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Cut their pay and send ‘em home

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Illinois

Yesterday’s Crain’s story didn’t get much notice. Let’s try to remedy that today.

Greg Baise has a few ideas, some old, some new.

In a speech Tuesday that veered between outrage and tongue-in-cheek quips, Illinois Manufacturersâ€™ Assn. President Greg Baise accused both Democrats and Republicans of playing politics and looking out for themselves, rather than focusing on substantive issues, such as the loss of high-paying factory jobs and soaring deficits in the state budget. […]

Mr. Baise, a one-time GOP candidate for state treasurer, proposed that Illinois junk its current system of electing one state representative from each district and return to a system it used until the 1970s of electing three state representatives from each, larger district â€” no more than two of them from any one political party. Mr. Baise said that would weaken the ability of a handful of legislative leaders to monopolize the legislative agenda.

Mr. Baise also proposed that the General Assembly meet no more than 60 days a year and that its members lose their state pensions and have their salaries cut by two-thirds. Returning to the days of â€œpart-timeâ€ lawmakers would allow more â€œciviliansâ€ to hold office, he said.

Mr. Baise also proposed that all local governments with the exception of counties, cities and school districts hold a referendum asking taxpayers if they should be abolished. The state has far too many levels of government, which waste far too much money, he argued.

I’m not sure that the pension/pay stuff will play well with all those legislators his group lobbies. And if anyone thinks that Mike Madigan wouldn’t have found a way to dominate the Illinois House if Pat Quinn’s ill-considered Cutback Amendment had failed, they’ve got another thing coming. But you gotta do what you gotta do, I suppose.

Don’t get me wrong, I favor repealing the Cutback Amendment and reverting to the old system. Even with MJM around, there are plenty of benefits. And he can’t be Speaker forever, can he? Can he?

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 12:14 pm

Comments

Where can I sign up.

Comment by DOWNSTATE Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 12:22 pm
What kind of job allows you to take off 60 days per year without a definitive schedule? When the budget doesn’t get finished on time the legislature stays in session, right?

Some of Baise ideas may have merit, but the part-time legislators idea seems deeply out-of-touch with the lives of people who work in jobs that are essential to their organizations.

Want to reform the legislature? Make it unicameral and elect five or six reps from each district. Let minority voices into the process.

Comment by Carl Nyberg Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 12:36 pm
If Baise thinks the Dems & Repubs are equally responsible for the decline of the business environment in this state, then he’s not paying attention. Who opposed the business taxes? Who supports tort reform? Crain’s gives the IMA way too much credit in this piece. The IMA is a shell of its former self. It is not the organization that it was 15 years ago. And Baise’s comments give you an indication of why.

Comment by Say What? Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 12:40 pm
Instead of adding to the the size of government..how about cutting it back more:

1. Eliminate the concept of township government…what a waste!
2. Merge the offices of Treasurer and Controller.
3. While we are at it, cut the Chicago City Council from 50 to 25 (remember, the whole US has 435 representatives!).
4. The only thing going back to the old style of 3 reps for every district would accomplish is that it would create a jobs program for politicians.

Comment by Niles Township Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 12:49 pm
Why not eliminate all the constitutional officers except governor?

I’d sorta like to see an elected governor (the executive branch) and an elected inspector general. The IG’s budget would be tied to the size of the state budget.

Comment by Carl Nyberg Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 12:52 pm
Blago is seldom in Springfield and already ignores the State Constitution, he is a pioneer.

Comment by Wumpus Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 1:11 pm
Blaise’s proposal may sound a tad extreme, but he does raise some good points in that there are so many levels of government–they are almost tripping over each other and I’m sure they waste money at some point.

Comment by Daniel Darling Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 1:14 pm
Redistricting reform is the answer, not sending even more old guys to Springfield to chase the interns around and party on cheap beer at the local watering holes.

With the technology now, there is no reason we can’t have reasonble district boundaries. Iowa does it. Incumbent protection is the only reason we don’t.

Many of the problems we have flow from Gen. Assembly members and Congressmen who have chosen their voters, instead of the other way around.

With competitive races such a rare event, elected officials worry more about their own Party’s leadership, than they do the other Party. An incumbent knows he has little to worry about as long as he or she follows the leadership on everything.

Redistricting reform, or just replace everyone but the 4 Tops with a computer. Few would notice the difference.

Comment by RealClear Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 1:27 pm
Sounds to me like someone has a trust issue with government, and is trying to curb its power.

These ideas generally don’t go over well. We want…nay, *NEED* the government to lord over us like it was our king. We just can’t let people make their own choices…what if they make unpopular ones?

Comment by Speedy Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 1:45 pm
Hey Niles Township, I don’t want to split hairs but what is the Controller. Do you mean Comptroller? And the two offices really do have unlike duties so consolidating them is not a smart idea.

