Question of the day
Thursday, Aug 2, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From an Illinois Review piece entitled “Topinka tours state pimping poverty and big government solutions”…
Resurrecting messaging and policy positions that many would argue lost her an election against now-convicted Rod Blagojevich, State Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka is barnstorming the state pimping poverty and big government solutions like a liberal Democrat.
Yesterday, while on her “Illinois Has Heart” tour, Topinka told the State Journal-Register that “Democrats and Republicans in the Illinois General Assembly should undo some funding cuts to social service programs that serve the needy… Just because we had a bipartisan budget agreement does not mean that it was good, does not mean that cuts could not be made but could not have been made better,” said Topinka, 68, a former state lawmaker, state treasurer, state GOP chair, and gubernatorial candidate.
* More from Topinka…
“I don’t like bureaucracies,” Topinka told reporters, “but when you are dealing with the neediest of the needy, that’s where government kicks in — the old, the sick, the infirm, the children. … So if you’re going to make cuts, first look somewhere else.”
* Back to the IR…
Topinka said she named her tour of social-service organizations “Illinois Has Heart” because Illinois should be known for more than corrupt politicians and pension-funding problems. Of course, until the state is cleaned up and the pension and budget problems fixed, there is no solution or ability to pay social-service organizations. Topinka was not queried about that fact.
* The Question: Do you agree with the Illinois Review or Comptroller Topinka? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
- charles in charge - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 2:14 pm:
“Pimping poverty”? What a bunch of creeps.
- phocion - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 2:22 pm:
JBT lost to Blagojevich because she was vastly outspent, the media was asleep, the Democrats had blinders on, and the right wing sat on their hands. Brady lost to a much weaker candidate and he lost, too. How would IR explain that one? Topinka has heart - that matters to people.
- William - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 2:23 pm:
Both JBT and IR are past their prime and irrelevant.
- Born Again Conservative - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 2:26 pm:
How serious is the Illinois Review about cutting social programs?
People in Illinois should buy insurance for their families. If someone in the family has “issues” (whatever that means), the mental health services should be provided by professionals paid from the insurance.
Otherwise, the State of Illinois has a social program: it’s called prison.
If families can take care of matters, great. That keeps people from being a burden to the taxpayers.
Otherwise, let’s lock up the people who either can’t or won’t make the effort to fit in.
It’s the modern world folks. Resources are scarce. We need to compete internationally. We can’t be raising taxes to provide services to people who can’t or won’t get better.
And some of these people… well, the families know what the right thing to do is.
And, no, I wouldn’t vote for Topinka. She doesn’t like bureaucracy but she seems to be saying that hearing a sob story or two will get her to betray her “principles”.
Judy, if a couple sob stories gets you to betray your “principles”, they were never really principles to begin with.
People go to war over things they believe. They are willing to kill and die for principles.
If we’re going to survive in this competetive world, we can’t tolerate weakness and people who just don’t want to get on program.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 2:28 pm:
Great snark piece, BAC. But you’ve been reading too much Dickens lately.
- OneMan - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 2:28 pm:
At the end of the day if these guys think the road to winning elections in Illinois is the
“It sucks to be you” attitude I think they are wrong.
If anyone really thinks that Topinka lost because she wasn’t conservative enough I suggest they take a look at our last Governors race.
- Wensicia - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 2:29 pm:
I agree with JBT. You shouldn’t throw the most needy and helpless out of the lifeboat.
- Cheryl44 - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 2:30 pm:
Are you really advocating killing the weak BAC? What would be your criteria?
- OneMan - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 2:31 pm:
Were gonna kill grandma unless you can pay for her. But on the plus side, you can get an ipad….
Hell of a campaign slogan
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 2:33 pm:
IR v. JBT is everything you need to know about why the GOP is increasingly a permanent minority party in Illinois.
I sided with JBT because, as a frequent lurker at IR, I don’t think I’ve ever agreed with it on anything. That doesn’t mean Judy is right, it just means IR is always wrong. And usually mean-spirited.
