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Governor Blagojevich’s last-second decision to dole out an extra million bucks to a campaign contributor’s baseball project resulted in this quite brutal piece.
Having already committed $3 million in state tax dollars toward helping a political supporter build a minor league baseball stadium in southern Illinois, Gov. Rod Blagojevich surprised even the project’s enthusiasts last week by showing up and announcing he’d kick in an extra million.Just last month, the Chicago Democrat also announced he would find $5 million in the state budget to finance stem cell research because it was too important an issue to wait for lawmakers to decide.
Meanwhile, two dozen school districts across the state continue to be told that partisan bickering in Springfield is why they don’t have their school construction dollars nearly four years after state officials promised them.
Dozens more not-for-profit and community groups have been told there’s no money available to finance projects they were promised as far back as 1999. And the state’s medical community complains the state is chronically late in paying them to care for the state’s elderly, disabled and poor.
As someone noted somewhere else (I can’t remember where I saw it), $4 million to build a 4,000-seat baseball stadium works out to a taxpayer bill of $1,000 a seat.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 7, 06 @ 8:06 am
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When private dollars are paid for seats, they are called “Personal Seat Licenses.”
I wonder what they should be called when tax dollars are used?
Pork Seat Licenses?
Comment by Suburbanon Monday, Aug 7, 06 @ 8:34 am
Why is everyone against baseball in southern Illinois?
It is OK to have taxpayer subsidized stadiums in Chicago, but not downstate?
Just because the schools can’t manage their budgets does not mean the baseball stadium in southern illinois should suffer. These school districts should do what every other school district in Illinois does when it runs out of money: raise property taxes. Why are they reliant on the state for money?
As far as $5 million for stem cells…that is a small amount of money that will give so much hope to so many people. Is somebody that *you* love suffering from MS or diabetes or some other dreaful disease?
And when will the state’s medical community NOT complain about having enough money to care for the state’s elderly, disabled and poor?
The newspapers need to get off their high horses.
Comment by Reb Monday, Aug 7, 06 @ 8:40 am
I may be wrong (hardly the first time) but I believe the state money is actually for infrastructure improvements that will be valuable to the Marion community. So saying each seat cost $1000 may not be entirely fair. Having said that, I still don’t think the Governor should be doling out campaign gifts when Medicare and Medicade bills are so far in arrears.
Comment by paper bag over my head Monday, Aug 7, 06 @ 8:58 am
Reb….describe to me, in detail if possible, the reasons state funding for the elderly, the disabled, and the poor is adequate…please…I am intrigued
Comment by Concerned Monday, Aug 7, 06 @ 9:08 am
Concerned -
If you gave every dollar in the known universe to the state in order to care for the state’s elderly, disabled and poor, the state agency in charge of said program would still complain they do not have enough money & resources to do their job.
That is why whenever I hear them screaming about lack of necessary funds, I tune them out. They will NEVER have enough. And their screaming doesn’t justify blocking infrastructure improvements in the state.
Comment by Reb Monday, Aug 7, 06 @ 9:31 am
He needs the support of downstate voters, otherwise it would be spent on Chicago stadiums, arenas, etc.
Comment by Shallow Pharnyx Monday, Aug 7, 06 @ 9:58 am
Reb…the Gov admitted to a reporter that there was no prior discussion with staff/Filan/whoever regarding the committment of the last $1 million. There are significant needs by providers in the long-term care and disability community to have drastically improved Medicaid payment cycles. Are you aware of how long the payment cycles can be right now? I used to work for DOT, I am well aware of how economic development and infrastructure can be boons to communities and tax dollars. Many long-term care facilities and community agencies for DD ARE of economic significance in communities around the state. I am not going to continue an argument with you on this matter. I just want you to understand that adequate and sustainable funding for the long-term care and disability community is not a hole, it makes/will make a difference. You don’t have to sell me on economic development investments. I guess, in closing, tuning out the cries for adequate funding is ignoring the problem.
Comment by Concerned Monday, Aug 7, 06 @ 10:06 am
HELLO. GoverNOT Hairdo was buying votes - not stadium seats.
Comment by Little Egypt Monday, Aug 7, 06 @ 11:32 am
The Stadium, the Major Contributor, the Governor.
See what you get when you play ball with each other.
Comment by Truthful James Monday, Aug 7, 06 @ 12:21 pm
Solution - what he really meant was to say that he would donate an extra million from his own personal money. How dare he treat the state money like his own personal checkbook.
Comment by state worker Monday, Aug 7, 06 @ 12:44 pm
Reb,
These school district DID RAISE property taxes. It was part of the deal. Come up with so much money locally and the state will cover the rest. Problem is, the state hasn’t.
And so you’d prefer Southern Illinois baseball over education in Southern Illinois. There’s plenty of Southern Illinois schools on that waiting list, some very close to Marion.
Comment by anon Monday, Aug 7, 06 @ 1:04 pm
They had to raise property taxes — to sell the Bonds for their share.
But do not forget the Jersey County taxpayers who flat out rejected a Bond issue for new schools — declining enrollment and all that. The District begged for and got a state grant, which enabled it to borrow on a non-referendum basis — burdening the taxpayers anyway.
With friends like that…
Comment by Truthful James Monday, Aug 7, 06 @ 1:18 pm
Looks like Chicken a la Rod is starting to show some interest in southern Illinois now that Rich Whitney is going to be on the ballot!
Comment by Squideshi Monday, Aug 7, 06 @ 2:44 pm
How can anyone consider a baseball stadium an infrastructure improvement? This is just ANOTHER case of the Virility King buying votes. He has not only thumbed his nose at most of the voters in this state, as well as people who were his supporters, he is spending MILLIONS of taxpayer dollars sending out political advertising for his campaign, disguised as All Kids, Senior Care and Veterans Care information. So children, seniors and vets are used a pawns for him to get re-elected and more money from rich people. The man has no soul, no conscience and a hide like a rhino. He doesn’t give a rat’s ass about Illinois, it’s all about Rod.
Comment by Disgusted Monday, Aug 7, 06 @ 5:50 pm
Reb, that is a incredible opinion you have there. Forget the disabled and elderly, WE WANT BASEBALL! That’s about as insensitive as one can get. Also, you’re missing the point: no one is talking aboutMORE money; they’re complaining that money ALREADY ALLOCATED for their bills are NOT BEING PAID BY THE STATE, yet Vladgo can find some money for his fundraisers’ pork and a few downstate votes. If I were you, I’d be insulted by his patronizing little maneuver.
Comment by Snidely Whiplash Monday, Aug 7, 06 @ 9:43 pm
It’s nice to see Blagojevich make it down to Southern Illinois every once in a while. I guess Whitney is having an impact on the race.
Comment by M.V. Monday, Aug 7, 06 @ 11:50 pm