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Quinn dodges protest, reaffirms his commitment to shut down facilities by August 31

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* A reader sent in this report from Gov. Pat Quinn’s southern Illinois press conference yesterday where he focused on the massive drought…

I just wanted to give you some information on Quinn’s visit to Waltonville. I went there with the union, I retired from [redacted]. Our plan was to give him a warm southern Illinois welcome. We wanted to bring attention to Quinn’s closing of the facilities, especially the danger of closing Tamms. He has no idea the danger this will bring to staff. I did 17 years at Menard and 14 at Pinckneyville I’ve seen what can happen. If God forbid a staff member would get killed because he closes Tamm’s, the blood will be on Quinn’s hands.

Anyway here is what he did at Waltonville today. We were waiting for him at the farm he was suppose to visit. Also the farmers, press and I would guess dignitaries were there waiting also. We were standing out by the road and then about 1:30 all hell breaks loose. All the news crews take off and a bunch of other people went running to there cars and took off.

I guess Quinn got scared because we were there. When I was standing out by the road earlier I notice a couple U plate state cars and a black Crown Vic with tinted windows cruise by a couple times just a short time before everybody took off. I don’t know if they were scoping it out before Quinn got there. We all got to our cars and tried to find out were they went. It took us a while to get to the car, we couldn’t park too close. I figured we could find him, Waltonville isn’t too big. But we never found them, they could have went down any farm road. We kind looked like the Keystone Cops running around.

* Illinois Statehouse News has more…

Quinn did not stop to speak with the protesters, which included both prison and developmental center employees, as well as families who have relatives who use the facilities slated for closure, according to Ed Caumiant, regional director for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31.

A police officer turned away the protesters when they showed up at the entrance to a dirt lane that led to the site of the news conference.

“I think it’s, frankly, kind of cowardly to play hide and go seek with your event just to avoid people who have something to say,” Caumiant said.

Quinn spokeswoman Brooke Anderson said rumors the location for the news conference was changed to dodge the protesters were incorrect.

“The farm today was selected because the owner volunteered it to allow us to inspect the damage and make the relief announcement,” she said. […]

Quinn, a Democrat, said the closures will go forward, noting that some of the facilities are only half full.

“We are not building prisons or any center for the sole purpose of employment. We have to understand the common good comes first,” Quinn said.

“In our state, the Legislature funded those particular institutions, but they underfunded our Department of Children and Family Services, and we cannot have that. We cannot have abused children in dire straits.

“I have to make decisions, many times very difficult, but I make those decisions on behalf of the common good, and I stick to them.”

* Some Republican legislators weren’t happy with the way the thing went down…

State Sen. John O. Jones, R-Mount Vernon, in a statement blasted Quinn’s handling of the news conference.

“Neither Gov. Quinn nor his staff had the courtesy to reach out to local legislators to announce his presence; we read about his appearance on Saturday thanks to a reporter’s column,” Jones said. “Gov. Quinn’s flippant attitude about the facility closures is even worse than the way that his staff handled (Monday’s) press conference.

“He talks a good game about working with every legislator on fixing our state’s fiscal issues, but what we have here is nothing more than empty rhetoric. This was a fiasco and absolutely shameful.”

State Sen. Dave Luechtefeld, R-Okawville, also said he was unaware the news conference would be at different location.

Luechtefeld said he and state Rep. John Cavaletto, R-Salem, tried to attend the news conference, but had to park near the back of the line and then were told the governor may not have been there.

“It sure was strange,” Luechtefeld said. “It just was.”

* Rep. Jason Barickman is frustrated that he can’t get a response…

Quinn’s office also cites what it calls $11.6 million in “critical maintenance needs” at Dwight, including roofing repairs, water treatment facility upgrades, building rehabs and shower repairs. Barickman said the village of Dwight has offered the state assistance on its water and sewer issues at the prison, with little or no response.

* Quinn was asked why he didn’t talk with the protesters…

Governor Pat Quinn is standing firm on his decision to close several large developmental and mental health facilities in the state, including Murray Center in Centralia. He was questioned by reporters about the closures and why he has not talked to the impacted state workers while in Waltonville Monday afternoon to discuss the drought.