IR is a Christianist organization that apparently ignores most Christian teaching. JBT is a moderate and responsible elected official and the only consistent GOP candidate to win statewide office in Illinois since 2000.
IR wants to score cheap points. Republicans like Topinka want to win elections. See the difference?
- OneMan - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 2:39 pm:
But we have to protect our purity of essence Mandrake, actually winning elections is irrelevant.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 2:42 pm:
@Cheryl44 -
I think BAC was thinking of turning the state capitol rotunda into a Thunderdome.
To the question:
Phocion hit the nail on the head regarding the ‘06 elections.
IR conveniently ignores that Topinka was the top Republican votegetter in 2010.
And her willingness to disagree with leaders in her own party and occasionally agree with Democrats on issues is why.
- Southern Peggy R - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 2:55 pm:
On the topic, IR is a bit harsh, as we do need to care for the “most vulnerable” whose families cannot care for them. But, we don’t have any money. We do have to limit eligibility for several programs. We do have to tell the people to start taking care of themselves and the children they create.
JBT ought not try to travel down I-55 tonight. Don’t try to go back up either. Closed both ways at about Litchfield.
- sal-says - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 3:00 pm:
“Of course, until the state is cleaned up and the pension and budget problems fixed, there is no solution…”
Reminds me of ‘if you aren’t part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.
Wonder what ‘cleaned up’ means to them.
Also, I keep getting this funny feeling that Quinn & the legislature will make drastic pension cuts, ….and then….guess what? THAT won’t fix IL financial problems either, just like it seems that the LARGE tax increase hasn’t fixed anything. IL still has something in the area of $8 billion in unpaid bills.
- Earnest - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 3:01 pm:
Agree with Comptroller Topinka. Government has a role in helping people who need it. I am also a big fan of service agencies, but even I can’t let her slide on “don’t cut here” without her putting forth an alternative.
- Sunshine - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 3:08 pm:
At least JBT is out standing up for the downtrodden.
It is easy to take funding from these organizations because they do not have a strong lobby on their behalf. They are an easy target much like shoving more prisoners together.
The hard choice the legislator must make is the one when they go against their big contributors, putting their campaign war chest at risk.
It sucks to be poor and downtrodden. I’ll give JBT kudos for at least facing those we are dumping on and offering hope. Hope is about all they will get based on the acts of our fine, upstanding legislators.
- CircularFiringSquad - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 3:13 pm:
Can’t agree with IR cause they are part of the IL Policy Institute Slime TIme.
However it is interesting to watch JBT wandered IL, violin under chin, sob towels all around and not offer a single idea of how to pay for a reversal of the cuts
She even trashed borrowing which we all know is already funded and pays old bills at an interest of less than 2% rather than the 12% prompt payment requires.
Of course the media failed to engage on this element as well.
Fire,Aim, Ready
- reformer - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 3:14 pm:
Most Republicans once believed there was a legitimate role for government in helping the helpless. The Pew 2012 American Values Survey reveals that three out of four Republicans no longer support the government “taking care of people who can’t take care of themselves,” while three out of four Democrats support that responsibility.
“Since 2007, Republican support for the safety net has declined significantly even as Democrats continue to support government assistance to the poor and needy as they have over the last 25 years. As a result..the current party gap is now larger than ever.”
Ironically, Republicans invoke Christian principles when the topic is gay rights, but not when it comes to standing up for the poor. WWJD?
- Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 3:17 pm:
BAC, I think that sounded better in the original German . . .
- Anon - amiss - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 3:19 pm:
“BAC, I think that sounded better in the original German . . .”
Don’t insult Germans
- Emily Booth - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 3:25 pm:
I voted for JBT and I’m a Democrat. She’s what my grandfather would call good people.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 3:26 pm:
BAC, I left your comment up to show how weird you are. However, I wouldn’t count on that happening again in the future.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 3:38 pm:
@reformer -
Forget about “the poor.” 2/3 of the cost of Medicaid is for the elderly and disabled.
