Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Today’s numbers

Posted in:

Illinois

* From a press release…

Equality Illinois, the state’s oldest and largest LGBT advocacy organization, announced today that during June, the first month that civil unions were available to couples in Illinois, 1,618 total civil union licenses were issued throughout the state. Of the state’s 102 counties, 83 counties reported issuing at least one or more licenses.

* Approximate number of indigent burials in Illinois every year: 10,000.

* Number of annuitants from the State Employees Retirement System who are on the National Taxpayers United’s “Top 100″ annual pension recipients in Illinois: Zero.

* Amount of campaign contributions that Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis claims to have raised for her reelection campaign in just over a month: $300,000.

* Illinois’ ranking in the annual Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation study of adult obesity: 23rd. Last year’s ranking: 28th. More…

Ten years ago, no state had an obesity rate above 24 percent, and now 43 states have higher obesity rates than the state that was the highest in 2000.

* Number of states that ban all drivers from using hand-held cell phones: 8, plus Washington, DC.

* Under current state law, probability that a horse owned by the Queen of England could compete at an Illinois track without Her Majesty’s fingerprints on file: Zero.

* Percentage drop in attendance at this year’s Taste of Chicago compared to last year’s: 11. Number of major nationally known bands and spectacular fireworks displays at Grant Park during this year’s festivities: 0.

* Number of friends who died this week: 1…

David O. Rudd, 56, of Springfield died at 4:55 a.m. on Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at Memorial Medical Center. He was born March 4, 1955 in Elmhurst, IL to John Owen and Pauline Lumina Pelletier Rudd and they preceded him in death.

He married Gayla S. Smith on July 14, 1984 and she survives. Also surviving are two sisters-in-law, Kendra (Allen) Millard of Shelton, WA and Nancy (Mark) Heard of Sesser, IL; a brother-in-law, Ron Smith of West Frankfort, IL; mother-in-law, Eileen Smith of West Frankfort, IL; several nieces and nephews and his Bouvier, Kozmo.

David lived in Springfield for the past 27 years. He received a BA in Political Science in May of 1977 from SIU Carbondale and a JD from SIUC School of Law in May of 1980.

He was employed by Gallatin-River Communications as a Lobbyist and Attorney and formerly worked at the Illinois Commerce Commission.

He was a member of the Island Bay Yacht Club, Illinois Telecommunications Association, Illinois Bar Association and was a Registered Lobbyist. He enjoyed sailing and boating, traveling and was a great cook.

A Private Memorial Service will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Animal Protective League.

Rest in peace, Dave.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jul 7, 11 @ 12:58 pm

Comments

National Taxpayers Union is not Taxpayers United of America.

Comment by Trees Thursday, Jul 7, 11 @ 1:12 pm
I think Loretta Lynn counts as major and nationally known. Maybe not big in Chicago, but still.

Comment by lakeview Thursday, Jul 7, 11 @ 1:15 pm
Trees, changed. Lakeview, technically, she’s not a “band.”

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 7, 11 @ 1:19 pm
Might want to check the number on the burials. Quinn asked for $0, but i believe the budget contained close to $2 million.

Comment by More Courage Thursday, Jul 7, 11 @ 1:28 pm
It’s been one of those days…

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 7, 11 @ 1:36 pm
–Of the state’s 102 counties, 83 counties reported issuing at least one or more licenses.–

That’s life in Brady Country. He won all but four of those counties, you know.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jul 7, 11 @ 1:48 pm
==He won all but four of those counties, you know==

Word-
What are you trying to say in that comment? Brady got more votes in the counties that Quinn got fewer votes in and lost? Everybody pretty much knows that. How does that relate to the fact that civil union licenses are being issued state wide?

Comment by Responsa Thursday, Jul 7, 11 @ 2:09 pm
- How does that relate to the fact that civil union licenses are being issued state wide? -

I think Word is suggesting that socially backwards legislators like Brady better wake up, because eventually their constituents are going to see that letting gay people enjoy the same rights as straight people doesn’t lead to the apocalypse.

Comment by Small Town Liberal Thursday, Jul 7, 11 @ 2:24 pm
==Word is suggesting that socially backwards legislators like Brady better wake up because eventually their constituents are going to see that letting gay people enjoy the same rights as straight people doesn’t lead to the apocalypse.==

Oh, I see. Because I was concerned Word was sort of implying (falsely) that every person across Illinois who voted for Brady for Governor was himself or herself against gay rights.

Comment by Responsa Thursday, Jul 7, 11 @ 2:42 pm
=Ten years ago, no state had an obesity rate above 24 percent, and now 43 states have higher obesity rates than the state that was the highest in 2000.=

Probability that the obesity rate statistics gathered ten years apart were measured in an equitable and comparable apples-to-apples manner: 0.5%

Comment by BigDoggie Thursday, Jul 7, 11 @ 3:00 pm
RIP David. The herd will miss you.

Comment by Buffalo724 Thursday, Jul 7, 11 @ 3:15 pm
I still don’t understand why “social issues” are still more prevalent than “fiscal issues”. We should be asking how much extra revenue did the State receive from the 1,618 civil union licenses?

Comment by WhyMe Thursday, Jul 7, 11 @ 3:47 pm
@ $1 million apiece, the state is well on its way to wiping out that pension debt.
Perhaps that’s the way to get the conservative wing to support gay marriage.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Thursday, Jul 7, 11 @ 4:32 pm