“Basically our state is going to have less institutions when it comes to those with mental illness and those with developmental disabilities”, Quinn said. “We’re going in a different direction; we believe in independent living. The opportunity for everyone, no matter what their situation to have an independent life, and that’s a decision that I made, and I’m going to stick to it”, said Quinn.

In regards to closing Tamms Prison and other correctional facilities, Quinn says employees with the Department of Corrections will have the opportunity to work within the department for positions they can apply for, and says there will be substitute jobs for those employees.

* The governor also talked about the Dwight prison on a Downstate radio station today…

In an interview on WJBC, the Chicago Democrat said the state must trim spending anywhere it can, and he’s been given assurances from the Illinois Department of Corrections Director Tony Godinez that closing two under-utilized facilities, the all-female prison in Dwight and supermax prison in Tamms, would be an effective way to streamline operations.

“We’ve got to make sure in our budget we have facilities that need to be closed in order to save money to make sure we have a balanced budget. It’s the only way to go,” Quinn said. […]

Quinn didn’t give specifics on how Logan Correctional Center in Logan County would be retrofitted to house the inmates from Dwight. He only said the state would be “looking at what it’s options are.”

As for concerns that Pontiac Correctional Center would become dangerous to other inmates and staff by taking in the most violent offenders from Tamms, Quinn said, “We have to incarcerate the worst of the worst,” but added that sentencing reforms lawmakers have already approved would alleviate overcrowding.

* However, one facility may get a reprieve…

Governor Quinn did say he would take a look at closing the Centralia Animal Disease Lab once more because of the current drought conditions, and what the lab can do to help. “That’s something that given the drought that we may want to revisit with respect to our lab in Centralia. I think sometimes when circumstances happen, you have to deal with those on an immediate basis”, said Quinn. The lab does tests for water, nitrate, corn, as well as other vital testing that concerns agriculture and public health. The lab is scheduled to close August 31st.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 10:45 am

Comments

Quinn was covered on NBC Nightly News last night. No mention of the protests there. So score one for Team Quinn.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 10:53 am
You want smaller government and less spending, closures and fewer jobs are part of the deal.

Any chance southern Illinois leaders can come up with economic development plans that don’t include prisons? Maybe something with that big university that draws thousands of students from up north and millions of dollars down to Carbondale every year?

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 11:00 am
If I was in Southern Illinois I may feel the same as they do, but since I am not there I find it refreshing the Governor is sticking to his guns and not bowing to the political pressure. It is also refreshing for him to make the comment that prisons should not be seen as job creators.

Comment by Endangered Moderate Species Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 11:01 am
===Any chance southern Illinois leaders can come up with economic development plans that don’t include prisons? Maybe something with that big university===

Currently in the works at the Southern Illinois Airport.

Comment by Way Way Down Here Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 11:09 am
Did Quinn pray for rain while he was down there? It certainly worked up here Friday.

Comment by Cheryl44 Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 11:13 am
Advocates for persons with disabilities applaud Quinn’s testicular virility in sticking to his closure plans. Through the use of financial adversity, the state is doing what it should have done many years ago.

Comment by gathersno Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 11:21 am
“You want smaller government and less spending, closures and fewer jobs are part of the deal.”

This seems so obvious you would think it would even penetrate the brains of downstate republicans. They are the leaders of the smaller government bandwagon.

Comment by wishbone Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 11:27 am
We have 4 CILA’s in our town right now. They have been a great addition. the residents there go to work each day at Community Link/othe businesses and are part of the community. These homes are not capable of handling the severe physically/mentally challenged residets of Murray Center. Their parents have tried and have been unsuccessful in many cases. For CILA’s to work with those with severe handicaps the State will have to drastically increase spending. Right now, the State is 6-8 months behind on payments. Will it really be cheaper or better for these residents to be moved to home based centers(CILAs)? The Gov. thinks so, I and most of the parents think it will be another failure. But who will suffer the most? The residents of Murray Center.

