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Cross wants to enforce balanced budget requirement

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* Tom Cross officially announced for state treasurer today. From an e-mail to supporters…

State law requires we have a balanced budget, yet the gimmicks legislators and Governor’s have used over the past decade have resulted in the nation’s worst budget deficit and over $7 billion in unpaid bills.

It’s not fair to taxpayers and it has to stop.

On day one, I will let the legislature and Governor know that I will use all the powers available to me under the Constitution, including legal action, to enforce the state’s balanced budget requirement.

Taxpayers deserve no less.

That’s not a bad idea. The attorney general has said that if the Legislature passes a budget that it considers to be balanced, then it satisfies the constitutional requirement for a balanced budget, even if the House Speaker himself admitted publicly that the budget wasn’t balanced. Remember this from 2010?…

A more activist approach to this question would be welcomed.

* WLS AM…

Cross jumped in promising to be a different kind of state treasurer.

“I think the conventional time and the conventional day, the conventional wisdom of the treasurer’s over here just watching the books like Mr. Drysdale did for the Clampets is over!” Cross said.

Now Cross is not without a primary challenger. DuPage County Auditor Bob Grogan is also running.

“I’m a CPA and a certified fraud examiner and Tom is an attorney!” [Grogan] said.

* Perhaps Mr. Grogan, CPA, should audit his grammar before posting on Facebook…

I want welcome Tom Cross the the race for State Treasurer. I know this office was not his first choice, but I look forward to a spirited debate.

I doubt he’s gonna get much debate unless he can show he can actually run a real campaign. So far, he hasn’t.

…Adding… Grogan updated his page…

I want to thank Rich Miller of CapitolFax for pointing out that, in my prior post, spellcheck put an extra “the” instead of the word “to”. If I only had free help from HRO staff as I was starting my campaign my posts might read more like they were written by a lawyer and less like a CPA.

I want welcome Tom Cross to the race for State Treasurer. I know this office was not his first choice, but I look forward to a spirited debate.

And he still makes a mistake.

Hilarious.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 1:01 pm

Comments

“I want tell Grogran that campaign need more Plummer helping run campaign spoon dog leash seven”

Yikes!

Congrats to Two-Putt, I will be Following his campaign with great excitement.

I don’t know which rally to attend, the one at The Rail or the one at Olympia Fields…

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 1:06 pm
To be fair, whoever wrote Cross’s piece put an apostrophe in Governors that shouldn’t be there. It’s a plural, not a possessive.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 1:07 pm
If Cross wants to enforce the balanced budget requirement, he should run for the Supreme Court. It enforces the constitution, not the Treasurer.
I seem to recall that Cross worked closely with Madigan on at least one budget. Was it balanced?

Comment by truthteller Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 1:18 pm
I’m curious as to who’s running on the Democratic side. Does anyone have any idea?

Comment by Levois Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 1:21 pm
“I think the conventional time and the conventional day, the conventional wisdom of the treasurer’s over here just watching the books like Mr. Drysdale did for the Clampets is over!” Cross said.

Sure sounds like a dis of the current Treasurer, a fellow Republican. If Cross is right, then Dan has been asleep at the switch.

Comment by reformer Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 1:27 pm
I think Cross has/ will receive more media today for his race for Treasurer than Grogan has received since he started pursuing the office.

Comment by JoeD Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 1:29 pm
That quote from the Speaker always upset me. He took an oath to obey the Constitution, and here he is admitting that he ignored the Constitution.

Comment by Just Me Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 1:33 pm
So the crux of Mr. Grogan’s campaign is “I’m a CPA!” Good for him. But who cares. If that’s the extent of his argument then he has problems.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 1:33 pm
===So the crux of Mr. Grogan’s campaign is “I’m a CPA!” Good for him. But who cares. If that’s the extent of his argument then he has problems.===

Honest mistake, - Demoralized -.

