* 10:19 am - Comptroller Dan Hynes has just called for a “progressive” income tax, a dollar increase in the cigarette tax, two to three additional casinos, luxury services and other revenue ideas and budget cuts. You can watch it live by clicking here.
“I think it’s wrong to tax families during a recession,” said the Democratic gubernatorial candidate.
Hynes called for a “Fair and progressive tax system that will not raise taxes for 97 percent of our citizens… It will increase taxes only on those making over $200,000 per year…. Even then, the incremental increases will be staggered.” Top rate of 7.5 percent at $1 million a year.
The constitution would have to be amended to pass this proposal, of course.
* Gov. Pat Quinn, by the way, initially had no events on his schedule today. He then added two events, including one at 10:30 (just 8 minutes from now), where he will answer questions. [Update: The afternoon event is no longer on the schedule.]
* Hynes: “Our budget deficit is the product of our leadership deficit.”
* Hynes has ended his speech and is now taking questions from reporters.
Hynes said he wants the General Assembly to pass a resolution to put the constitutional amendment question before voters next year.
“Pat Quinn’s plan is regressive and unfair… Now he might have changed it, probably did.” Ouch.
“The hard, cold fact is this: We can’t cut our way out of this.”
No increase in corporate income tax.
Pushing, again, to merge comptroller and treasurer’s office.
* Hynes wants to cut back government operation lines to 2005 levels,
* 10:35 am - End of presser. I’ll be posting some docs in a few. Patterson has more.
* From the Hynes campaign…
“The general idea…is straightforward: before turning to taxes, we have to cut unnecessary government spending. If we don’t, we’ll place an unfair tax burden on people… We won’t have addressed the problem in the same common sense way that they would. A budget, whether at home or in Springfield, should require budgeting.”
To reduce the 2010 Budget shortfall, Hynes proposed taking immediate action to:
o Cut unnecessary government spending with a strategic process;
o Fire half of the Blagojevich political appointees making $70,000 a year or more;
o Reduce exorbitant state contracts by 20 percent;
o Bring state government operations back to 2005 levels, using best practices and directing agencies to work with front-line workers to identify cost-saving measures and efficiencies (Through a similar process, Hynes’ Comptroller’s Office is operating at 2001 levels.);
o End unfair tax exemptions, loopholes and discounts.
“The goal of this plan is simply to make our state better,” Hynes concluded. “But to do that we have to lead with clarity and consistency.”
Read the full press release by clicking here.
* Lede look…
* AP: Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes has formally announced his campaign for governor by introducing his plan to solve the state’s budget crisis.
* NBC5: Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes formally entered the Illinois governor’s race this morning, and during his announcement he laid out a reform agenda aimed directly at the establishment.
CBS2 and ABC7 are both using AP stories at the moment.
* Sun-Times: Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes formally announced his candidacy for governor today, proposing to change the state’s income tax from a flat 3 percent tax to a “progressive” tax that would top out at 7.5 percent for millionaires.
* Tribune: State Comptroller Dan Hynes today said he could dig the state out of its budget hole if he were governor–outlining more than half a dozen initiatives ranging from a graduated income tax and new casinos to cutting state workers and reducing state contracts.
* Daily Herald: Illinois voters would decide whether those making more than $200,000 a year would have their taxes raised at the same time pick a governor next year, under the plan put forward by Democratic hopeful Dan Hynes.
* 11:44 am - Illinois Federation of Teachers…
“We want to take a closer look at it before commenting further
- George - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 10:32 am:
So, the General Assembly that didn’t want to pass Quinn’s original progressive tax structure would all of a sudden pass a constitutional amendment to do this one?
Without even saying what the new revenue would go to?
- W - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 10:33 am:
It’s good of Hynes to weigh in on this debate at a crucial moment when it really matters. His display of leadership is staggering.
- Anon - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 10:34 am:
Kip Kirkpatrick is out of the Treasurer’s race. Its in the Trib.
- A Moderate's Moderate - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 10:35 am:
This is his way of saying im for tax increases just not Quinn’s tax increase.
