Our legislators, once again, have sold out the public interest to the highest bidder.
Much of Illinois state government has descended into a sham and farce, so it should be no surprise that legislators have put a constitutional amendment on the fall ballot that also is a sham and farce.
Readers, meet the “Safe Roads Constitutional Amendment” brought to you by cash-rich building contractors and labor unions who want state dollars set aside for their exclusive benefit at the expense of public schools, social service agencies, higher education, law enforcement and just about every other meaningful state program.
Of course, that’s not how the proposal is being sold. Selfish political insiders hope the proposal’s surface appeal will persuade voters to cut their own throats on Election Day.
They even throw in Speaker Madigan for maximum effect.
* Proponents are now airing TV ads. Press release…
Illinois voters have the chance to take back control in Springfield this November and provide more money for transportation needs without raising taxes, a new statewide TV ad campaign argues.
Citizen to Protect Transportation Funding – a coalition of business, labor and construction groups – today announced a $1 million ad buy for a 30-second spot titled “When,” as part of its aggressive statewide public education campaign for a constitutional amendment on the Nov. 8 ballot that will protect Illinois’ investment in its critical transportation infrastructure.
Featuring images of vehicles traveling over crumbling roadways filled with potholes and stark statistics about the high number of bridges and roads needing improvements in Illinois, the ad emphasizes that for too many years, Springfield politicians have shifted road funds to other expenses while the infrastructure decays – and the price to fix it climbs.
“Vote to require politicians to spend those transportation fees on transportation only. We can fix our roads without raising taxes. It’s not a matter of if disaster will strike, but when. Vote yes on the Safe Roads Amendment,” the ad’s narrator says, as a graphic on the screen says: Fix Roads. No New Taxes.
Lawmakers in the Illinois House and Senate in May approved House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 36, which calls for Illinois to put transportation funding in a lockbox. A study by the advocacy group Transportation for Illinois Coalition, whose members are driving this ballot initiative campaign, found more than $6.8 billion in funds earmarked for transportation were swept out of the state’s Road Fund and used for non-transportation spending over more than a dozen years – including more than $500 million in transportation dollars just last year.
* From the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform last week…
The top donation this week went to Citizens to Protect Transportation Funding, the ballot initiative committee supporting a Constitutional Amendment to create a transportation lockbox on the November ballot. The committee received $975,000 yesterday from an organization called the Fight Back Fund. Another $25,000 donation from the group on September 20th led to a total of $1 million from the Fight Back Fund to Citizens to Protect Transportation Funding this week.
Little information is available on the Fight Back Fund. State Board of Elections data shows a political committee by the same name from East Moline that went inactive 10 years ago. However, there does not appear to be a connection between the two organizations. The Illinois Secretary of State’s Corporation database shows that the group is filed as a 501(c)4 or 501(c)6 nonprofit organization, and lists Marc R. Poulos of Joliet as its head. Poulos is the Executive Director of the Indiana-Illinois-Iowa Foundation for Fair Contracting and an advocate for the transportation lockbox amendment.
Unlike political committees, these types of nonprofits are not required to report their donors. Data from the Illinois State Board of Elections shows that yesterday’s $975,000 donation was the 7th largest individual donation of 2016. The other six donations were from SEIU, Governor Rauner, and GOP donors Richard Uihlein and Ken Griffin. 501(C)4 and 501(C)6 nonprofits like the Fight Back Fund are able to participate in political activity as long as it constitutes less than half of their overall activities. This organization alone accounts for 40% of Citizens to Protect Transportation Funding’s $2.5 million in cash on hand. ICPR is in the process of drafting and promoting legislation designed to bring transparency to this area of campaign finance.
“Springfield politicians have shifted road funds to other expenses”
Let’s assume that there would be a lockbox. Couldn’t future politicians lower/remove the taxes that feed the lockbox and then stop having specific road funds?
This. The News-Gazette is right that this is a cash grab by the road contractors and unions.