Comment by Charlie Hilmes Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 12:02 pm
Funny how Quinn says prisons are not built for jobs. Back in 2009 when Rod wanted to close Pontiac Quinn reversed that decision and said, “Keeping Pontiac Correctional Center open will ensure nearly 600 people in the region keep their jobs, prevent hundreds of families from being uprooted, and allow Pontiac to maintain one of its largest sources of revenue.” He further stated that it was for fiscal responsibility and job security to keep Pontiac open. I guess his feelings have changed in 3 short years. Take Tamms, it employs over 300, is in the poorest region of the state, and is the biggest employer of that area. Further a lot of the displaced employees will have to be uprooted to have a job with DOC.

Comment by Stacy627 Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 12:12 pm
wordslinger - “That big university down there” is also a state facility, is it not? So if they use it as part of an economic development plan, aren’t they still using state jobs as the core?

Comment by lincolnlover Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 12:39 pm
Funny wishbone, but its downstate democrats that are whining about the closures (Phelps, Forby, et al).

Comment by Stooges Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 12:48 pm
One of the reporters from WSIL also posted her take on the press-conference.

http://www.wsiltv.com/news/local/Fannas-Reporter-Notes-162730826.html

Comment by LN Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 1:11 pm
gathersno, I assume that you are prepared to take several people from JDC or Murray into your home and live with you. Part of the SODC closure / placement plan is to use roommate/housemates in 1-2 person residential settings in apartments and private homes with a special rate. Particularly the people who have had a hard time with CILAs in the past. At a minimum the plan calls for non-paid local people, like yourself, to directly assist in helping/advocating for the men and women from SODCs as they move to a new community setting. Help take people to the movies, church, shopping, social groups several times a week. You are in right? It’s not just a facility closure. Adapting and learning to live in the community is also part of the plan.

Comment by zatoichi Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 1:27 pm
Will Quinn assign the DHS OIG to safeguard those being sent to independent living arrangements?

Comment by Truthteller Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 1:30 pm
Some of the parents of the residents at The Murray Center in Centralia have tried community care and other options. It didn’t work for their kids. A lot of the residents are too serverely disabled for that enviroment. The Murray Center is a safer and more secure place for them. The Governor is risking their lives for a few bucks. That is not a good choice! Any deaths will be on his head!

Comment by frogger55 Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 1:40 pm
Hmmm, ” noting that some of the facilities are only half full.”

Maybe instead of closing some of those facilities, how about taking folks from the overcrowded facilities and moving them to the half full ones?

Folks keep their jobs, pay taxes and mortgages, and avoid dangerous conditions in the overcrowded places by easing that burden/tension.

Comment by Concerned Voter Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 1:43 pm
lincolnlover: while your point is taken, many “big universities” have spinoffs and encourage an entrepreneurial spirit that leads to economic development around those campuses. can’t say why UofI or UofC don’t have that…

Comment by bored now Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 1:53 pm
–”That big university down there” is also a state facility, is it not? So if they use it as part of an economic development plan, aren’t they still using state jobs as the core?–

You sure are. But, just on a hunch, and on some knowledge of the human experience, I’m going to go out on a limb here and suggest there are more ancillary benefits to universities over prisons. At least that’s what every civilization since the crust cooled believed.

Given the student base, that university does not have to be there. Get smart and make it the big deal.

Seriously, leadership down south needs to get its game on. If all you’re selling is state prison jobs and guns, what do you think you’re building, anyway?

You should be at Illinois Bureau of Tourism demanding some radio and TV spots to compete, especially in Spring and Fall, with Wisconsin and Michigan tourism. Hunting, fishing, B&B, relaxation, you can compete, but you have to get in the game to do so.

And that university is a gold mine, too.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 2:14 pm
Arbitrator sends union pay raise case back to judge. Quinn hides.

Comment by RSW Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 2:23 pm
I do agree that what Southern Illinois has to offer, more than anything, is tourism. Its beautiful in all 4 seasons, close to large metro areas, has great golf courses, to say nothing of a national forrest, wineries, antiques, quaint bed and breakfasts, etc. So, you have to ask - do you think a little bit of advertising will coax Chicagoans to southern Illinois instead of to Wisconsin?
Here’s a true story to help you decide. When my daughter’s best friend hosted a wedding shower for her (Lincoln Park area), I was asked to bring eggs. When I arrived, I asked why in the world they needed me to bring eggs? Don’t they sell them in your area?! Response - of course, but fresh eggs are so much better. They were astounded to learn that I live in a city of 150,000 and ordinances prevent me from raising livestock within the city limits. I am not joking - this really happened. I HIGHLY doubt that ANY amount of advertising is going to lure Chicagoans below I-80.