Comment by Sox R Dead Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 1:48 pm
Say What, you must not have been around in 2003 or have a short memory. The House Republican put enough votes on the tax and fee increases to insure their passage. That alone taints the rest of your analysis.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 1:50 pm
The American system of government is a Republic, not a democracy. The Bill of Rights ensures the rights and protections for the minority.

While our government is flawed, this is by far the best form of government ever. I would fully support reverting back to the old system.

We are too open to abuses with the curent system, just look at Chicago and Cook County.

It is a good thing MJM is a benevolent control freak or we would be in serious problems.

Ashur Odishoo
Candidate
State Representative 11th District

Comment by Ashur Odishoo Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 1:56 pm
Abolishing some levels of govt is a good idea. Townships, mosquito abatement districts, TB Sanatarium Districts etc. can all go. Park Boards could be folded into municipal govt. However, adding to the number of lawmakers in Springfield is a bad idea. Making them part time is a nutty idea. What kind of paid jobs would they have that would allow them to rush off to Springfield for large chunks of the year. People suggesting such a thing must be out of touch with how most working people work.

Comment by Way Northsider Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 2:08 pm
Sox R Dead: Sorry, I know it is Comptroller, that is what happens when I try to post quickly as I am heading off to a meeting. I still believe they should be merged though. While we are at it, does every department, agency and consitutional officer need its own general counsel (and associate counsel), personnel director, intergovernmental affairs (ooo…bad word) director etc. Why not streamline these centrally? Legal affairs in AG, HR in CMS etc. It is what the private sector does. It does not allow the 20 divisions of a company each to have their own HR, legal etc. Seems to me there is plenty of fat to cut in state government. By the way, I’ve said it before, I am a Dem in thinking, but open minded unlike most Dems (or GOPers for that matter tpday) today. I don’t want to elimiate government, I just want it to be efficient.

Comment by Niles Township Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 2:18 pm
Sounds like Greg is tee-ing up for 2010 gov.

Comment by greg jr. Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 3:27 pm
Rich,

To answer your question, yes I can.

Comment by MJM Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 3:36 pm
Did not US Congress met less days this year than the past. What the republican majority really get done with the republican President on the federal level? Same in Springfield with the democrats. It is time for a change from politics as status quo.

Comment by wow Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 3:39 pm
Wow - the problem with Baise’s sudden reform-minded attitude is that he’s raking in the cash from the current one. Through his IMA position Baise also runs and advertises a print/mail house, as well as a phone polling service.

Rather than making money off of candidates who may feel pressured to use Baise’s mail and/or phone service in order to increase their chances of getting the IMA endorsement, Baise should spend his time advocating for pro-business policies and the candidates who share that view as well.

Comment by Drowning in hypocricy Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 3:40 pm
Nature abhors a vacuum, and weakening the legislative caucuses will only strengthen the power of the Governor and the special interests with the deepest lobbying pockets, biggest PACs, and largest PR budgets.

It is naive to think we can turn back the clock to 1776, when a bunch of white guys met for a few months a year to map out the destiny of a nation. As Madigan’s strength has grown, so too has the strength of the IMA, Illinois Hospital Association, Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Illinois State Medical Society, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Illinois Education Association, SEIU, Illinois Retail Merchants Association, Illinois Bankers Association, and others. Remove the umbrella of protection of legislative leaders, and these groups will swoop in on the rank-and-file members like hawks and pick off anybody who refuses to get with the program one-by-one.

Now, if you’re one of these groups, that’s just great. The Sun-Times ran a piece today about how a weakened Daley means that anywhere from 25%-33% of the current city council is likely to be defeated. I say boo-yah for the Chicago Federation of Labor.

And to answer your question Rich, no, Mike Madigan will not be Speaker forever. He is mortal. But he will be Speaker for as long as God allows and he wants the job. Democrats owe the fact that we now control both chambers in the legislature, and soon likely all executive offices, to Madigan’s careful stewardship as Speaker and Democratic Party Chairman.

You’ll notice Baise didn’t propose sweeping campaign finance reform that would limit the influence of special interests on government. Considering the Manufacturers PAC spent over $250,000 in the second half of 2004 to elect friendly lawmakers, that’s darn convenient.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 3:42 pm
I can not understand how a state representative like Bob Flider can be a lobbyist for apower company and be a state rep. The problem in Springfield is that too many state reps and senators double or triple dip with jobs serving too many masters rather than the public.
Pat Quinn really messed up cutting the size of the house and letting the public lose control to the party bosses.

Comment by cut their pay Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 3:44 pm
thanx boss, I can hardly wait to talk to the new group of legislators and tell them that I want to take their pension. “Hey how about a vote against this amendment? Yeah when pigs fly”

Comment by Dirty Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 3:58 pm
Mike can stay speaker as long as he likes. In fact, it will be forever. Sorry, but that’s the deal we cut for his soul a while back.