“Grogran” is the “CPA Candidate”

I, for one, have no idea what Grogan’s campaign is based on…

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 1:37 pm
Did he just throw out a Beverly Hillbillies reference? Nicely done sir.

But accusing legislators of using gimmicks to “balance” the budget as if he was never there is a bit much.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 1:38 pm
I never thought of comparing Illinois citizens to the “Beverly Hillbillies.”

That’s some creative writing, to say the least.

If we all had Clampett money, there would be no worries, anyway. We could all just lounge around the Cement Pond and play with Ellie Mae’s critters.

And it’s Clampett, not Clampet.

The Clampetts were from Bugtussle. The Clampets were from Hooterville.

I just want you all to know that.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 1:43 pm
I want TO welcome, or I want A welcome FOR, or simply admit to having the linguistic skills of Frankenstein’s monster.

Comment by In the know Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 2:07 pm
I think that Mr. Grogan’s incompentence might make him a target when his Auditor seat is up again. He has never had a race and clearly can’t handle himself. His ability to “raise” money is also laughable. Good luck goober. Welcome to the spotlight.

Comment by Hahaha Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 2:10 pm
“yet the gimmicks legislators and Governor’s have used over the past decade”. Could of sworn Cross was a part of that legislator activity.

Comment by zatoichi Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 2:17 pm
“play with Ellie Mae’s critters” and “Hooterville” both in the same post. Yow-zah!

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 2:24 pm
I took a video of Grogan working my precinct. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-7pgeD__qU

Comment by Chris Elliot Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 2:30 pm
One to too few and still two miles to go.

Comment by A. Nonymous Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 2:41 pm
Some of those legislative “gimmicks” to pretend that a budget was really “balanced” were agreed to by Tom. He should thoroughly understand the problem.

Tom is onto something here, but’s it’s a stretch to consider it a Treasurer’s function.

The legislative budget-process pushed and passed by Nekritz, would have solved this problem, if meticulously followed. It was finessed just the next fiscal year by Leaders from both parties.

This is an audit and control problem at this point. The Constitution, statute, and applicable rules are already established.

Comment by walkinfool Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 3:13 pm
===Tom is onto something here, but’s it’s a stretch to consider it a Treasurer’s function.===

Maybe, but at least somebody would finally be on the case.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 3:16 pm
Fortunately, Mike Frerichs is a much better choice than Tom Cross.

Comment by Bill White Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 3:24 pm
- Bill White -,

Opinion, not fact.

I wouldn’t underestimate “Two-Putt”…

Actually, I like the “balance budget watchdog” bit. It can have legs.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 3:27 pm
Mike Frerich is the State Senator from Champaign, was Champaign County Auditor and is not a CPA. He does, however, have almost $700k in his war chest.

Comment by otoh Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 3:32 pm
Is being a “balanced budget watchdog” within the scope of the Office of Treasurer?

=== SECTION 18. TREASURER - DUTIES The Treasurer, in accordance with law, shall be responsible for the safekeeping and investment of monies and securities deposited with him, and for their disbursement upon order of the Comptroller. ===

Can the Treasurer spend taxpayer money on being a watchdog without approval of the General Assembly?

Especially if that includes lawyers fees incurred filing lawsuits against various other branches of the State of Illinois?

Comment by Bill White Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 3:35 pm
Mike Frerichs also is a Certified Public Finance Officer

Comment by Bill White Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 3:36 pm
How is Tom Cross qualified to be State Treasurer? At least Grogan can say he has actually done an audit and knows how to balance books.
Further, the silly attacks on Grogan for pointing out the he is a CPA is like attacking an AG candidate that talks about being a lawyer.

Comment by DuPage Rep Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 3:41 pm
Add a “d” in there. “Balanced budget watchdog”.

This treasurers race is creating havoc with the written word.

Comment by otoh Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 3:45 pm
==but at least somebody would finally be on the case==

Agree completely. The easiest route might be to sic the Auditor on it. The legally-required process to produce a balanced budget is there.

