to the programmers in a way so that the data can be extracted and used to assemble the information to present online. It isn’t hard to do if you understand databases and data warehouses.
Instead, we get presented with pre-assembled information with rigid conditions upon it, so that programmers cannot create efficient analystical web tools for users online.
The problem isn’t the technology. It has been around for a good twenty years. The problem is that the people who are authorized to control the data, don’t have a clue what they control, how it was created, or think outside the freakin’ box they left their brains in back in the 1980s with their white sneakers, blue jeans and mustaches.
The tollway authority needs much more transparency, and staff that knows more than how to get to work. It’s like a government unto itself. Or so has been my experience with it.
Obviously the SBE site is a disaster since their awful redesign last year. Next time, hire some professionals, perform a little usability testing and get the thing right.
George above is right. This is 2009. The information should be available in a relational database that is sortable and searchable in any form we want it. It’s too often a strategy designed to make data hard to access and understand. That said, I don’t think that’s true of ISBE - they were just morons.
I got a mustache and wear blue jeans and probably left my brain back in the ’80’s. However, I am smart enough to work with IT to get it right. It is a matter of having someone at the top dictating that subordinates shape up. That ain’t happenin’, is it?
The leadership is hemming and hawing. The legislative process can move amazingly quick when leadership wants it to. Emergency legislation, waiving rules and all kinds of other steps could be taken.
All Kids was passed in how many weeks?
I also love Schoenberg’s argument that the savings won’t be worth it. I wonder if the same logic applies when he talks revenues? I mean, after all, if our situation is as dire as I read here and hear about at the capital, doesn’t every penny count?
here is how the current refomr process looks to be functioning to me:
In the past we had (or didnt have) x.
Crime happened (note: the conduct was already illegal! we just had to locate it investiagte and prosecute)
Therefore we need to change x or add x.
The conduct our former governros engaged in was already illgeal, and these reforms really do nothing to prevent future political tyopes from breaking already existing laws!
We need more open governemnt. More real time disclosure of information and public databases to bring conduct and decisions to light.
We do not need to make the system of fundraising and political participation so entertwined with mines that the average person will blow themselves up if they try to run for an office.
We need to get past the idea tyhat change just for th eprpose of changing somthing is a good idea. e need reform that makes for less beuracracy and simpler rules to increase participation and make overnemnt truly transparent. Everything else just operates as a chilling efefect on political participation, which benefits the political insiders we are theoretically trying to diminish.
I was delighted to read that there were many retirees after Ryan because I thought that there would be new blood coming into government with new ideas. But it didn’t happen.
Mayor Daley says he is leading by example on ethics. He’s absolutely right. And all his guys — Joyce, Degnan, Sorich, Reyes, Tomczak, Sanchez, et. al., follow that lead.
In my agency we have a pretty good group of IT people. It is a small agency and our website is helpful. However, we are not one of the big players where the info is so vital to a wider population. So much could be done if someone w/power AND will to use it took charge. We see it in other states, why not here? Is this the time when it could happen? I’d like to see it but have less confidence now. Seems there are many who are using smoke and mirrors to make it look like reform isa comin’. MM is seeing to it that it won’t, I fear.
The NYT does it again! Go to the article linked to above (”Reform in Illinois: A View from Springfield”), and from there to the related article link from the May 4 NYT. The related article claims that “graffiti stencils of the moppet-headed Mr. Blagojevich are appearing mysteriously” in Springfield. If they are, it’s news to me. Aren’t they in Chicago?
The Internet is like an automobile. If we let the programmers make it, it ends up looking like a high performance dragster few can drive and cannot hold another passenger. If we let upper management make it, it looks like a VW Beetle limousine, all back seat and no power. If we let the users design it, we end up with a school bus.
In Illinois we have many VW Beetle limousines, designed by PR staffers with degrees in brochure and art design. If the site is to serve an elected official, the site ends up looking like a campaign brochure. Then there are the sites that are used as WWW bulletin boards. These sites simply have digital versions of the paper products that originated forty years ago and reproduced ever since.