Comment by Satan Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 4:02 pm
Capt. Fax is is disturbing that you might not endorse or approve of the plan that the Speaker will be the Speaker forever.
It does appear Mr. Baise has gone completely loopy. But then how many times can you rant the same rant before the lights go out.

Comment by Reddbyrd Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 4:22 pm
Is Baise collecting a state pension?

Comment by Shelbyville Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 4:48 pm
Of course he can’t stay Speaker forever. He knows he’ll have to step down before Lisa can be elected Governor.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 5:30 pm
“Returning to the days of â€œpart-timeâ€ lawmakers would allow more â€œciviliansâ€ to hold office, he said.”

Baise later added: “And with “part-time” lawmakers and “civilian” office holders, “professionals” like the IMA and other associations could write the “laws” that “regulate” the people of “Illinois.”"

Hey Greg, since we’re throwing out ideas to reduce taxpayer’s obligations for bloated pensions, how about we means test the projected pension benefits for former state Cabinet officials ? You’re making a very good salary at IMA and your other side businesses - why should the overburdened taxpayers who already paid you a generous salary have to throw more money at you ?

Comment by Scott Fawell's Cellmate Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 5:33 pm
This from the same Greg Baise that got awarded the job of Secretary of IDOT back in the day as a political reward from a Republican governor, and proved so inept and unfamiliar with what his engineers and accountants and managers did, he had to quietly be replaced? He was bigger joke in his day than Tim Martin is now. Sorry, he’s a hack, not credible.

I think the 2-party system has certainly ossified over time, and it might be a good thing to switch to a system where shifting coalitions of multiple parties form and pick a Speaker and policy, with many chances to challenge the leadership. Then I look at what happens in the Italian and Israeli governments, all the “two steps forward, one back, turnaround-jump” stuff… and I realize there is no perfect system except on paper. The system we have *should* work better than it does. It has been carefully gamed and massaged over time by the players so it no longer runs the same way as the framers pictured it. Come next con-con, we should look into term limits or something that will break up the calcification and allow change and innovation.

Comment by Gregor Samsa Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 6:06 pm
As IDOT secretary, Baise was the non-job pork overseer for JRT. Think he is still sore that in 1990 he lost to Pat Quinn in the most lopsided of the constitutional races - Quinn got him for accepting a gift. Baise is a has been looking for attention … .

Comment by Smitty Irving Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 7:00 pm
I am in favor of expanding the Legislature through reinstating the 3 representatives per district but only two from a party rule.

It will help dilute the current power the party leadership in Springfield has over representatives and senators.

In my area, everyone comes back to Lake County, especially the Democrats, and claim to be independent voices because they voted with their leadership only 87.5% of the time. If that is the current definition of “independent” then Daniel Webster must be spinning in his grave.

Let’s cut the umbilical cords by expanding the number of representatives.

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 7:31 pm
Not so, Gregor. I have served in IDOT under both Baise and Martin. I was not thrilled with Baise at the time, but he had the good sense to leave the career technical employees alone to do their jobs, which Martin is obsessed with not doing. The GOP also gave the agency the resources to fulfill its mission, knowing it would make them look good if they just stayed out of the way. Trust me, we would all trade Martin for Baise any day. Of course, we would also trade Martin for Donald Duck, or any other real or fictional person or character at this point.

Comment by IDOT Engineer Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 8:32 pm
Baise is right, but he doesn’t go far enough. We need a constitutional amendment, similar to one in place in Missouri a while back, that prohibits the legislature from meeting except every other year and for only two weeks. If you limit the time they can meddle, they do a lot less damage!

Comment by Chicago Dem Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 8:57 pm
IDOT Engineer - what did your guys think of Kirk Brown? The few times I met him, he seemed to be on the ball about technical stuff, as the third generation of a family line of engineers, and a guy who came up thru the ranks somewhat. I’m sure his politics didn’t hurt with getting his job, but he struck me as one of the more qualified state agency heads I’ve met. Or was I fooled?

Comment by Gregor Samsa Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 9:05 pm
Kirk Brown was God.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 9:24 pm
I used to live in Illinois, but live in Texas now and they have a part-time legislature. The problem is that only independently wealthy trial lawyers, brokers and oil tycoons can afford to run for public office. For a monthly stipend of $700, it’s hard to attract “Joe Public” to truly represent the middle class. The problem with Baise’s recommendation is that is places the blame on voters in other districts. It’s always the other eleccted official’s fault — people love their congressman but hate congress. There is no simple solution and no change in redistricting will (or should) reduce the constitutionally protected ability of interest groups to advocate for candidates who support their views. Don’t bash the Illinois Banker’s Association or the Illinois Manufacturers Association for advocating the interests of people who are bankers and manufacturers. People respect hog farmers but bash the Illinois Pork Producers Association. The underlying problem is a lack of voter participation. People feel like their vote doesn’t count, so we settle for 40% voter turnout and get nervous when it rises to 60%. When pollsters pray for rain or snow, it speaks volumes about what has become accepted as rational.