Comment by walkinfool Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 3:45 pm
lol,

“Grogran” is just a joke of a candidate, with very limited funds, Jason Plummer as an advisor, and the Dopey “CPA” on the signs. Embarraassing.

Bob Grogan would have had more sense.

To Sen. Frerichs, he will be a tough “out”, time will tell if he can be ready for “Prime Time”. Advice? Don’t have Dopey “CPA” signs, do the talking, yourself.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 3:46 pm
===At least Grogan can say he has actually done an audit===

From the Illinois Constitution…

SECTION 18. TREASURER - DUTIES
The Treasurer, in accordance with law, shall be responsible for the safekeeping and investment of monies and securities deposited with him, and for their disbursement upon order of the Comptroller.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 3:46 pm
It’s cute when the governmentally uninformed play “government”.

Makes me smile.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 3:49 pm
@otoh

=== This treasurers race is creating havoc with the written word. ===

Reminds me of a joke from Cambridge Mass

A graduate student enters the 15 items or less line with about 40 items in his cart.

The cashier says, “Tell me, are you from Harvard and therefore don’t know how to count, or are you from MIT and therefore don’t know how to read?”

===

The bottom line is that the office of the Treasurer actually should be a rather mundane place, scarcely fit for ambitious politicians.

Unless you want to travel the state making political contacts doing “Cash Dash” events.

Comment by Bill White Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 3:55 pm
Still have not heard about Tom Cross’ qualifications for the job.

Comment by DuPage Rep Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 3:57 pm
He can beat “Grogran” … and Bob Grogan too.

When you can’t run a real campaign, then what is the point of the exercise, to give am another Dopey candidate to mock, with Jason Plummer as an advisor?

Ok, fine with me …

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 4:01 pm
… and I …LOVE the “CPA” signs.

I still have good stuff left over from “Chris Lauzen, CPA” I haven’t rolled out.

Fun!

Bob Grogan is not ready for Prime-Time;

No money, no structure, no groundswell of support and Jason Plummer.

Face it, “Grogran’s” campaign is Folly, at best, at Bob Grogan’s expense.

It is.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 4:05 pm
Maybe a lawyer can explain what it means to “be responsible for the safekeeping and investment of monies and securities…” Wouldn’t be helpful to have auditing experience, as well as have the credentials like CPA and CFE to perform that task?

It’s cute when the governmentally informed i.e. political junkies insult people that want better government run by qualified people that are not professional politicians.

Comment by DuPage Rep Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 4:07 pm
=== Especially when Tom Cross opens with a call to spend taxpayer dollars [on] “legal action” targeting budgets enacted by the IL General Assembly. ===

Can I have a preview function, please?

Comment by Bill White Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 4:08 pm
Shorter Tom Cross:

“Elect me Treasurer and I will spend taxpayer money to hire lawyers to take legal action to stop Michael Madigan from doing those same things I couldn’t stop him from doing when I was leader of the House GOP.”

Comment by Bill White Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 4:37 pm
- Bill White -,

Can you put that on a coffee mug or T-Shirt?

Cross v. Frerichs, not a race to sleep on, should be a good one.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 4:40 pm
Grogran CPA does have a point with Cross using HRO resources for his Treasurer race.

Comment by more of the same Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 4:55 pm
Oswego,

Which do you prefer?

“Treasurer Tom Cross: Legally Blonde meets Fire Madigan”

or

“Elect me Treasurer and I will spend taxpayer money to hire lawyers to take legal action to stop Michael Madigan from doing those same things I couldn’t stop him from doing when I was leader of the House GOP.”

Comment by Bill White Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 5:13 pm
Maybe “Grogran” and Grogan can make a point to Cross’ campaign at the local Denny’s or even like the library where my campaign is at …

I hope to see more “Grogran” drive-bys …

Just next time, end them with “CPA” it adds something to them.

