Safety, schmafety
Monday, Dec 14, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Maybe instead of worrying so much about a handful of vetted Syrian refugees, the governor ought to be making sure the coppers can get to where they’re going…
Even a program that has put on the road thousands of new state police vehicles financed by a dedicated drivers’ fee has been caught up in the Illinois state budget debacle.
A vehicle registration surcharge that has raised $58 million and transformed the Illinois State Police fleet from a junkyard of overtaxed hulks to a stable of safe and more efficient cruisers is stalled because of Gov. Bruce Rauner’s moratorium on vehicle purchases.
An Associated Press analysis of records obtained under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act shows that the program has been successful in regularly removing from the highway pursuit vehicles that have surpassed their useful, cost-efficient and safe lifespans. A 2003 report maintained by the AP includes a squad car with 900,000 miles.
The Rauner administration is reluctant to talk about it. The state police finally responded to AP inquiries last week, saying the Republican governor’s executive order to reduce spending has stalled purchases; those being outfitted now were purchased under former Gov. Pat Quinn.
To be clear here, a dedicated revenue stream from a state fee pays for those new cars. The money does not come from GRF and cannot be used for anything else unless a new law is passed.
- @MisterJayEm - Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 12:14 pm:
“the Republican governor’s executive order to reduce spending has stalled purchases”
Did you think you were exempt, law enforcement?
He. Does. Not. Care.
– MrJM
- What? - Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 12:16 pm:
Isn’t equating the silly Syrian refugee ban with this program a ‘red herring’?
I fail to see how they’re related at all
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 12:17 pm:
===The state police finally responded to AP inquiries last week, saying the Republican governor’s executive order to reduce spending has stalled purchases; those being outfitted now were purchased under former Gov. Pat Quinn.===
“Speaker Madigan and the signed Gov. Rauner Executive Orders he controls”
“Hi, Rich-
Governor Rauner made it clear on state police vehicles;
‘If it’s runnin’, it’s rollin’, no need to worry’
The gas to run or roll these non-upgraded state police cars is also not the Governor’s concern. Once the Turnaround Agenda is passed, safety and fuel will be discussed.
Thanks!
ck”
- Michelle Flaherty - Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 12:20 pm:
you said “coppers”
they thought: doors
Let’s call the whole thing off.
- Casual observer - Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 12:20 pm:
Sounds ripe for a sweep.
- VanillaMan - Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 12:39 pm:
“Thank you for contacting Governor Bruce Rauner’s office. He is not here to personally take your call, as he is currently saving the State of Illinois through his amazing Turnaround Agenda being held up by corrupted Madigan Democrats.”
“If you are calling to tell Governor Rauner to “Hang in there!” - press 1 now.”
“If you are calling to tell Governor Rauner how to improve government efficiencies - press 2 now.”
“If you are calling to ask Governor Rauner to speak at a Turnaround Agenda event - press 3 now.”
“If you are calling to ask Governor Rauner to fly in three prairie chickens for your tax event - press 4 now.”
“If you are calling to tell us that the Lt. Governor has fallen on the sidewalk in front of your place of business - press 5 now, then call your lawyers.”
“If you are calling to request Governor Rauner’s support on a property tax freeze - press 6 now.”
“If you have received a snarky insulting letter from someone within the Rauner Administration - press 7 now.”
“For all other calls, please hang up and contact, 1-800-Get-AClu. We don’t do governing here.”
- zatoichi - Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 1:02 pm:
Gotta save money where you can. Stay strong, The Gov’s taking the arrows. Besides, the beater van runs just fine, so older vehicles are just breaking in.
- wordslinger - Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 1:25 pm:
–Isn’t equating the silly Syrian refugee ban with this program a ‘red herring’?
I fail to see how they’re related at all–
The governor has said repeatedly that his position on Syrian refugees is a public safety issue. Police cars that don’t go vroom-vroom are a public safety issue.
Seriously, dude, are you doing a bit?
- wordslinger - Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 1:29 pm:
–Sounds ripe for a sweep.–
Sounds right.
Why else would you hoard non-GRF, dedicated funds?
Somebody at ISP was unhappy enough to direct the AP where to find the info.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 1:30 pm:
What Wordslinger said.
- Qui Tam - Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 2:32 pm:
“a squad car with 900,000 miles”
When were they using Japanese cars in the fleet?
- Norseman - Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 2:43 pm:
Dedicated fund sweeps to avoid tax increases. Sounds like the old way of doing business to me.
If folks want to redirect the revenue sources from dedicated funds to GRF to pay bills, then do it. Just make sure the bill eliminates the requirements and programs that are funded by those dedicated funds.
- walker - Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 3:05 pm:
Another brick in the Turnaround wall. Getting pretty high and wide by now. Think it’ll help produce any change?
- fatal shot - Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 3:24 pm:
“Vetted” refugees? Doubtful.
http://thehill.com/policy/technology/263101-immigration-officials-prohibited-from-looking-at-visa-applicants-social
- Wordslinger - Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 4:56 pm:
FS, learn the difference between the processes of those who entered as refugees and those on visas.
- fatal shot - Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 6:08 pm:
WS, do you feel better because the San Bernadino killer got through because of a visa app background check failure?
Terrorist groups know the gaping holes in our system. You should too.
- @MisterJayEm - Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 7:19 pm:
“Terrorist groups know the gaping holes in our system. You should too.”
If you can’t keep those here as refugees sorted from those here with visas, you should refrain from lecturing anyone on the topic.
– MrJM
- wordslinger - Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 7:45 pm:
–WS, do you feel better because the San Bernadino killer got through because of a visa app background check failure?
Terrorist groups know the gaping holes in our system. You should too.–
Way to change the subject, one you’re obviously so well-versed in.
Fatal Shot (nice handle, by the way), you’ve convinced me: we should ban anyone from the country who shares the same religion, ethnicity or politics of those terrorists who’ve commited the more than 1,000 mass shootings since Sandy Hook.
So…. when you leaving?
- fatal shot - Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 9:07 pm:
WS, you can save the ad hominem attack. I never called for a immigration ban based on religion, ethnicity, or political persuasion. I just stated the obvious fact that our current immigration system is flawed and terrorist groups already know how to infiltrate into the US. San Bernadino proved that.
Instead of acknowledging that fact, you make a reference to Sandy Hook, an incorrect reference to my personal beliefs, and an invitation for me to become an expatriate. All completely missing the point. Congrats!