We must have technology leaders who understand how knowledge is created. How it is built from accessible data from open structured queries, in order to present the data and data tools to online users. We don’t have that yet.
William Cellini’s request to suppress federal wiretaps.
Illinois Tollway’s board of directors are above the law.
Cover Up!
Somethings never change, come on Quinn grow some.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Friday, May 15, 09 @ 11:35 am:
=== Yesterday the Tribune reported that Mike Madigan has 1) taken anti-gerrymandering legislation off the table and 2) killed the bill (originally Fritchey’s, now someone else’s but I forget) to lower the insane 80% veto requirement in cook county. When are democrats going to say “enough!” and stand up to this thug? ===
1) The so-called “anti-gerrymandering” bill would put a computer ~ and more importantly a computer programmer ~ in charge of redrawing Illinois’ legislative district boundaries.
We can’t even verify the computer programs that count our ballots, and now you want to put a program in charge of drawing the boundaries?
Moreover, “Lake County Democrat,” the current system of actually allowing people to make important decisions like where to fairly draw district boundaries has resulted in a record number of Democrats representing Lake County in Springfield.
Perhaps you should contemplate that?
2) The real question is when are Cook Countians going to stop re-electing allies of Todd Stroger to the Cook County Board?
I agree that 80% is a high threshold for overcoming a veto, but the real problem is that the people of cook county elected enough stroger allies to pass the silly sales tax increase in the first place.
=== The problem is that the people who are authorized to control the data, don’t have a clue what they control, how it was created, or think outside the freakin’ box they left their brains in back in the 1980s with their white sneakers, blue jeans and mustaches. ====
There is an irony in calling for cuts to employee salaries and benefits and then complaining about the quality of the employees
Blago Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner have been carefully formulated with special ingredients that actually make the hair feel fuller and thicker, or “really big”!
Silk protein, Keratein and Panthenol (ProVitamin B-5) have been added to strengthen hair while adding body and shine. Vitamin E and extracts of Green Tea, Rosemary, Comfrey and Orchid have been added to for their anti-oxidant and stimulating qualities.
These products are blended into a beautiful golden hue.
THEY ARE TRULY “BLEEP’N GOLDEN.”
Blago hair care products are never tested on animals and contain no petrochemicals. They provide gentle cleansing and conditioning for daily use.
Regarding Cullerton and his call for “transparency” in the state senate: As a Republican, I am actually finding myself starting to like John Cullerton since he has replaced Emil Jones. John Cullerton (a Democrat) is attempting to help Chris Lauzen (a Republican)give the power back into the hands of the Illinois Republican voters to choose their own GOP leadership. The Illinois Republican voters had been basically “neutered” by the power mongers in their own Illinois GOP leadership back then led by Big Jim more than twenty years ago. That says something about John Cullerton to me. Oh, my God! Could we actually have an Illinois elected official who believes in doing “the right thing” even when it might go against his own Party’s wishes and best interests? Woahhhh! I am not sure if the people in Illinois could handle that kind of shock?
” … a problem of not enough money to update technology … ”
Never in the history of humanity has it been cheaper to put terabytes online, and never have there been more powerful tools for making it immediately usable. Anyone you hear whining about time or money or technology is making excuses. To take one example, in a week an undergraduate computer science class could build a better website than the Illinois State Board of Elections has managed in many years.
- Arthur Andersen - Friday, May 15, 09 @ 12:48 pm:
Poor Alexi is having a bad year.
First, he’s stunned when everyone doesn’t fall in line behind the ILL-PERS pension power grab he cobbles together with some Blago insiders over Turkey Day weekend. He calls the non-savings a “corruption tax.” Fightin’ words right there.
Next, as Blago gets pushed out the door, so do Alexi’s gubernatorial hopes.