Sorry to repeat myself, but this amendment is bad public policy, because money is fungible. We need revenue sufficient to meet all our expenses. “Lockboxes” and “user fees” and “dedicated funding streams” are distractions from the real issues.
- what must we fund, as a state?
- what should we fund?
- what can we afford?
- where should the revenue necessary to meet our requirements be raised?
Everything else is a distraction, or the way that one competing interest tried to get ahead of other interest groups (or both).
Hope they don’t lock out the people who patrol the roads and the constitutional office that generates road fund revenue by issuing licenses and plates and keeps all the records
on the other hand special fees and taxes aren’t supposed to be used to pay for more than a very reasonable amount of general government spending. That’s supposed to be supported by general taxes, a concept abandoned by our state government a long time ago.
want state dollars set aside for “their exclusive benefit at the expense of public schools, social service agencies, higher education, law enforcement and just about every other meaningful state program.”
I was reading the MFT law this morning and I just have not found where using MFT funds for things like social services, schools, higher education is allowed.
“Let’s assume that there would be a lockbox. Couldn’t future politicians lower/remove the taxes that feed the lockbox and then stop having specific road funds?”
That could never happen. Look how the new revenues from the lottery have helped to fund education…… snark
Norseman. — Why is transportation more important than education, mental health, pension payments, senior care, pediatric health, etc.?
They are all important. I agree, the General Assembly and several recent governors (and most especially the current one) haven’t done a good job of rationally balancing those needs. But having a constitutional amendment for one — or all of the important areas the state should be funding — makes no sense.
Imagine a constitutional amendment for each? What has been accomplished?
Imagine a depression, natural disaster, or other emergency where resources must be shifted to address needs. What good has this amendment contributed?
Again, this amendment is a distraction from the terrible governance Illinois has, including but not limited to the current impasse. It is a symptom of our horrible public policy debates, and not a cure.
I am in favor of funding education etc. However time and time again when it comes time to raise gas taxes we are always told the money will go to rebuild and expand our infrastructure which benefits everyone.
For those that would like to see more go to education (which I am one) get a referendum on the ballot and work to get it passed. We did it where I live. I for one am sick of the pols saying a tax is for something to get public support then shifting the monies to something else. By the way there are whole lot more industries and people that do well besides contractors and union workers when we build infrastructure. The short sightedness of these editorials amaze me.
Keyrock - Road construction has a dedicated funding source, MFT. We pay it every time we pump gas into our cars. What other State programs have such a funding source? One of the primary funding sources for education is our property taxes, money that does not get washed through State government coffers before being sent to the school districts.
MFT should be protected from the greedy mitts that want to divert it from the roads.
Angie and Huh? — You’re making my point. The pols lie to you by pretending that a particular revenue source satisfies a particular purpose. Sometimes the roads will need more. Sometimes less. Having an amendment doesn’t solve that problem.
As to education, look at Art. X of the Illinois Constitution:
“A fundamental goal of the People of the State is the
educational development of all persons to the limits of their
capacities.
The State shall provide for an efficient system of high
quality public educational institutions and services.
Education in public schools through the secondary level shall
be free. There may be such other free education as the
General Assembly provides by law.
The State has the primary responsibility for financing
the system of public education.”
Property taxes are not supposed to be the basic funding stream, under the ConstitutIon. But if the General Assembly and Givernor don’t do their job and balance the state’s needs and funding properly, a constitutional amendment won’t fix it.
“However time and time again when it comes time to raise gas taxes we are always told the money will go to rebuild and expand our infrastructure which benefits everyone.”
The state gas tax hasn’t even been raised since 1991. 25 years is a pretty long time to be holding a grudge on this topic.
Interesting to juxtapose this with the recent finding that Illinois already has among the best maintained interstates in the nation, while falling short in congestion.
“State Board of Elections data shows a political committee by the same name from East Moline that went inactive 10 years ago.” Moline is the HQ of Civil Constructors, which is a contractor for many large IDOT projects. Civil is now a subsidiary of the Helm Group, which does huge projects such as spans over the Colorado river, etc.