- cover - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 10:38 am:
If this is Hynes’ campaign theme, I think we can all look forward to a full 4-year term for Gov. Quinn.
- Captain Flume - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 10:38 am:
There’s a year plus between now and the day the day that Mr. Hynes would take the reins of government. What happens in the meantime? I missed that part of his proposed solution.
- Niles Township - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 10:39 am:
I was unimpressed. It is also amateur hour to schedule this on the same day within a couple of hours of the IOC releases their final olympic report. Dan won’t even get the lead on the noon news, let alone the later shows.
- Wumpus - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 10:39 am:
Wow, a plan! Great timing! Anyway, I am not going to cry in my champaign for the rich, but that plan is not “fair” in my understanding of the word. Whatever, it is something constructive from someone
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 10:47 am:
Except for perhaps one downtown, is there really a market for more casinos? I doubt it. It seems to me they would just cannibalize the existing ones.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 10:48 am:
wordslinger, Lake County and Rockford both make the case about drawing Wisconsin folks here. Not sure if they’re right, but they do have a decent argument.
- siriusly - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 10:49 am:
I give Hynes credit for this one. He gets to point out that Quinn hasn’t fumigated, hasn’t made the cuts he has promised to make three times and then also gets to point out that Quinn’s tax hike proposal sucks. It’s never a winning theme to campaign on a tax hike, but at least Hynes’ proposal is fairer.
I like it.
- Cassandra - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 10:49 am:
Quinn’s obsession with taxing members of the middle class during a major recession shows his complete lack of interest in the economic lives of ordinary citizens.
It seems unlikely that Hynes’ less regressive proposal will budge him, though. He flip flops on everything but his desire to get money from middle class citizens…for our own good. All those great services we get, ya know. Like Howe Developmental and DCFS (which just got fined by the feds because their repeat child maltreatment
rate exceeds the rather low federal standard).
And let’s face it, most high-level Democratic pols (not to mention an awful lot of Democratic
state legislators) lean towards the rich side of the chart. They don’t want to pay any more than they have to—and they have the power to tax the rest of us. They’ll likely stick with the Quinn proposal because it’s best for them.
- Cindy Lou - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 10:51 am:
–”where he will answer questions”.–
So what is Quinn answering questions about at 10:30? I did’nt see what his ‘event’ was for.
- George - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 10:53 am:
Just a couple notes:
o Cut unnecessary government spending with a strategic process;
I think Quinn just did that - hacking a lot from the agencies due to the lack of revenue passed. Or is this more magical ponies cuts?
o Fire half of the Blagojevich political appointees making $70,000 a year or more;
Sure, you can do that. But then you are just hiring new people to replace them. Are agencies really going to operate without their Director or Secretary? Or a chief of staff? Not really much savings there.
o Reduce exorbitant state contracts by 20 percent;
More magic ponies? What contracts is he referring to here? And which ones are exorbitant? Sounds nice, obviously, but are you going to renegotiate union contracts, or what?
o Bring state government operations back to 2005 levels, using best practices and directing agencies to work with front-line workers to identify cost-saving measures and efficiencies (Through a similar process, Hynes’ Comptroller’s Office is operating at 2001 levels.);
After Quinn’s cuts this year, I think “operations” are already below 2005 levels. Operations spending has been decreasing, while “grants” have been increasing (education, healthcare spending, etc.). And how would this not double dip with point 1? Furthermore, I think the MO of frontline workers has been to ask for MORE operations spending, not less.
o End unfair tax exemptions, loopholes and discounts.
Great. This has been the refrain for the past 6 years. If you can get the legislature to pass a reduction, cap, or elimination of the retailers discount, that would be great and impressive. Same with loopholes. But the ones that remain after the other have been closed are the ones with the most political clout. So its quite a battle.
All-in-all, it is brave to go out headfirst with a revenue plan as your primary campaign theme, so you have to give him credit for that. But he is using a lot of the doublespeak and misleading rhetoric that we have been hearing all spring. So, its not much to get excited about on these items. If he can gain traction with a progressive tax plan, though, and ride that to victory, then all power to him.