Comment by David Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 9:47 pm
No, SDoS, Kirk Brown was dog. Martin’s a younger, meaning more-recently-educated engineer - his title was something like chief design engineer for the Chicago DOT. I worked with Tim and also had experience with Mr. Brown, both while at a local agency. The problem some holdover political hires at IDOT have with Secretary Martin is that he doesn’t drink the suburban “Highways Uber Alles” caffeine. It’s the Illinois Department of Transportation, kids, not the Illinois Department of Forget About All Other Modes Or Context-Sensitive Design Let’s Build More Exurban Roads With The Same Crappy Designs We’ve Been Using Since The Fifties So We Can Grow More Republicans.

Besides, the acronym for that would be darned unmanagable.

Also besides, who does Baise think he’s fooling? Yes the three-member districts would mean a return to more bipartisan cooperation but it also mean that us non-CEO-level types who don’t have a second government job besides being a State Rep would have no chance of making it work, unless of course they slide into a conflict of interest position in the private sector.

And yes I guess that lobbying reform stuff just slipped ol’ Mr. Good Government’s mind.

Comment by Mr. Luxury Yacht Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 10:48 pm
Yeah for repealing the Cutback Amendment. How anyone could eliminate half of my representation in Springfield and call it reform is beyond me.

As to an automatic sunset for most levels of local government, double yeah. I’ve watched a number of Southern Illinois counties struggle with their bills while taxpayers are forced to support useless township governments.

In Franklin County they had a township assessor still collecting a paycheck even though she had moved to Florida.

Eliminate the governments by sunsetting them. Put the burden on the townships to place a referendum on the ballot to keep their jobs. It’s a completely different tack than opponents have used in the past.

Comment by Down in Egypt Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 10:50 pm
Mr. Yacht:

I was being facetious as, we all know, no man is God. But you are so far off base with your Brown/Martin rant. The reason Brown favored roadbuilding is because his bosses gave him tons of money to do it. He was also very heavily involved in the South Suburban Airport; if you talk to JJJr (he’s progressive, ain’t he?) you will hear fond thoughts of all the hard work Brown and his staff did to advance the project while they were at the helm. Admittedly, Brown will get a lot of credit for getting things done because there was a lot of money flying around in those days to get things done.

I personally like Martin, but I can see why some of the so-called “old timers” (of which there really are precious few left) at IDOT are disenchanted these days. It has absolutely nothing to do with change of philosophy in the thinking at IDOT. It has everything to do with lack of raises, stalled and underfunded projects, staff leaving in droves for greener pastures, and a general lack of money to do anything meaningful except hold the state’s infrastructure together with bubble gum and duct tape.

None of the IDOT staffers I know have anything against context sensitive design or transit friendly policies. They will do whatever mission is given to them if they are given the direction, training and resources. Problem is, transportation is not exactly the highest priority in the state right now, and Martin’s hands are tied to a great extent in getting the resources IDOT needs, in a way that Brown’s were not.

As for your insinuation that Brown was an exurbanist and Martin is the total opposite…why is the exurban Prairie Parkway project one of Martin’s top priorities?

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Wednesday, Sep 20, 06 @ 11:24 pm
Gregor: Kirk Brown is a good engineer and a better manager and leader. Mr. Martin is none of those. Kirk trusted his people and backed them when things got tough. Mr. Martin also does neither. Mr. Martin is a paranoid and incompetent micromanager who has never embraced the agency, or us, as his own. He is universally loathed by myself and my peers.

Mr. Yacht: Neither I, nor any of my peers were hired politically. That is another reason Mr. Martin is so hated. Politics has been injected into the technical chain of command like never before in the agency’s history, and with near disastrous results. And, by the by, Context Sensitive Solutions was initiated in IDOT by Kirk Brown, not Tim Martin.

Kirk Brown is a decent human being and treated his employees as human beings and trusted then to do the right thing. Tim Martin simply does not, and you cannot imagine the party we will throw when he finally leaves. That is, if there is any agency left after he is done.

Comment by IDOT Engineer Thursday, Sep 21, 06 @ 5:40 am
Indiana’s legislature has a long session and a short session in alternate years. Seems to work there.

If there were any more taxing bodies burdening a property we shall have to go to a two page tax bill.

Comment by Truthful James Thursday, Sep 21, 06 @ 6:42 am