Hundreds of families around Illinois learn about the same time that their college savings entrusted to Alexi’s Bright Start program have dropped precipitously in value. $85 million lost.
While other Bright Start states launch investigations and head to court, Alexi…raises a million bucks for his newest idea, the US Senate.
Then Alexi & Co. get caught with a shiny new SUV purchased from the Bright Start admin fees. “But it’s a Hybrid,” the apologists whined.
Now, objective verification confirms what Alexi’s critics said about ILL-PERS from the beginning; It wouldn’t save a dime on admin costs, the money manager fee savings were speculative, and the changeover costs would consume the short-run savings.
The next shoe to drop for Mr. Alexi won’t be any better. Might be time to go back to Mommy’s bank.
The chances of Cellini or any other defendant persuading Judge Zagel to suppress either the Title III wiretaps, or the consensual overhears, are non-existent. But the effort runs up attorney hours, so they do it!
Legaleagle, I get that, but IF, as I believe Cellini or his lawyer maintained, there was never a conversation with blago, why would they even do that?…or more importantly, why would Cellini let the lawyer bill him for that time, if there’s nothing to be found? Pretty sure we all think we know the answer, but that’s why I’m throwing it out.
[…] On the call, Senators discussed the six areas identified by the Illinois Reform Commission including campaign finance, state contracting, enforcement, government transparency, government structure, and inspiring better government. In the true spirit of a blogger conference call, Senator Harmon reviewed questions received via e-mail. One put the spotlight on government transparency when it comes to technology. From The Capitol Fax: […]
- Phineas J. Whoopee - Friday, May 15, 09 @ 9:38 am:
Mayor Daley, Mayor Daley, Mayor Daley,
he really could drive someone insane. His “we lead by example” is the most truthful statement he has ever uttered, however, it is not as he meant it.
The Blago administration was a copy cat enterprise using mostly the same people who made their corruption bones in the City. Kelly and Harris and virtually all of them brought their vast experience in public disservice in city government to the state.
It’s mind bending that this guy gets to make speeches against reform and isn’t laughed off the stage.
- George - Friday, May 15, 09 @ 9:43 am:
I don’t think it is “money” that is needed to revamp the State site. It is just getting someone there who knows how to properly code a Web site and not just cheat with Coldfusion, etc.
Hobbyists with no money, like Illinoiselections.org, do a better job than they do.
Tutorial for State Board of Elections:
- For an example about how to link directly to a donation, see here:
- Or how about linking directly to a search list?
- Or a map of contributions?
You can’t rely on those sites to provide all the state-mandated information, though. They only give you a piece of the picture (contributions).
The state board needs to step up and put its money where its reform mouth is.
- Cranky Old Man - Friday, May 15, 09 @ 9:46 am:
Maybe I’m “misremembering”, but didn’t Cellini’s lawyer state that Mr. Cellini had never spoken to hot rod? If that is the case, then why would he be concerned about the taps?
- George - Friday, May 15, 09 @ 9:47 am:
And another example -
There is a “law” that says each TIF district in Illinois must submit its annual report to the comptroller so the public has access to them.
The public does have access, IF it wants to pay the $2,000 the comptroller charges to make copies of the 8,000 pages of reports.
Why can’t they just make those electronic?
What good does it do to give the public “access” when it reasonably cannot get access.
Its all in the execution.
- lake county democrat - Friday, May 15, 09 @ 9:52 am:
Yesterday the Tribune reported that Mike Madigan has 1) taken anti-gerrymandering legislation off the table and 2) killed the bill (originally Fritchey’s, now someone else’s but I forget) to lower the insane 80% veto requirement in cook county. When are democrats going to say “enough!” and stand up to this thug?
- VanillaMan - Friday, May 15, 09 @ 9:56 am:
Q: ArchPundit question about the stability of State Board of Elections data links and making state agencies make their information more useable online.