- Cindy Lou - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 11:01 am:
George” Sounds nice, obviously, but are you going to renegotiate union contracts, or what”?–
Well, actually George, I’m still trying to figure out how some frontliners in peon positions seemed to have gotten around the timeline on step increases and jumped right to the top step. Gives the appearance that some just might be treated a bit ’special’ . Ya that new trans/account database Quinn put up online opens a few windows of light.
- montrose - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 11:03 am:
There have been multiple efforts to amend the constitution to allow for a progressive tax in recent years. None have gotten beyond a bad floor vote. I completely agree that we should amend the constitution to allow for a progressive tax, but it is an uphill climb.
To build on Captain Flume’s point, let’s play out the best case scenario (for Hynes) timing:
Step 1: Someone introduces legislation to amend the constitution next session. Said legislation makes it through the House and Senate and the Governor signs it. That puts us at Summer 2010 - again *everything* would have to go his way.
Step 2: The referendum goes on the ballot November 2010 (even it even can get on that quickly). The good people of Illinois vote for Constitutional amendment.
Step 3: For the Fiscal Year 2012, Hynes proposes his progressive tax increase and other changes.
So, what about the $11 billion deficit we are facing for FY2011? The massive lag time on bill payment for FY2010? Oh, and the chance of the process following Steps 1-3 without a delay? Zero.
- You Go Boy - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 11:10 am:
Maybe you can’t “cut your way out of this”, but I hear precious little about what IS being done to cut waste, fraud, abuse. It seems to be a topic of ridicule. Take Medicaid alone - if the W, F and A were cut by 30%, would that not improve the budget situation by $5 billion? My state senator has no idea how many investigators are checking for big time welfare fraud in Medicaid…when I asked “then how do you know we need a big tax increase?”, he said, “thats a good question”. Two weeks later I followed up and asked if he ever checked to see how many investigators - well, he hadn’t gotten around to that. Too busy waiting for the call from the ‘Leader” to tell him what to do I suppose.
- Just Asking - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 11:16 am:
What was Hynes’ position on Con Con?
- Cassandra - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 11:21 am:
Firing half of the Blago appointees sounds kind of clunky. Why does the other half get a free pass? Will “connections” matter. Of course. Not to mention cronyism, nepotism, “campaign contributions,” and so on. We don’t have ethics reform yet, you know.
Why not fire all of them. Most will not need to be replaced because they don’t do anything of value now. A few, a very few, are valuable and can be rehired–perhaps through a Rutan process so they get to demonstrate their actual worth in competition with others.
No tears, now. The four year termers can be fired as their terms come up. The at-will folks can go now. Both groups knew what they were in for and surely made some alternative plans. Just because it’s a “government” job does not mean it’s a lifetime job, although in the Quinn administration, it sure seems he’d like it to be that way.
- Bill - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 11:33 am:
Hynes put forth an excellent, well thought out plan to put our state on the road to fiscal integrity. He has proven in his own office that state government can be made more efficient without diminishing services. He is correct that before the public is asked for more taxes gov’t must be streamlined and made as cost effective as possible. He has a proven record of leadership and the know how and experience to get the job done. He has the political will to get the amendment on the ballot and sell it to the public. Yes, rich people will vote against it, but those of us who work for a living and struggle to get by will jump at the chance to force the wealthy to finally pay their fair share in Illinois.
It is nice to have a professional, mature, proven leader to support for governor. Amateur hour has been really amusing since January but enough fun and games. Now it is time to take the office of governor seriously and vote for someone who can get the job done. Dan Hynes is that guy.
What has Quinn done to address this state’s fiscal problems? Aside from changing his mind every 15 minutes, what has he actually cut? Nothing. What politically appointed employees has he gotten rid of? None. What reforms has he instituted? None. It is a new proposal every week or two with absolutely no follow through hoping to stall, thinking that he will be able to raise taxes in January. What happens when he can’t? Total shut down? massive layoffs? More stiffing of the state’s creditors? Feeble attempts at income re-distribution so people with a lot of dependents get tax breaks while single people pay the freight?
