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Question of the day

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Illinois

* AP…

The Illinois Secretary of State’s decision not to send license plate renewal reminders has earned the state more than twice the amount of late fees so far this year compared to last year.

The Belleville News-Democrat reports that so far this year the state has collected $9.5 million in late license plate fees, compared with $4.3 million during the same period last year. Illinois Secretary of State’s spokesman Dave Druker says there have been about 476,550 late fees collected so far this year compared with about 214,500 during the same time last year.

The state stopped sending renewal notices in the mail in October, saying it couldn’t afford the $450,000 in monthly postage costs due to the lack of a state budget.

* The Question: Any other “positives” to emerge from this impasse? Snark is heavily encouraged, of course.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 1:57 pm

Comments

More “prairie grass” in the middle of the state’s interstate highways.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:02 pm
Fewer rest areas to maintain.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:04 pm
Let’s see: We collected an extra $9.5M, plus we quite spendin’ $5.5M, so we’re about +$15M up on this program so far. And the SoS can put pink signs up in every facility blaming the Governor. Sounds like win, win, win, don’t it?

Comment by A guy Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:07 pm
Crisis creates opportunity to exploit others.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:08 pm
Fewer papers to grade, no pesky students knocking on the office door, lots of parking available on campus — plus more postcards from Iowa City, Columbia, and elsewhere out of state.

Comment by WIUOblivion Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:10 pm
The employees at service providers have been sooooo bored lately. They’ve been begging for some long lines really spice up the work day.

Comment by Curious Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:10 pm
More people are camping out,

Comment by Triple fat Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:14 pm
The unique opportunity to preview a T-Rump presidency!

Comment by d.p.gumby Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:14 pm
Lots more people spending time in the great outdoors.

Comment by CCP Hostage Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:15 pm
License to not wear a tie unless appearing before the Chamber of Commerce (though he hasn’t tried it in court yet)

Comment by d.p.gumby Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:16 pm
State government shutdown = no state taxes that need to be collected. Hey, wait, they’re still making the deduction!

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:17 pm
return to the good old days when downstate can blame everything on Chicago

Comment by d.p.gumby Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:17 pm
A lot less deposit slips are being used throughout the state.

Comment by East Central Illinois Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:17 pm
Small gubmint types are realizing how much state funding they actually depend on

Comment by frisbee Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:20 pm
Spending less on Mileage & Per Diem by cancelling those special sessions

Comment by Jolly1 Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:20 pm
Capitol Fax subscriptions are way up.

Comment by Slugger O'Toole Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:24 pm
Illinois becomes the number one consumer of new tires. Tire factories move here from Mexico.

Comment by Honeybear Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:24 pm
Keeping Lord Bruce in the State rather than his planned World travels after he is successful.
The way this guy talks most of the countries in the Free World he visits will probably declare war on Illinois once he opens his piehole.

Comment by Chungas revenge Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:25 pm
A surplus of Gs.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:26 pm
Extended unpaid vacations for State employees due to the utilities being turned off.

Comment by Huh? Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:27 pm
I forgot to add that with the extended unpaid vacations, State employees will be able to unabashedly post to CapFax without people complaining about the posting on state time.

Comment by Huh? Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:29 pm
Federal judges overseeing consent decrees are spending more time on the bench, thereby earning their very large paychecks.

Drug dealers are making extra cash since drug treatment programs are shutting down.

At risk teens can play more video games, rather than getting jobs, since Teen Reach was abolished.

Printers and graphic designers are seeking an uptick in protest signs.

Tire dealers are making a fortune because of all the blown tires due to potholes on I55.

(I hope Rich doesn’t ban me for these, but you said snark was encouraged)

Comment by snap Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:30 pm
Keepin’ Brexit fears in perspective with more immediate concerns.

Comment by X-prof Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:32 pm
Rob Sherman can hate on the gov and take joy in Catholic Charities receiving no money for services rendered #conflictedatheist

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:39 pm
Gas station revenues up due to increased bathroom stops.

Illinois citizens in better shape due to all the marching going on.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:40 pm
A positive of this post was to remind me to get my renewal on Monday. Thanks, Rich!

Comment by ORT Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:41 pm
The sharp rise of civil discourse in Springfield and a clear indication from all sides as to whom the blame for the impasse should go.

Comment by thunderspirit Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:42 pm
Garbage men have reduced work loads because there is less food waste in the dumpsters.

Maricopa County style prisons are set up to house inmates because utilities are cut off and vendors have stopped supplying commodities.

Comment by Huh? Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:43 pm
If I want to move to Appalachia, now I know what life will be like.

Comment by Illinoised Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:45 pm
Illinois Bill Backlog (over $8 billion today!!) catching up with number of McDonald’s hamburgers sold. (Hat tip to Comptroller Munger)

Comment by X-prof Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:46 pm
The bar for next years’ legislative session is set so low, that it can’t help but be more productive than this years.