A: Harmon said he’s glad to hear its not just him having technical difficulties. Said it could be a problem of not enough money to update technology and is something lawmakers need to make sure agencies have the resources to do properly.
That is an ignorant answer, and completely wrong! I have dealt with this situation for over a decade and the problem is not a technological one. What we have here are government workers who are not modern enough to understand how data is used. They are still living in a paper world and simply cannot make the transition necessary to know how to think differently.
The data supplied has to be presented to the programmers in a way so that the data can be extracted and used to assemble the information to present online. It isn’t hard to do if you understand databases and data warehouses.
Instead, we get presented with pre-assembled information with rigid conditions upon it, so that programmers cannot create efficient analystical web tools for users online.
The problem isn’t the technology. It has been around for a good twenty years. The problem is that the people who are authorized to control the data, don’t have a clue what they control, how it was created, or think outside the freakin’ box they left their brains in back in the 1980s with their white sneakers, blue jeans and mustaches.
- Captain Flume - Friday, May 15, 09 @ 10:01 am:
The tollway authority needs much more transparency, and staff that knows more than how to get to work. It’s like a government unto itself. Or so has been my experience with it.
- dupage dan - Friday, May 15, 09 @ 10:03 am:
COM, You can bet if Cellini is able to supress those taps he will testify that he never spoke to hot rod. Otherwise, he’ll roll.
- BGA Dave - Friday, May 15, 09 @ 10:05 am:
Obviously the SBE site is a disaster since their awful redesign last year. Next time, hire some professionals, perform a little usability testing and get the thing right.
George above is right. This is 2009. The information should be available in a relational database that is sortable and searchable in any form we want it. It’s too often a strategy designed to make data hard to access and understand. That said, I don’t think that’s true of ISBE - they were just morons.
- dupage dan - Friday, May 15, 09 @ 10:06 am:
Hey VM,
I got a mustache and wear blue jeans and probably left my brain back in the ’80’s. However, I am smart enough to work with IT to get it right. It is a matter of having someone at the top dictating that subordinates shape up. That ain’t happenin’, is it?
- Greg B. - Friday, May 15, 09 @ 10:11 am:
The leadership is hemming and hawing. The legislative process can move amazingly quick when leadership wants it to. Emergency legislation, waiving rules and all kinds of other steps could be taken.
All Kids was passed in how many weeks?
I also love Schoenberg’s argument that the savings won’t be worth it. I wonder if the same logic applies when he talks revenues? I mean, after all, if our situation is as dire as I read here and hear about at the capital, doesn’t every penny count?
- Ghost - Friday, May 15, 09 @ 10:13 am:
here is how the current refomr process looks to be functioning to me:
In the past we had (or didnt have) x.
Crime happened (note: the conduct was already illegal! we just had to locate it investiagte and prosecute)
Therefore we need to change x or add x.
The conduct our former governros engaged in was already illgeal, and these reforms really do nothing to prevent future political tyopes from breaking already existing laws!
We need more open governemnt. More real time disclosure of information and public databases to bring conduct and decisions to light.
We do not need to make the system of fundraising and political participation so entertwined with mines that the average person will blow themselves up if they try to run for an office.
We need to get past the idea tyhat change just for th eprpose of changing somthing is a good idea. e need reform that makes for less beuracracy and simpler rules to increase participation and make overnemnt truly transparent. Everything else just operates as a chilling efefect on political participation, which benefits the political insiders we are theoretically trying to diminish.
- VanillaMan - Friday, May 15, 09 @ 10:14 am:
No it is not happening Dan.
I was delighted to read that there were many retirees after Ryan because I thought that there would be new blood coming into government with new ideas. But it didn’t happen.
You have a mustache? LOL!
- wordslinger - Friday, May 15, 09 @ 10:19 am:
Mayor Daley says he is leading by example on ethics. He’s absolutely right. And all his guys — Joyce, Degnan, Sorich, Reyes, Tomczak, Sanchez, et. al., follow that lead.