Let’s just roll ‘em out of the nursing homes, into the streets, and shoot a remake of Deathmatch 2000.
- MrJM - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 3:39 pm:
BAC,
Please consider running for office ASAP. The Illinois GOP needs a standard bearer like you to lead their charge to victory.
– MrJM
- cassandra - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 3:41 pm:
Could JBT be considering another run for governor? Before some of you laugh-think Hillary for Prez in 2016. Maybe the age of the successful older female politician is approaching reality. Way overdue.
- lake county democrat - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 3:41 pm:
I’m not a JBT fan for other reasons, but this is another example of how different Illinois politcs is at the federal level vs. the state.
- wishbone - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 3:41 pm:
Attacking poverty programs is to right wing Republicans what gun control is to Democrats. They just can’t help themselves. I support universal health care, and the Second Amendment, gay rights and a balanced budget. I wish there was a party for me.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 3:52 pm:
BTW, the Family Service Center in Springfield where Topinka was speaking provides adoption, foster care for abused children, and after school programs.
No wonder Born Again Conservative is so angry. He’d rather those kids were hanging out on street corners, beaten, or better yet never born in the first place.
Family Service Center, btw, was founded during the Civil War to assist women and children war refugees. Been around since Lincoln was president, but maybe not much longer if we don’t get our act together.
- reformer - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 3:52 pm:
Apparently the right-wing philosophy is better that some helpless people die than that taxpayers pay for their care.
Christianists are quick to cite Leviticus about homosexuality, but they ignore the scores of Biblical admonitions about justice for the poor.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 3:56 pm:
@Wishbone -
We’ve had ten years of Democratic majorities in Springfield. I’m pretty sure we haven’t passed any infringements on the Second amendment in that time.
The Democratic Party is pretty evenly divided along regional lines over gay rights and gun control, pretty overwhelming believes in pay-as-you-go government and health care as a fundamental right.
- Anonymoose - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 4:06 pm:
Use of the word “pimping” is horrible. It is shocking to see poll results that a large number of respondents actually support IR’s article. I’m conservative - but that ought not mean heartless.
- amalia - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 4:31 pm:
cannot give an answer. IR is wrong on the substance, don’t trust JBT. to the mention of JBT and Hillary together…..get a grip. Hillary is brilliant on substance and JBT is substantial.
- amalia - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 4:31 pm:
meant is not substantial…of course…
- soccermom - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 5:35 pm:
BAC and Southern Peggy R — regarding I-55 being closed because of the Megabus accident, would you argue that those passengers should be left there until their families come down to pull them from the wreckage and transport them to the hospital? And I guess we don’t need state troopers to direct traffic while those crash victims are rescued. Nor do we need to expend scarce state dollars on fixing that overpass, if necessary; just put up a “Drive at Your Own Risk” sign. If people don’t like it, they can take a different route or raise money privately for repairs.
I’m no big fan of JBT, and I would be way more impressed if she proposed borrowing to get those bills paid fast (once pension reforms are passed, I hasten to add). But between IR and JBT, I don’t hesitate.
- Chris - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 6:07 pm:
” The Pew 2012 American Values Survey reveals that three out of four Republicans no longer support the government “taking care of people who can’t take care of themselves,” ”
So, compared to the polling on Terri Schiavo (the nation’s most famous Medicaid recipient), that would imply that *Republicans* were most likely to support letting Schiavo pass (polling was around 60-25 in favor of removing the feeding tube, balance unsure). Rather surprising.
- Madison - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 9:29 pm:
BAC…if we simply gave the families permission to euthanize all those unfortunate people, the cost of health care would drop for everyone else. Think of all the ammo we could save? After all, wE are our brother’s keeper comrade BAC.
- Southern Peggy R - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 10:09 pm:
soccermom: I can’t speak for BAC, but where did you get such ideas from my posts? I have said that we should care for the most vulnerable. But the fact is we’re providing for people who can and should provide for themselves and the children they create–usually outside marriage.