- Bill White -,

How big of a mug are we talking?

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 5:28 pm
Love how Mr. Willy points out all of the qualifications of Tom Cross for Treasurer. It makes me smile when the governmentally informed know so much that they can’t articulate why.

Comment by DuPage Rep Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 6:11 pm
- DuPage Rep -

When “Grogran” can get more $250 dollars in his Campaign Account, and stops loaning HIS own money to a campaign that is over $23,000 in obligations, then I will answer…

Otherwise, I will do as “Two-Putt” is going to do, giggle, get my own “CPA” sign, if “Grogran” can afford to print them, and just ignore him… with an occasional mocking … when provoked like now …

How’s that?

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 6:18 pm
I wrote him out a check for $2,500 last week. Bob Berlin hosting another fundi next week. Too bad Grogan doesn’t have access to all of the House Rep staffers and mailing for his campaign.

How is that? Let’s hear about the virtues of Tom Cross for Treasurer!

Comment by DuPage Rep Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 6:31 pm
How exciting!

Get Jason to WRITE a check, not COLLECT a check, then you really have some steam.

What a shame, “Grogran” is going to lead to the demise of a “comer” in Bob Grogan.

Funny thng about Don Quixote campaigns, they swing and attack windmills, and the people just smile and watch.

This must be a gag, I mean, I am defending Tom Cross’s astute strategy of ignoring “Grogran”.

Where is Ashton Kutcher?

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 6:36 pm
I just hope he means balanced on an accrual basis, not simply the cash basis that makes tricks easier to pull off

Comment by Squeaky Clean Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 6:54 pm
Nothing but crickets when it comes to the virtues of Tom Cross for Treasurer.

Comment by DuPage Rep Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 9:15 pm
I hear you can get crickets at a Bait Shop, 12 for a dollar.

Maybe “Grogran” can take up a collection to make that joke funny…

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 9:21 pm
Keep laughing. Nobody in southern Illinois likes tom cross. Bob Grogan is a nice guy and smart. He is a hard worker, unlike cross, who looks for favors… you owe me…..not .good luck bob grogan

Comment by ironman Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 10:51 pm
Problem for Grogan is the few thousand people he meets and gets to like him will only be maybe 5% of the votes he’ll need to win. You can be the smartest man to ever live, but you won’t win an election if your message doesn’t get out, and that takes real money. Six figures several times over.

So far, he doesn’t seem to get that. Maybe he doesn’t think it was the $2 mil Plummer spent that won him the Lt. Gov. race - it was really the face time.

Comment by Amuzing Myself Thursday, Sep 19, 13 @ 12:38 am
Here’s 2 Putt’s qualifications:
1) Proxy pilloried Art Tenhouse in a nasty backroom fight for HRO leadership ten years ago.
2) Led HRO to super minority status.
3) Ruined HRO finances.

After twenty years, that’s it. If Cross can raise money he kept it a secret from the HRO, and if he turns on the money spigot now, it looks like he sandbagged it despite rolling some funds over. If he’s well-liked outside Springfield and his district, it’s by secret societies.

The primary comes down to this: will Republican primary voters have had enough of Tom Cross, or do they want more? This Grogan guy might do better changing his name to NOT TOM CROSS.

Back to lurking and learning. Only six months until the primary.

Comment by JAFTC Thursday, Sep 19, 13 @ 1:28 am
Yes, Tom Cross has the money to get his message out.

However, is that message good for the people of the State of Illinois?

Why does Tom Cross want to be Treasurer? To attempt “Fire Madigan” in new and untried ways, on the taxpayers dime.

Comment by Bill White Thursday, Sep 19, 13 @ 5:46 am
The bottom line for me;

I get “Two-Putt” & “Grogran, CPA” for 5 months, unless Jason Plummer messes up “Grogran’s” petitions.

“Grogran” is just not credible, but is equally comical, so that is good for me!

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 19, 13 @ 6:50 am