Comment by train111 Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:46 pm
More undergrowth allowing better concealment for state troopers.

Comment by Jocko Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:47 pm
One million Illinois residents lost access to vital services and almost no one in Illinois seems to care. Maybe we can get it to two million before anybody at the Tribune notices?

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:48 pm
Pesky road construction will stop, allowing travelers unhindered access to the open road.

Comment by Name Withheld Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:54 pm
Carhartt jacket sales.

Comment by Stark Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:55 pm
Illinois survived Donna Arduin…barely

Comment by Abe the Babe Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:55 pm
==More people are camping out, ==

And eatin’ barbecued bobcat, keepin’ the population of them varmints under control.

Comment by Whatever Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 2:58 pm
We found out that 1.4% really does have a compassionate heart when he cried over the prison-like schools in Chicago.

We found out about the extraordinary and heroic stuff that 1.4% staff is going to manage the State without a budget.

We found out that the “super majority” in the GA could have passed a budget and over ridden his veto.

We found out that if only the Speaker had been willing to pass 1.4% reforms to improve the economy and be more business friendly, none of this historic mess would have occurred.

We found out that 1.4% has a single message and never varies from it.

We found out that 1.4 % can make $2.5 million donations to his pet PACs like they are $5 tips at a restaurant.

Comment by Huh? Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 3:00 pm
Non-stop campaignin’ all year round for the governor!

Comment by Wensicia Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 3:02 pm
We found out that 1.4% hated the new restaurant in Ottawa, the Lone Buffalo, so much that he walked in, stayed long enough to turn around and walk out.

Comment by Huh? Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 3:03 pm
Come July 1st the 25,000 Construction workers plan to have a huge hog roast in the state capitol. They invited the governor. /s

Comment by Mama Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 3:07 pm
1.4% redefined pandering and took it to an entirely new level.

Learned a new word - perfidy.

Comment by Huh? Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 3:07 pm
Bruce loses Evanston following dismissive comments about Northwestern’s small-scale research program.

Comment by X-prof Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 3:08 pm
“Any other “positives” to emerge from this impasse?”

The news outlets have more state news to report and selling more newspapers / memberships.

Comment by Mama Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 3:10 pm
Since I’ve been laid off I’ve been able to work on my golf game a lot more than previous years. Starting to figure this game out-Thanks Mike & Bruce

Comment by Myronjax Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 3:13 pm
Train wrecks and dumpster fires have something to aspire to.

Comment by Dance Band on the Titanic Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 3:14 pm
I think we should move Jesse White up to Governor that was pretty good idea of coming up with creative revenue by stop sending out license reminders!

Comment by Coach Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 3:16 pm
“work on my golf game a lot more than previous years. Starting to figure this game out”

2 pieces of advice -
Just don’t care about your last shot. There isn’t anything you can do about it once you hit the ball. Getting angry won’t help one bit and will make things worse.

Play for 3 shots each round: 1 good tee shot, 1 good fairway shot and 1 good putt. Consider it a good round if you get all 3 shots.

Once I figured this out, I have been much happier playing golf.

Comment by Huh? Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 3:22 pm
A new budgeting tool! Stop spending to have more revenue to work out a budget with! Wait…

Comment by Anon Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 3:22 pm
Many parents now have out of state vacation destinations for the next 1 to 4 years since there students/kids will be looking at out of state colleges.

Comment by East Central Illinois Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 3:24 pm
Sellin’ those counterfeit license stickers for 10 bucks sure is a boomin’ business

Comment by No. 9 Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 3:26 pm
We’ll get a budget when the Cubs win the World Series…maybe both are possible this year?

Comment by Wensicia Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 3:27 pm
Culling the herd via survival of the fittest (read: richest)

Comment by AlfondoGonz Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 3:45 pm
Jesse White has always been a great guy, now he finds away to chisel money from drivers. Lame.

Comment by mokenavince Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 3:50 pm
Not sure if Jesse White can spend the fees he’s collecting w/o an appropriation, but if he can, I think it’s time to start mailing reminders again.

Comment by X-prof Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 3:56 pm
Much easier to have political arguments with perfect strangers.

Comment by Dome Gnome Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 4:00 pm
Hey, at least they’re helping to “save the trees,” which equals more OXygen in the Air for us to breathe!

Comment by Just The Way It Is One Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 4:00 pm
Payin’ bills is for the little people. Just order stuff and use it when it arrives. Feel free to complain if it does not come on time.

Not cutting the grass along the highways will show what Illinois really looked like 200 years ago. Who needs that state museum when you can see the real thing?

Comment by zatoichi Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 4:27 pm
Cheap fare to a banana republic staycation.

Comment by Vole Friday, Jun 24, 16 @ 4:34 pm