Comment by lincolnlover Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 2:35 pm
- They were astounded to learn that I live in a city of 150,000 and ordinances prevent me from raising livestock within the city limits. I am not joking - this really happened. -

I’m pretty sure the majority of Chicagoans realize not everyone south of I-80 raises livestock. I’ve lived up here almost two years now and no one has asked me what it was like gathering eggs.

Also, why are you limiting your tourists to Chicagoans? They go to Wisconsin because it’s close. Why not try St. Louis, Nashville, Louisville, Indianapolis? Might those folks want to experience the charms of southern IL?

Comment by Small Town Liberal Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 2:45 pm
===Funny wishbone, but its downstate democrats that are whining about the closures (Phelps, Forby, et al).===

No what’s really funny is that downstate Republicans are the one who may be whining the loudest. Bost, Luechtefeld, et. al. Bost even attended yesterday’s protest. You gotta admit, that is the funny part: small gubbmint Republicans protesting cuts in government spending.

Comment by Deep South Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 2:49 pm
Small Town - Yes, I think those are great locations to advertise, especially with Nashville only 3 hours from Carbondale and Chicago almost 7.

And, I do realize that my example was pretty extreme. It just struck me as more amazing, than anything and gives me a chance to poke a little fun. Sorry - thanks for letting me indulge myself.

Comment by lincolnlover Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 2:52 pm
===do you think a little bit of advertising will coax Chicagoans to southern Illinois instead of to Wisconsin?===

No….but some advertising will bring in those from St. Louis, Nashville, Memphis, Evansville, etc. Whenever I hit the wine trail, I’m surprised that most of those enjoying the local flavors aren’t local, but rather those from places just a few hours away. Sometimes I feel I live in a real vacation paradise. LOL.

Comment by Deep South Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 2:52 pm
lincolnlover - Don’t get me wrong, I’m constantly amazed by perceptions both north and south. I had a family reunion last weekend in central IL, when my relatives found out I live in Chicago about half of them told me they were sorry and asked me if I had to move there because of work. They were dumbfounded that I actually sought a job up here. The other half were more understanding. Takes all kinds.

Comment by Small Town Liberal Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 3:09 pm
–I HIGHLY doubt that ANY amount of advertising is going to lure Chicagoans below I-80.–

I’ve been in this business for a while. With all due respect, here’s where you’re wrong, and here are a number of ways Illinois Bureau of Tourism has been missing the boat for a long time.

–For southern Illinois, by far, the largest number of SIU students and alums are from the Chicago area. No other area is even close. That’s your low-hanging fruit. You have a very large market that is familiar with and nostalgic about the area and needs to be persuaded to make overnight trips.

– Weather. Spring and Fall come early to southern Illinois for consumers who are accustomed to going to Wisconsin and Michigan for the great outdoors.

– Advertising and Marketing. It does not exist for southern Illinois. The advertising campaign for Illinois has been ludicrous for years.

You see 30-second TV spots that toss in Shawnee, Mississippi River, Lincoln sites, Starved Rock, Navy Pier and the Chicago skyline as if that is something you could pull off in a couple of days. It’s just dumb.

As consumers, you’ve seen Michigan and Wisconsin spots. They break it down with multiple spots based on geography and interests.

They do it even better with literature devoted to specific interests such as hunting, fishing, biking, antiquing, dining, B&B, ext.

IBOT has been dead in the water doing general statewide marketing forever. We’re not California or Hawaii. It does not work, as their own research shows.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 3:15 pm
When Quinn was asked about closing the prison, he gave a rehearsed statement about closing the Murray Center…I saw the video. Did he even hear the question? None of the local politicians (from either party) were invited to this event…seems like he was dodging them too…he just wanted the photo op! What happened to Quinn’s job push? He is going to be -15,000 by the end of the year!

