* Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-Olympia Fields) is now officially the new president of the National Conference of State Legislatures. This is a very big deal, so try to be gentle…
Guess which legislator gets paid only $6,000/year with no pension and which one gets paid $67,836/year, plus health and dental, plus a multimillion dollar pension depending on how long they live?
Then guess which representative’s state has a credit rating 1 notch above Junk.
==Occam, do you really think being a legislator in South Dakota is comparable to being a legislator in Illinois? Their economy is 6% of what ours is.==
Do Illinois legislators write and pass 20 times as many laws as South Dakota? The only difference in their work load is the number of zeros attached to budget items.
In fact, one might argue that if you removed the personal profit factor from legislator compensation, you might get better decisions made because each item would be more likely to be considered on its own merits to the state as a whole rather than the personal interests of those voting.
Perhaps just acknowledge the honor of having a representative from Illinois get that position and leave the irrational ranting to another time.
- Veil of Ignorance - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 3:54 pm:
Very good opportunity for NCSL leadership to go to one of our top legislators. Lots that can be done to equip state legislatures to counter the madness coming from D.C. these days.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 11:39 am:
“My gavel is bigger than Madigan’s.”
- siriusly - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 11:42 am:
Congratulations Toi!!
- don the legend - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 11:42 am:
First of order of business with my big gavel:
“Will Nick Sauer please come forward?”
- d.p.gumby - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 11:46 am:
A gavel is better than a crown!
- MG85 - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 11:52 am:
Donning black and blue, the NCSL elects a new fighter to take the helm.
- We'll See - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 11:53 am:
Sen. Toi Hutchinson asks if there’s a velvet hammer too.
- Huh? - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 11:57 am:
Now that I have your attention…
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 11:58 am:
“Questions?”
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 11:59 am:
Gotta say, don the legend is gonna be tough to top.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 12:01 pm:
Hammer time.
- Anonimity - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 12:04 pm:
#justme
- Res Melius - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 12:10 pm:
I’ll teach you how to pronounce Chicago if you tell me how to pronounce Pierre.
- Some Anonymous Dude (S.A.D.) - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 12:13 pm:
*** “My gavel is bigger than Madigan’s.” ***
Perhaps, but just not as powerful.
- Give Me A Break - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 12:32 pm:
I don’t need no stinking Velvet Hammer.
- asbestos in stratton - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 12:34 pm:
So wait, I’m president of what now?
- Al - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 12:38 pm:
If anyone has a loose hubcap, just let me know.
- DrMark - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 12:43 pm:
“Come here Bruce, we have something for you…”
- ChrisB - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 12:43 pm:
For her first order of business, she intends to bring back the US Open to Illinois.
- Occam - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 12:50 pm:
Guess which legislator gets paid only $6,000/year with no pension and which one gets paid $67,836/year, plus health and dental, plus a multimillion dollar pension depending on how long they live?
Then guess which representative’s state has a credit rating 1 notch above Junk.
- Frank talks - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 12:56 pm:
So does this mean I’m Senate President too?
- Fixer - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 1:02 pm:
Who gets the ban hammer first?
- Texas Red - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 1:02 pm:
Whack-a-mole …Mapes then Sauer !
- wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 1:05 pm:
“Skillicorn, you have a bedbug on your nose, let me take care of that for you…..”
A variation on Don’s, I know.
- Trilple fat - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 1:10 pm:
Really, most of your administrative time is spent playing Whac-A-Mole.
- pawn - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 1:34 pm:
Occam, do you really think being a legislator in South Dakota is comparable to being a legislator in Illinois? Their economy is 6% of what ours is.
https://countryeconomy.com/countries/usa-states/compare/illinois/south-dakota
- Triple fat - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 1:42 pm:
Sorry Texas Red. I didn’t see your post.
- Mama - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 1:59 pm:
I’ll make sure the legislature are well hammered.
- Mama - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 2:00 pm:
OOps… that should say “legislators”
- Frank talks - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 2:01 pm:
$4 beer at Illinois State Fair- make it so
- A guy - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 2:03 pm:
This is not a Toy. It’s a Toi….way more powerful and way more dangerous.
Congrats Senator.
- Occam - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 2:37 pm:
==Occam, do you really think being a legislator in South Dakota is comparable to being a legislator in Illinois? Their economy is 6% of what ours is.==
Do Illinois legislators write and pass 20 times as many laws as South Dakota? The only difference in their work load is the number of zeros attached to budget items.
In fact, one might argue that if you removed the personal profit factor from legislator compensation, you might get better decisions made because each item would be more likely to be considered on its own merits to the state as a whole rather than the personal interests of those voting.
- @misterjayem - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 3:15 pm:
“if you removed the personal profit factor from legislator compensation, you might get better decisions…”
Illinois tried that trick with its governor and got a 793-day-long budget crisis.
– MrJM
- Demoralized - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 3:21 pm:
Occam:
Perhaps just acknowledge the honor of having a representative from Illinois get that position and leave the irrational ranting to another time.
- Veil of Ignorance - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 3:54 pm:
Very good opportunity for NCSL leadership to go to one of our top legislators. Lots that can be done to equip state legislatures to counter the madness coming from D.C. these days.
- Huh? - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 5:21 pm:
When every problem looks like a nail, use a bigger hammer.
- Huh? - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 5:23 pm:
If I had a hammer …
- Huh? - Thursday, Aug 2, 18 @ 9:49 pm:
Walk softly and carry a big hammer