In IDOT district 2 based in Dixon, I had dealings with Chris Snyder and Nick Roe from Civil on a state road eminent domain project, and I found that IDOT construction engineer Chris Aude was way too close to these two. Aude is now in charge of the Savanna river bridge over the Mississippi.
Vote NO on the lockbox, too much potential for waste and abuse of road funds with IDOT employees being intertwined with these contractors.
== Imagine a constitutional amendment for each? What has been accomplished? ==
It would put handcuffs on a Governor who is inclined to treat all State money as one pot he could move around any way he wants to in violation of State laws …
Some people may see that as a good thing when you have a Governor who is used to doing bust-out schemes.
The DNR got a $2 surcharge on plates a couple years back, would this be now diverted to IDOT? What about the license plates that give a portion of the money to cancer research or police and firefighter memorials, that also is registration money, would that be diverted to IDOT as well? I read the bill but it didn’t seem clear to me. Any ideas?
- Timmeh - Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 10:12 am:
“Springfield politicians have shifted road funds to other expenses”
Let’s assume that there would be a lockbox. Couldn’t future politicians lower/remove the taxes that feed the lockbox and then stop having specific road funds?
- Keyrock - Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 10:15 am:
This. The News-Gazette is right that this is a cash grab by the road contractors and unions.
Sorry to repeat myself, but this amendment is bad public policy, because money is fungible. We need revenue sufficient to meet all our expenses. “Lockboxes” and “user fees” and “dedicated funding streams” are distractions from the real issues.
- what must we fund, as a state?
- what should we fund?
- what can we afford?
- where should the revenue necessary to meet our requirements be raised?
Everything else is a distraction, or the way that one competing interest tried to get ahead of other interest groups (or both).
- steves schnorf - Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 10:20 am:
Hope they don’t lock out the people who patrol the roads and the constitutional office that generates road fund revenue by issuing licenses and plates and keeps all the records
- steves schnorf - Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 10:23 am:
on the other hand special fees and taxes aren’t supposed to be used to pay for more than a very reasonable amount of general government spending. That’s supposed to be supported by general taxes, a concept abandoned by our state government a long time ago.
- Not It - Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 10:35 am:
No mention of transit capital, which in vote-rich Chicago would mean something.
- TinyDancer(FKASue) - Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 10:45 am:
Illinois ranks last in the state funding for public education.
We have the 5th highest gross state product in the nation. How can a state with this much wealth be last in what we contribute to education funding?
Where are the “Citizens to Protect Education Funding?”
- Norseman - Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 11:10 am:
Keyrock, where have you seen the gov and GA have rational discussions on the issues you’ve outlined?
At least with this amendment you have the voting public getting a say on transportation needs of the state.
- Huh? - Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 11:13 am:
want state dollars set aside for “their exclusive benefit at the expense of public schools, social service agencies, higher education, law enforcement and just about every other meaningful state program.”
I was reading the MFT law this morning and I just have not found where using MFT funds for things like social services, schools, higher education is allowed.
- pluotocrat03 - Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 11:26 am:
“Let’s assume that there would be a lockbox. Couldn’t future politicians lower/remove the taxes that feed the lockbox and then stop having specific road funds?”
That could never happen. Look how the new revenues from the lottery have helped to fund education…… snark
- Jerry Seinfeld - Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 11:27 am:
Why don’t we just use the Social Security lockbox in DC, I am sure it has plenty of room.
- The Captain - Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 11:30 am:
The script read by the narrator in that ad sounds clumsy, like it was written by a lawyer rather than a media person.
- Keyrock - Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 11:36 am:
Norseman. — Why is transportation more important than education, mental health, pension payments, senior care, pediatric health, etc.?
They are all important. I agree, the General Assembly and several recent governors (and most especially the current one) haven’t done a good job of rationally balancing those needs. But having a constitutional amendment for one — or all of the important areas the state should be funding — makes no sense.
Imagine a constitutional amendment for each? What has been accomplished?