Comment by rusty618 Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 3:27 pm
The Tamms prison is not at capacity because it works. Prisoners from other facilities do not want to go there so they behave. The Governor has bet this is not the case. Unfortunately he has bet with the lives of the staff and inmates at other facilities.

If everyone has a job available at another facility, excactly how are we saving money?

Southern IL could have a thriving economy with the Coal industry if our state was not controlled by Chicago. You can drive accross the Ohio river and see a thriving Coal Industry. Don’t sit in Chicago kill jobs with your idealism, then pretend like you are not responsble. Just like the Governor won’t be able to pretend he is not responsible the day the flags to to half mast for the first guard that dies.

Comment by the Patriot Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 3:41 pm
Wordslinger is absolutely right on taking the geographic approach to marketing for specific areas in the state. I have lived in So. Ill. for 17 years and still am finding places to explore. Places like Sand Cave, Jackson Falls, Millstone Bluff, Lusk Creek are areas I hadn’t heard of until just this year and we are an active family in treading in the outdoors locally. It would be nice to be known more for our natural wonders than our prison industrial complex.

Comment by Devin Miller Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 4:12 pm
I agree with PQ on one point and that is that state facilities do not exist soley to provide employment. But let’s be honest. Closing Tamms is not about saving money. It is a part of the Liberal Democrat agenda from Chicago that deems it a torture chamber.

The governor also caims that IDOC Administration has assured him that those inmates at Tamms can be housed in other facilities with no danger to staff or other inmates. He also calims these administrators are experts in their field. LOLH!!! Please. These clowns do what they are told by the governors office or they would be fired and replaced with other “experts” that agree with PQ’s agenda.

Tamms has served it’s purpose, and that is to isolate those offenders who can not and will not comply with prison rules. What is happening with this closure is a sham and Quinn’s behavior yesterday confirms that he is coward and will not keep his word. A typical politician.

Comment by southern illinoisan Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 4:37 pm
–It is a part of the Liberal Democrat agenda from Chicago that deems it a torture chamber.–

You couldn’t find one in 100,000 people across the state who have ever heard of Tamms.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 4:55 pm
===Southern IL could have a thriving economy with the Coal industry if our state was not controlled by Chicago. You can drive accross the Ohio river and see a thriving Coal Industry. ===

IL coal is notorious for its high sulfur content. But more than that, they do a lot of mountaintop removal mining in Kentucky that I doubt we’d ever want to do or even could do here.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 4:57 pm
Also, with the price of natural gas falling, Kentucky is losing coal jobs fast: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2012/jun/22/mine-layoffs-latest-sign-coal-industrys-decline/

And even when production was staying somewhat flat or dropping a bit in KY, employment was actually dropping hard and fast because of mechanization: http://www.maced.org/coal/mining-employ.htm

In other words, your grass is always greener argument is just pie in the sky, to mix metaphors.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 5:05 pm
Re Patriot: I am as broke as the next guy but it isn’t Chicago’s fault — if anything they support our regional welfare state. We certainly don’t kick in more than we receive. I have done work in Bowling Green, Kentucky for over 12 years (I have to travel sometimes in order to make a living as I don’t get a government pay check every week). BG is as far away from the population of Kentucky as we are in Illinois, yet their economy is relatively diverse and doesn’t rely mainly on government money to exist. They didn’t sit around and whine for decades about Frankfort and Lousiville, they brought outside manufacturing and tech firms to their communities. They also don’t rely on one savior (i.e. coal) to bring them sort of economic redemption and there are few places where mining has been a net positive for a community over the long term. Our problems aren’t simple black and white issues that if only ‘they’ would leave us alone things would improve instantly. We need to look towards developing a diverse knowledge based economy via SIU (which we have started to do) instead of wishing for a past that will never return.

Comment by Devin Miller Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 5:18 pm
I too was at Waltonville yesterday with a group of parents/guardians/loved ones of Murray Center residents. Quinn made a comment that he wanted the residents to live an independent life……he really doesn’t get it. If my son could live independently he would….the residents who live with my son need constant care…diapering, being fed, clothed, tube fed, some cannot even swallow…..I can see why he doesn’t GET it, he’s never had the courage to come see these residents face to face….what a coward!!!!! If he thinks his idea is so wonderful then he should have the courage to look at us face to face and explain his reason why……it is politics only….Murray Center is one of the best fiscally run centers in the state, and best for over all care…..it’s because we are in southern IL….I guess our loved ones don’t count. Like a 9 year old boy with us said, “Gov. Quinn must care more about corn than he does kids!”