- dupage dan - Friday, May 15, 09 @ 10:33 am:
VM,
In my agency we have a pretty good group of IT people. It is a small agency and our website is helpful. However, we are not one of the big players where the info is so vital to a wider population. So much could be done if someone w/power AND will to use it took charge. We see it in other states, why not here? Is this the time when it could happen? I’d like to see it but have less confidence now. Seems there are many who are using smoke and mirrors to make it look like reform isa comin’. MM is seeing to it that it won’t, I fear.
Yeah, got one. Quite gray, too.
- Secret Square - Friday, May 15, 09 @ 10:37 am:
The NYT does it again! Go to the article linked to above (”Reform in Illinois: A View from Springfield”), and from there to the related article link from the May 4 NYT. The related article claims that “graffiti stencils of the moppet-headed Mr. Blagojevich are appearing mysteriously” in Springfield. If they are, it’s news to me. Aren’t they in Chicago?
- Jacksonville - Friday, May 15, 09 @ 10:42 am:
Quinn made a great pick for the new IDOC director, he is under investigation in Ohio. Great way to clean up Illinois.
- VanillaMan - Friday, May 15, 09 @ 11:06 am:
The Internet is like an automobile. If we let the programmers make it, it ends up looking like a high performance dragster few can drive and cannot hold another passenger. If we let upper management make it, it looks like a VW Beetle limousine, all back seat and no power. If we let the users design it, we end up with a school bus.
In Illinois we have many VW Beetle limousines, designed by PR staffers with degrees in brochure and art design. If the site is to serve an elected official, the site ends up looking like a campaign brochure. Then there are the sites that are used as WWW bulletin boards. These sites simply have digital versions of the paper products that originated forty years ago and reproduced ever since.
We must have technology leaders who understand how knowledge is created. How it is built from accessible data from open structured queries, in order to present the data and data tools to online users. We don’t have that yet.
So technology is not the problem. People are.
- HGW XX/7 - Friday, May 15, 09 @ 11:35 am:
William Cellini’s request to suppress federal wiretaps.
Illinois Tollway’s board of directors are above the law.
Cover Up!
Somethings never change, come on Quinn grow some.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Friday, May 15, 09 @ 11:35 am:
=== Yesterday the Tribune reported that Mike Madigan has 1) taken anti-gerrymandering legislation off the table and 2) killed the bill (originally Fritchey’s, now someone else’s but I forget) to lower the insane 80% veto requirement in cook county. When are democrats going to say “enough!” and stand up to this thug? ===
1) The so-called “anti-gerrymandering” bill would put a computer ~ and more importantly a computer programmer ~ in charge of redrawing Illinois’ legislative district boundaries.
We can’t even verify the computer programs that count our ballots, and now you want to put a program in charge of drawing the boundaries?
Moreover, “Lake County Democrat,” the current system of actually allowing people to make important decisions like where to fairly draw district boundaries has resulted in a record number of Democrats representing Lake County in Springfield.
Perhaps you should contemplate that?
2) The real question is when are Cook Countians going to stop re-electing allies of Todd Stroger to the Cook County Board?
I agree that 80% is a high threshold for overcoming a veto, but the real problem is that the people of cook county elected enough stroger allies to pass the silly sales tax increase in the first place.
- Ghost - Friday, May 15, 09 @ 11:39 am:
=== The problem is that the people who are authorized to control the data, don’t have a clue what they control, how it was created, or think outside the freakin’ box they left their brains in back in the 1980s with their white sneakers, blue jeans and mustaches. ====
There is an irony in calling for cuts to employee salaries and benefits and then complaining about the quality of the employees
Do you want the best or the cheapest?
- HGW XX/7 - Friday, May 15, 09 @ 12:00 pm:
Blago Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner have been carefully formulated with special ingredients that actually make the hair feel fuller and thicker, or “really big”!