Imagine a depression, natural disaster, or other emergency where resources must be shifted to address needs. What good has this amendment contributed?
Again, this amendment is a distraction from the terrible governance Illinois has, including but not limited to the current impasse. It is a symptom of our horrible public policy debates, and not a cure.
- Augie - Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 11:37 am:
I am in favor of funding education etc. However time and time again when it comes time to raise gas taxes we are always told the money will go to rebuild and expand our infrastructure which benefits everyone.
For those that would like to see more go to education (which I am one) get a referendum on the ballot and work to get it passed. We did it where I live. I for one am sick of the pols saying a tax is for something to get public support then shifting the monies to something else. By the way there are whole lot more industries and people that do well besides contractors and union workers when we build infrastructure. The short sightedness of these editorials amaze me.
- Huh? - Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 11:52 am:
Keyrock - Road construction has a dedicated funding source, MFT. We pay it every time we pump gas into our cars. What other State programs have such a funding source? One of the primary funding sources for education is our property taxes, money that does not get washed through State government coffers before being sent to the school districts.
MFT should be protected from the greedy mitts that want to divert it from the roads.
- Keyrock - Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 12:04 pm:
Angie and Huh? — You’re making my point. The pols lie to you by pretending that a particular revenue source satisfies a particular purpose. Sometimes the roads will need more. Sometimes less. Having an amendment doesn’t solve that problem.
As to education, look at Art. X of the Illinois Constitution:
“A fundamental goal of the People of the State is the
educational development of all persons to the limits of their
capacities.
The State shall provide for an efficient system of high
quality public educational institutions and services.
Education in public schools through the secondary level shall
be free. There may be such other free education as the
General Assembly provides by law.
The State has the primary responsibility for financing
the system of public education.”
Property taxes are not supposed to be the basic funding stream, under the ConstitutIon. But if the General Assembly and Givernor don’t do their job and balance the state’s needs and funding properly, a constitutional amendment won’t fix it.
- Juice - Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 12:52 pm:
“However time and time again when it comes time to raise gas taxes we are always told the money will go to rebuild and expand our infrastructure which benefits everyone.”
The state gas tax hasn’t even been raised since 1991. 25 years is a pretty long time to be holding a grudge on this topic.
- walker - Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 1:57 pm:
Interesting to juxtapose this with the recent finding that Illinois already has among the best maintained interstates in the nation, while falling short in congestion.
- Anonymous - Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 2:53 pm:
“State Board of Elections data shows a political committee by the same name from East Moline that went inactive 10 years ago.” Moline is the HQ of Civil Constructors, which is a contractor for many large IDOT projects. Civil is now a subsidiary of the Helm Group, which does huge projects such as spans over the Colorado river, etc.
In IDOT district 2 based in Dixon, I had dealings with Chris Snyder and Nick Roe from Civil on a state road eminent domain project, and I found that IDOT construction engineer Chris Aude was way too close to these two. Aude is now in charge of the Savanna river bridge over the Mississippi.
Vote NO on the lockbox, too much potential for waste and abuse of road funds with IDOT employees being intertwined with these contractors.
- RNUG - Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 4:42 pm:
== Imagine a constitutional amendment for each? What has been accomplished? ==
It would put handcuffs on a Governor who is inclined to treat all State money as one pot he could move around any way he wants to in violation of State laws …
Some people may see that as a good thing when you have a Governor who is used to doing bust-out schemes.
- walker - Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 5:38 pm:
Guarantees continuing employment for OE 150 crews, but not for human services state contractors.
- Hillrod - Wednesday, Sep 28, 16 @ 11:06 pm:
Can someone please tell me if Madigan is for or against this bill?
- Andy - Monday, Oct 3, 16 @ 12:51 pm:
The DNR got a $2 surcharge on plates a couple years back, would this be now diverted to IDOT? What about the license plates that give a portion of the money to cancer research or police and firefighter memorials, that also is registration money, would that be diverted to IDOT as well? I read the bill but it didn’t seem clear to me. Any ideas?