Let’s put an end to the temp governor’s reign of incompetence and goofiness. It’s time to get serious. It’s time for Governor Dan Hynes.
- soccermom - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 11:37 am:
“Maybe you can’t “cut your way out of this”, but I hear precious little about what IS being done to cut waste, fraud, abuse. It seems to be a topic of ridicule. Take Medicaid alone - if the W, F and A were cut by 30%, would that not improve the budget situation by $5 billion?”
I’m afraid I’m not following your math. In FY09, the State of Illinois spent about $8 billion total on Medicaid. Even if ALL of that were waste fraud and abuse, I don’t see how a 30 percent reduction gets you $5 billion.
- montrose - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 11:38 am:
Until Bill’s ringing endorsement of Hynes, I had no strong feelings about him one way or another. Now, in all honesty, I am suddenly very skeptical about Hynes. Go figure.
- Bill - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 11:48 am:
Monty,
Skepticism is just what Illinois needs right now. Do some investigating and I am sure that Hynes will be your guy too. After all, when have I ever steered you wrong?
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 12:10 pm:
What is so great about raising taxes on those earning more than $200,000? Exactly why should we think it is so great to force some Illinoisans to pay more - and think it is fair? Are these folks taking more from Illinois than any one else?
…those of us who work for a living and struggle to get by will jump at the chance to force the wealthy to finally pay their fair share in Illinois.
So if you earn more than $200,000 - you didn’t work to get it? Since when have we believed those of us earning more than $200,000 to be rich? Is every doctor rich? Is someone living in the Loop, paying those costs, rich?
Not only can we not cut our way out of the fiscal mess our state leaders have plunged Illinois into - we cannot tax our way out of it either.
Whether it is one group of Illinoisans who believe they can be spared higher taxes by finger pointing at their neighbors who consume tax dollars at a higher rate than they, the other group is just as wrong when they finger point at their neighbors who earn more than they.
Cut or tax isn’t a solution, but cutting and taxing could be if spending was also managed.
Hynes’ prescription sounds like Illinois Democrat BS.
- Irish - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 12:16 pm:
Before I make a judgement I am going to have to see more particulars on what some of the catch phrases in Hyne’s plan really mean. As far as cutting to 2005 levels my agency would be doing great to return to those levels. I would even like to see my agency return to 2001 levels since that would not be a cut it would be an increase.
I wonder if the same would be true about Hynes office. 2001 operation levels for a lot of Agencies is higher than they are now.
And firing Blago appointees doesn’t do any good if they are replaced by new appointees. What has to be done is to eliminate top positions that have been created in the last 10 or so years. My Agency has fewer employees than they ever have in the past yet our administration now requires it’s own building in Springfield.
Cassandra - It does not surprise me that DCFS is having problems with covering all their cases and getting resulting fines. If you remember when the State went through Edgar’s austerity program and Agencies were cut to the bone there were a lot of maltreatment and neglect cases, especially in Chicago that made national news. Politicians just don’t understand that if we are going to have services we need to fund them so they can be done correctly. And it is the frontline employees that make the difference not the Deputy to the Assistant of the Associate Director.
- CircularFiringSquad - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 12:22 pm:
let’s try to get some twitters Brady, Dillard, Murphy and that other wing nut…..
- Downstate - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 12:25 pm:
You would think as comptroller Hynes would have a better grasp on state finances. New York and California, the two states with the worst fiscal mess, are also the two state’s with the most progressive tax systems.
If you want fiscal stability stay away from progressive systems.
There’s also something wrong with half the people don’t pay taxes like New York. It structurally damages democracy when a majority relies on a minority to pay its way.
- Fed up - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 12:32 pm:
Maybe instead of taxing people who work hard more we could start not rewarding those that don’t work at all. Cut back the welfare cut the section 8 vouchers
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 12:34 pm:
VMan has a point on the rhetoric — $200 grand a year is good cash, but I don’t know if that makes you “rich,” especially if you have kids.
You could make the argument that the very rich are already paying their “fair” share in the sense that the percentage of GRF they generate is way out of proportion to their their population. It’s even more severe in Calfornia — think Hollywood and Silicon Valley — and NYC — think Wall Street and Park Avenue.