Emergency services are a public service available to any one for which the all public pay taxes. Some costs are privately borne by the injured and their insurers; some lawsuits are likely to come into play here to cover those costs. Actually, often laws discourage good samaritans from helping in these cases for fear of lawsuits and making a mistake. We just don’t think we can help one another with our problems without some professional accreditation anymore. It’s a shame.
We should be telling those who are able it’s time to stand up and take responsibility for yourself and your family. A more robust private sector would help folks achieve that end as well, of course. We have no money at the state government level.
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 10:10 pm:
WWJD?
Really people, what did Jesus do to the Moneychangers at the Temple?
Jesus made it clear that the Moneychangers were making claims that they were helping the poor and doing the work of the Lord, when all they were really doing is taking the money given to them and spending it on themselves and giving the needy only a fraction of what had been given. Sound familiar? It ought to because the Moneychangers today are the government bureaucracies taking taxes from those who work and larding themselves over helping the poor, right?
If you don’t pay your taxes, you go to jail. Jesus wanted a cheerful giver. A volunteer. Charity under the threat of jail, isn’t charity. Jesus told his followers that they were to give to the government, what was to be taken from them by the government, but to cheerfully give voluntarily to their needy neighbors.
When a government takes under the threat of law, taxes, which is taken under the guise of doing charity work, it reduces the level of morality within the community. When charity is forced by government under threat of law, communities no longer feel a need to do their cheerful giving. Not only do they have less to actually give, but having government replace what is to be done as a Christian or moral duty by giving voluntarily, makes for a meaner, more impersonal society.
WWJD? Please, stop pretending to perform a Christian duty by stripping a community of it’s wages by claiming their taxes are doing the moral thing to do. When we all get to heaven, it will not be filled with the overtaxed. It will be filled with those who cheerfully and voluntarily gave.
I’m sick of political people holding needy people hostage, claiming they are doing God’s work by forcing us to pay taxes, then demanding that Government and Church be as far removed from one another within the public square as possible. You cannot have it both ways without looking incredibly stupid.
We have repeatedly seen many reports indicating that Conservatives and Republicans give far more charity to the needy than do Liberals and Democrats. For whatever reasons, claiming that Conservatives and Republicans are heartless because they fight for sustainable, accountable government, isn’t true. These folks give above and beyond their taxes. They do not consider their taxes as performing their moral duties. They understand that a society that empowers it’s people to keep what they earn, will discover that those people will, in turn, do their moral best.
WWJD? He would go to the Capitol and kick over the tax tables that are preventing this society from being it’s moral best. He would then tell the Liberals and Democrats that they are to give what they take in the name of the needy and give it 100 percent to the needy, keeping nothing. Because if they did, they would then be actually doing their Christian charity.
- jake - Thursday, Aug 2, 12 @ 10:58 pm:
I think Topinka is using her office as a pulpit to run for Governor in 2014. As is Dan Rutherford, from time to time. That being said, what she is saying mzkes sense and shows sensitivity to the needs of the citizens. I am a Democrat, but Topinka is expressing more concern and showing more thought on these issues right now than our Governor.
- Boone Logan Square - Friday, Aug 3, 12 @ 8:28 am:
“Do you agree with the Illinois Review?” is a question on the level of “when did you stop beating your wife?” IR makes Rod Blagojevich look honest by comparison. In either case, Judy’s comments on how to govern Illinois sounds way more sensible than what her goofy adversaries say.
- William Kelly - Friday, Aug 3, 12 @ 9:26 am:
Illinois government - is that what they are calling it? Illinois politicians have proven they can’t be trusted with a dime of the taxpayers’ money. They waste it, they line their pockets with it, they give it to their friends in the form of no-bid contracts, and they disguise it by wrapping it in a cute and lovable sounding package. The IR is right. Judy is just another creepy big government leech. Democrats do it and Republicans do it too.