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Positivity

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* We seem to always have bad news to report here. How about a spot of positivity for a change?

State Rep. Don Moffitt, R-Gilson, announced this week that he has donated all of the overtime pay he received for the special sessions called by Gov. Rod Blagojevich during last summer and fall’s legislative standoff.

Legislators received a per diem of $125 per day for 37 days and $129 per day for five days, resulting in a total of $5,270 paid to each legislator in overtime per diems, totaling more than $1 million.

Like many others, Moffitt said he disagreed with calling the special sessions because the House and Senate leaders had not reached any agreements and no legislation could be considered for a vote. So, he decided to donate all of the $5,270 to charity, above and beyond what he normally gives.

The amount of the gifts ranged from $25 to $750 and went to 29 different recipients, including a number of city organizations, including the Galesburg Public Schools Foundation, Galesburg Rescue Mission, Orpheum Theatre, Discovery Depot, Galesburg Veterans Memorial, FISH food pantry and Carver Community Action Agency.

Lemons to lemonade. Good for him.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 12:00 pm

Comments

That kind of gesture resonates strongly with people. I don’t know him at all, but if he’s smart he can generate some great statewide p.r. — and put the squeeze on his colleagues.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 12:16 pm
Several other leges either donated to charity or refused to cash those checks.

Good for Rep. Moffitt and the others. While the charity aspect is great to see, here’s hoping they don’t have to get that overtime pay again this year.

Comment by Rob_N Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 12:18 pm
Good for him, at least something good came out of the special session.

Comment by RMW Stanford Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 12:22 pm
what!?! Hi did not give anything to my fav charity. He is unamerican I say!

What a great idea. Would be nice to see more memebers of the general assembly do this. Perhaps even giving to some of the non-profits who had their budgets vetoed by the Gov.

Comment by Ghost Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 12:28 pm
he’s leadership material….

Comment by anon Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 12:35 pm
Kudos to Rep. Moffitt!

Comment by Bill S. Preston, Esq. Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 12:39 pm
That is leadership, lead by example!

Now if a couple of other individuals would just take the hint.

Cograts!

Comment by South of I-80 Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 12:42 pm
Sounds like a stand up guy. Certainly sets a good example for others to follow. Hey…..thanks for the small oasis of good news!!

Comment by Justice Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 12:51 pm
Please let us know if any other legislators have already, or follow Rep. Moffit’s lead…

Comment by BehindTheScenes Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 12:56 pm
Kudos to Rep Moffit, and I apologize for lumping all legislators in one group. There are some good ones out there.

Rich - not wanting to get into race issues but would like a discussion on the situation of the children playing in the neighbor’s tree, and the comment by the lady who works for the Obama campaign. Would like to see if I am the only one that feels as though this is a situation of PC gone too far. I am also cutious if any one else wondered who asked her to step down from the campaign and why, when Barrack has said that he feels some blacks play the race card when they shouldn’t.

Comment by Irish Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 12:57 pm
MOFFITT FOR GOV.

Comment by SLICK Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 1:07 pm
Apparently Rep. Moffit doesn’t need the money. Many State Reps make more money at their full time jobs than they do at their elected job. When they are in Springfield the take a pay cut. It would be unfair to ask the ones who lost thousands because of the special sessions to now donate the per diem.

I would suggest getting a governor who doesn’t call unnecessary special sessions.

Comment by Garp Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 1:10 pm
I’d say this was a good thing, but this guy is patting himself on the back a little too hard.

Where I come from, a press release announcing how generous you are is tacky.

Comment by Leroy Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 1:42 pm
I knew it wouldn’t be long before some people found the dark lining to the silver cloud.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 1:47 pm
kudos, however, why do legislators get 125/day and state workers only 28/day in state and 32/day out of state? Is it anymore expensive for them to stay in Springfield than us? Bet they are not limited to 70/day plus tax on motels either!