Don’t get me wrong — having to pay higher taxes for being wealthy is a good problem to have compared to the alternatives. I’m just non-plussed by the claim that we can get make a serious dent in this mess while leaving 97% of the population off the hook.
The rhetoric from all the candidates so far has been rather uninspiring, like Dillard’s claim that he was going to bring in all these businesses by cutting red tape. It’s all rather opaque and has been said before.
- Obamarama - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 12:35 pm:
===You would think as comptroller Hynes would have a better grasp on state finances. New York and California, the two states with the worst fiscal mess, are also the two state’s with the most progressive tax systems.
If you want fiscal stability stay away from progressive systems.===
Post hoc, ergo propter hoc.
The method of a state’s taxation cannot be the sole basis for diagnosing their fiscal woes. If both states had the lowest government expenditures per capita in the county for example, they could maintain fiscal stability with a progressive tax system. A budgetary assertion is meaningless if you only analyze one side of the balance sheet.
- Dan Vock - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 12:40 pm:
It’s interesting how popular these “millionaire taxes” have been this year. It’s a bit of a shameless plug, but conveniently Stateline has a story on that exact issue today: http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=422838
- Bill - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 12:44 pm:
==It’s all rather opaque and has been said before.==
Well, yeah. That’s politics. The question for voters will be who might actually get something, anything, done. Quinn has proven that he can’t or won’t. It is time to try someone else. I have some problems with Hynes’ plan, his failure to raise the corporate tax, for example. But, at least he has a plan. A progressive income tax works pretty well federally. The more affluent can and should pay more. To say that the wealthy are rich because they work harder is a specious argument. It is just more Illinois Republican BS.
- Wumpus - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 12:46 pm:
Is Hynes trying to out Populistize Pat the Populist Quinn? Let the voters decide on taxing those who make over $200k? Wow, shameless
- You Go Boy - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 12:54 pm:
To SoccerMom: Imprecise, true, but I included the matching funds which would put it at $16 billion….minus 30%. Taxdollars are taxdollars, state or fed. The point is why aren’t we doing all we can to make programs efficient and effective? Why are attitudes so negative toward being fiscally conservative….is it the “C” word that is so revolting?
- Fed up - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 12:55 pm:
Hynes willing to change the. Constitution too raise taxs why not put on the ballot combining the treasurers and comptrollers office. I know it’s not a huge savings but it is a good start. Eliminate the waste and overlap don’t waste our tax money.
- Johnnyc - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 1:03 pm:
Bill,
Mature leadership is making a proposal that has absolutely no chance of success? What if it fails? Whats the state’s foremost voice on fiscal responsibility going to do then?
“It’s time for Governor Dan Hynes.” I hope he does as great a job as your hero, Rod Blagojevich (better known as future inmate #13548)
- Yanni - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 1:34 pm:
“Our budget deficit is the product of our leadership deficit.” Wrong Hynes, Our budget deficit is the result of systemic problems that require system change. How about statutory spending caps with mandatory tax refunds. Dan Proft has the diagnosis correct…. http://www.proft2010.com/news-room/contentview.asp?c=189042
- Ghost - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 1:38 pm:
Word I think we had this debate before, but I would suggest extremly wealthy invidiuals are the greatest consumer (willingly or not) of various government services, regualtions, policing etc. much of which serves to help them generate their wealth and protect it.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 1:39 pm:
Irish-
I believe that DCFS caseloads are, for the most part, in line with national standards. They are accredited by a national organization which requires that such standards be met, plus DCFS is
well funded even under Quinn.
The one comment I saw regarding DCFS’ failure to meet repeat maltreatment standards was from a university researcher who has studied the agency and who stated that DCFS needs to be more “disciplined” about following existing procedures for dealing with child maltreatment. That sounds like an agency culture problem not a worker problem. And agency culture comes from the top–Blago appointees and their cronies in the case of DCFS 2009. Maybe the top folks are busy maintaining their political ties or maybe they’re just not that interested in developing a culture of achievement.