Silk protein, Keratein and Panthenol (ProVitamin B-5) have been added to strengthen hair while adding body and shine. Vitamin E and extracts of Green Tea, Rosemary, Comfrey and Orchid have been added to for their anti-oxidant and stimulating qualities.
These products are blended into a beautiful golden hue.
THEY ARE TRULY “BLEEP’N GOLDEN.”
Blago hair care products are never tested on animals and contain no petrochemicals. They provide gentle cleansing and conditioning for daily use.
- John Doe - Friday, May 15, 09 @ 12:13 pm:
Regarding Cullerton and his call for “transparency” in the state senate: As a Republican, I am actually finding myself starting to like John Cullerton since he has replaced Emil Jones. John Cullerton (a Democrat) is attempting to help Chris Lauzen (a Republican)give the power back into the hands of the Illinois Republican voters to choose their own GOP leadership. The Illinois Republican voters had been basically “neutered” by the power mongers in their own Illinois GOP leadership back then led by Big Jim more than twenty years ago. That says something about John Cullerton to me. Oh, my God! Could we actually have an Illinois elected official who believes in doing “the right thing” even when it might go against his own Party’s wishes and best interests? Woahhhh! I am not sure if the people in Illinois could handle that kind of shock?
- moron - Friday, May 15, 09 @ 12:34 pm:
” … a problem of not enough money to update technology … ”
Never in the history of humanity has it been cheaper to put terabytes online, and never have there been more powerful tools for making it immediately usable. Anyone you hear whining about time or money or technology is making excuses. To take one example, in a week an undergraduate computer science class could build a better website than the Illinois State Board of Elections has managed in many years.
- Arthur Andersen - Friday, May 15, 09 @ 12:48 pm:
Poor Alexi is having a bad year.
First, he’s stunned when everyone doesn’t fall in line behind the ILL-PERS pension power grab he cobbles together with some Blago insiders over Turkey Day weekend. He calls the non-savings a “corruption tax.” Fightin’ words right there.
Next, as Blago gets pushed out the door, so do Alexi’s gubernatorial hopes.
Hundreds of families around Illinois learn about the same time that their college savings entrusted to Alexi’s Bright Start program have dropped precipitously in value. $85 million lost.
While other Bright Start states launch investigations and head to court, Alexi…raises a million bucks for his newest idea, the US Senate.
Then Alexi & Co. get caught with a shiny new SUV purchased from the Bright Start admin fees. “But it’s a Hybrid,” the apologists whined.
Now, objective verification confirms what Alexi’s critics said about ILL-PERS from the beginning; It wouldn’t save a dime on admin costs, the money manager fee savings were speculative, and the changeover costs would consume the short-run savings.
The next shoe to drop for Mr. Alexi won’t be any better. Might be time to go back to Mommy’s bank.
- Legaleagle - Friday, May 15, 09 @ 1:58 pm:
The chances of Cellini or any other defendant persuading Judge Zagel to suppress either the Title III wiretaps, or the consensual overhears, are non-existent. But the effort runs up attorney hours, so they do it!
- Cranky Old Man - Friday, May 15, 09 @ 4:50 pm:
Legaleagle, I get that, but IF, as I believe Cellini or his lawyer maintained, there was never a conversation with blago, why would they even do that?…or more importantly, why would Cellini let the lawyer bill him for that time, if there’s nothing to be found? Pretty sure we all think we know the answer, but that’s why I’m throwing it out.
Pingback Legislators Chat with Bloggers | Illinois Technology Partnership - Wednesday, May 20, 09 @ 4:58 pm:
[…] On the call, Senators discussed the six areas identified by the Illinois Reform Commission including campaign finance, state contracting, enforcement, government transparency, government structure, and inspiring better government. In the true spirit of a blogger conference call, Senator Harmon reviewed questions received via e-mail. One put the spotlight on government transparency when it comes to technology. From The Capitol Fax: […]