Comment by wizard Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 2:03 pm
===why do legislators get 125/day and state workers only 28/day===

Perhaps you should run for office.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 2:06 pm
Well Rich, look on the bright side. It lasted until 1:42 pm. That’s a start!

Comment by South of I-80 Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 2:08 pm
I believe the $125 also has to cover lodging.

Comment by downstate hack Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 2:08 pm
True. There is no hotel/lodging reimbursement.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 2:09 pm
I lived in Rep. Moffitts district most of my life. He is a very good rep that cares about his constituents and tries to push things through that are helpful to the district. Even as a staunch democrat, I voted for him every election. He has always been a supporter of local groups and his wife was board chairmen for the local Red Cross chapter for a while. They are an example of a good political family in my opinion.

Comment by Robbie Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 2:42 pm
I’m sure he is a nice man, but the press release is downright…er…Rod-like. Nice stunt.

Comment by chiatty Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 2:57 pm
Did the legislators get paid for the many sessions when they did absolutely nothing? Let’s have the audit general do an audit and ask for a reimbursement from them where this applies.

Comment by Chicago Dem Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 3:01 pm
Don Moffitt is a standup guy. He has helped introduce and push common sense legislation that was important to me and the folks I work with.
This move was no surprise to this observer.

Comment by Jake from Elwood Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 3:18 pm
I would rather this silver lining. Even if it was in a press release. And I don’t think it’s tacky, why not say you gave back in a press release. It at least lets the citizens know that not all state legislators are greedy.

Comment by Levois Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 3:22 pm
I know him . Its not a Rod like stunt. He doesnt have an opponant and Galesburg and Kewannee are very dem so he didnt have to do anything.

Comment by westernillinois cynic Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 3:35 pm
You mean he just donated his dough to charity?

No grandstanding recall proposals?

No boisterous don’t-you-love-the-sound-of-my-voice-because-I-sure-do speeches on the floor?

Who does this guy think he is?

Comment by JonShibleyFan Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 4:10 pm
i gave my rezko money to charity, wait, did i?

Comment by rod Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 5:09 pm
Don Moffit was one of the first politicians I met when I moved to Galesburg in 1983. He was chairman of the county board at the time and I always thought he was one of the most decent and honest guys I ever met. I’m not surprised to see him take the high road on the per diem.

Comment by Ben Stone Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 6:23 pm
Kudos to Moffit.

Comment by Squideshi Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 7:37 pm
In this particular instance, the Moffits have raised an awareness of options that are available to future legislators should they ever find themselves in the same situation.

If everyone absolutely refused to go public with
gestures such as these every once in a while, how would we ever teach (and reinforce those lessons) with our children?

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 8:14 pm
what a stand up guy maybe others might be convinced to do the same.
On the lemons to lemonade note, I think you just came up with the idea for your next overtime session fundraiser. Instead of selling t-shirts the Capitol Fax team can set up a lemonade stand on the capitol lawn.
Dunking booths would be go over well, too

Comment by Pollyanna Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 8:49 pm
Larry Bomke has been doing the same thing for a long time, including all his raises. Of course, since he lives and works in Springfield, it is less of a sacrifice than Moffit’s but still, let’s not quibble about them doing things right for a change.

Maybe this is how Rod plans to let out the money he took away in cancelled member initiatives? Converted perdiems? At this rate, he’ll have it all dispensed in what, ten years?

Comment by Lemonaide drinker Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 9:23 pm
Moffitt really is a great guy. You call, he’s there, ready to help. Most often he says nothing and no one knows. He has helped me more than once and I don’t even live in his district nor am I a member of his party. I wouldn’t begrudge him a press release.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 11:49 pm
Representative Moffitt is my father in law. He’s a great guy, and I’m really proud of him for giving away his overtime perdium. While i’m only related to one polititician, and while i am a tad biased, i’m glad he’s doing something which is at once generous, consciencious, and somewhat subversive to politics as usual in Springfield. Way to go Dad!

Comment by Son-in-law Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 2:27 pm