Comment by Rita Winkeler Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 5:26 pm
Is it just me, or do you all think the southern Illinois legislators and AFSCME are complaining so much that they are starting to reverse any sympathy they once had. At this point, they seem whiny.

Comment by Patrick G. Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 9:00 pm
I know of a man my age who has lived at Lincoln, and now Jacksonville since the age of five. Governor Quinn’s plan fails him as well as the dozens of other Illinoisans similar to him. He has the mental age of a two year old and must have everything done for him. Independant living is simply not possible. When he had to be moved from Lincoln to Jacksonville in 2003, it took him years to understand what happened, and went through a heartbreaking adjustment.

He is not alone. Quinn’s plan regarding the closing of our state facilities fails reality. The idea of moving these poor folks around like luggage is inhumane. The idea of putting them out in group homes is flat out stupid and impossible.

We have some citizens with real needs, not imaginary ones ginned up by lawyers. Our social programs were originally designed to accommodate severely dependant citizens, not folks complaining about not finding enough money to get their nails done or pay their cell phone bills.

Quinn is making the severely dependant sacrifice for the sake of those who are only dependant, but vote. Once again, we are seeing a questionable level of ethics and morality from Mr. Quinn. He needs to be taken directly to these state homes and made to spend the day there. He is damn ignorant.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 9:21 pm
Has Quinn ever been to Murray Center? If he had, I’m sure he would realize that these folks cannot live in group homes. They need more care than what that would provide.
Prison guards from Tamms and IYC in Murphysboro are now in the process of bumping guards with less seniority from other prisons. How many of these guys will end up on unemployment?
Quinn needs to stop letting the Commerce Club of Chicago tell him what to do.

Comment by Rusty618 Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 9:43 pm
VMan, that’s quite an epiphany. I’m afraid you’re too late.

Here comes the pain. Did you believe it wasn’t going to hurt?

After years of crying for cuts, cuts and cuts, plus lectures on wasteful government spending, do-nothing government jobs and the superiority of the private to the public sector, you’ve blossomed into a champion of spending more money for public employees to provide services in state facilities.

Anything else, you say, is immoral, unethical and ignorant.

Not all advocates for those with developmental disabilities would agree with you on the closures, but you can rest assured that the incessant Tea Party drum of cuts, cuts and more cuts is finally being answered in every state in the union with predictable results.

Careful what you wish for, you might get it.

And let us know where we can save by cutting public funds for citizens to get their nails done and pay cell phone bills. I’m all for those thoughtful solutions.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 10:32 pm
Quinn’s method of visit was cowardly,but what can you expect from a guy who is “lightly” supported in southern Illinois.It’s surprising that he showed up at all.

Comment by Jimbo Tuesday, Jul 17, 12 @ 11:10 pm
if one more commenter says that Tamms protects guards I am gonna scream! The reason we have professors and researchers is to find out the answer to questions about what works and what doesn’t. And the research is in — Tamms and other superman prisons do not reduce aggregate prison violence. What helps is counseling, programming, and prudent measures to segregate the few really dangerous prisoners from the rest. And for that, a superman is not necessary.

Comment by bartelby Wednesday, Jul 18, 12 @ 1:42 am
Spending a buck on the able bodied instead of the disabled, or willfully cutting back on the funds to assist the truley needy to spend on utter crap that wastes taxes is what I am talking about.

Demanding accountability, demanding a setting of priorities, focusing on what a government should do, has been my mantra. Knowingly twisting it to make a claim that I am only seeing a result of my pleads for a saner, sustainable government is sick.

No one wants to hurt the truly needy. Holding them hostage and demanding a blank check so they can get what they need is worse and the kind of government we are cursed with today. Sorry you are too politically blind to get that.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Jul 18, 12 @ 6:44 am