Quinn closed down Howe Developmental but we can’t close down DCFS so it’s time to houseclean. Nearly two thousand victims of repeat child maltreatment per year in Illinois is not acceptable.
- Obamarama - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 1:47 pm:
===Dan Proft has the diagnosis correct===
Dan Proft’s plan is a good way to control population growth, maybe. With the revenue shortfalls we faced/still face in the current budget we will struggle to provide the necessary support and services the most vulnerable of our citizens require for basic survival. Proft’s plan takes such a hatchet to state spending that it borders on being morally indefensible.
I am all for efficient management of a public entity’s funds, but when you try to reduce expenses as much as possible just for the sake of reaching a smaller bottom line number, who does that help? Roads are a public expense–a big one. Should they be scrapped too? Why not, it would mean lower taxes? People who rely on the system to feed and shelter themselves and their families aren’t optional expenditures or societal parasites, they’re human beings just like everyone else. Politicians like Dan Proft who treat them as less than people to score points with the far wing of their party should be ashamed of themselves.
- oneman - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 2:28 pm:
If anyone thinks the ‘mendoza line’ for the taxes isn’t going to go down below 200k is fooling themselves.
- Payraises for Unions!! - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 3:02 pm:
While Illinois has one of the lowest government employee to population ratio Dan Hynes wants to cut more jobs. Great. Is he really going to fire minories, and politically connected considering his backgroud? Will Dan Hynes be the first white politition to face off with Bobby Rush to accomplish this goal? He will likely fire the “very few” everyone mentions since they are the hard workers and keep the political status quo. If Dan really means it, lets hear him name some names of people who should go.
- Wilbur - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 3:15 pm:
So here’s what Hynes is really saying:
1) 97% of you should absolutely NOT pay any more income taxes.
2) For the other 3%, I’m going to ask the voters to hike your taxes, and am going to build support for this effort at exactly the same time that I’m focusing on getting elected.
Contrast this with Quinn, who has said all along that right now, we need to hike the income tax rate and provide some low-income relief, and Hynes’ plan hardly seems especially praiseworthy. It’s certainly not a bold move. Sounds very John Kerry-esque to me, frankly.
- Fed up - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 3:16 pm:
Ghost if the wealthy are such consumers of policing why do we need so many police in engelwood and Harvey instead of winettka and oak brook
- SangamoGOP - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 3:27 pm:
I’m not sure how this is ‘mature leadership’ when it isn’t a call for a solid fiscal plan. This is a plan to ask the GA to place before the voters a tax increase and then to ask the voters to pass the tax increase. There is not plan here, there is only smoke and mirrors.
Also, Danny says that should the giant tax increase go into effect on January 1, 2011, it will wipe out 80% of the deficit the next year and end the deficit the year after that. However, if it goes into effect 1/1/11, the majority of the revenue won’t pour into the state’s coffers until 4/15/12; two and a half months before FY13. Smoke and mirrors.
- 4 percent - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 10:01 pm:
with all due respect, the Comptroller’s office has threee basic functions and Dan Hynes has failed miserably.
1. regulate cemeteries. need I say more. his office got a dozen complaints and he did nothing.
2. regulate funeral homes and trusts. see the SJR stories on the funeral home association. horrendous.
3. cut checks. a month or so ago, checks from an insurance company bounced because the state agency providing funding didn’t have funds.
Dan Hynes is complicit in the state’s financial problems. for 12 years he has been on the sidelines despite being the so-called fiscal watchdog. he offered no proposals or recommendations.
- anon - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 10:48 pm:
4 percent…You are right on the money. Hynes failed miserably in his regulation of cemeteries. More will come out I am sure. Regardless, what does Dan Hynes offer that just makes people want to say, “Thank God he’s running against that awful Quinn. I just can’t wait to vote for Dan Hynes.” I don’t see it.
- Ghost - Wednesday, Sep 2, 09 @ 11:46 pm:
Fed up, and what would happen to oak brook without those police? setting aside that policing is more then just police, from blue sky laws and regualtors to auditors etc. How many Harvey people have money invested in heavly regulated nehotiable instruments or financial markets?