The Sunday edition of the Chicago Tribune features a spot-on editorial pertaining to the failures of House Speaker (Sith Lord) Michael Madigan and Senate President (Count Dooku) John Cullerton. The article addresses the negative impact their “petulance” has had on the state, especially with the recent session ending and so many crucial matters unresolved – kicked further down the road.
But in typical Tribune fashion, the publication takes a step back and puts on a façade of kindness with the clarifying statement, “These aren’t bad men. As we’ve said before, they want what’s best for Illinois — provided they don’t have to seriously affront the public employees’ unions and other supplicants that reward them with campaign money and muscle.”
My disagreement with the editorial staff is that Madigan and Cullerton are “bad men.” When have they ever shown any sign that they want “what’s best for Illinois?” I know it’s not polite to say such things about a man’s character or claim to know what is in a person’s heart, but actions have consequences and speak volumes. When you knowingly implement laws that hurt and arguably destroy lives for the sake of your own power and pocket book, you are a piece of shit.
Illinois has a pension deficit of $130 billion, unemployment hovering around 10%, over $7 billion in unpaid bills and is 51st (behind Washington D.C) in the nation when it comes taking care of the mentally and physically disabled. Businesses laugh and cringe at the idea of operating in Illinois; our state credit rating is at a level saved for crack-addicts and offered by loan sharks. “Prosperous Illinois” is officially listed as an example of an “oxymoron” by Websters.
Turning our state into a shithole didn’t happen overnight. Madigan and Cullerton are smart men who knew damn well that their policies would lead us off a cliff, but they also knew that the few who would benefit (unions) could keep them in office and increase their power.
Don’t tell me these men want “what’s best for Illinois,” they only want what is best for their political and personal lives. The rest of us can go to hell for all they care and under the State of Illinois flag waving in shame; we are well on our way.
The articles below shed light on Springfield’s latest failure and it’s impact on your family and mine.
Pension reform letdown, bending over for redevelopment, and fracking at the IL Capitol
By Ben Yount, Illinois Watchdog
Illinois lawmakers raced through dozens of new proposed laws, but limped to a possible pension reform solution on the second to last day of the spring session.
Two late night votes show the huge divide that still exists in the Illinois Capitol over how the state can bring its $130 billion pension debt and $8 billion pension payment under control.
The Illinois Senate quickly killed the sweeping pension reform plan (SB1) sent to them by the House.
Sen. Linda Holmes, D-Aurora, said just because the House wants to adjourn Friday is not the reason to “cheat” public employees. Click here to continue reading...
Erasing “temporary” from the temporary tax hike
By Scott Reeder, Journalist in Residence Illinois Policy Institute
Illinois lawmakers did their best today to erase the “temporary” from “temporary tax increase.”
You remember Speaker Mike Madigan’s lame duck shenanigans two years ago when a “temporary” 67 percent tax increase was rammed through the legislature, resulting in the confiscation of an extra week’s worth of wages each year from the average Illinoisan.
But, hey, they told us at the time that tax was just temporary and would be used to pay down the state’s backlog of unpaid bills.
Springfield insiders smirked when this was said, but that was the promise made to the taxpayers of Illinois.
The tax increase is due to expire at the end of next year, but you wouldn’t know it based on how the Illinois General Assembly behaved today. They passed a budget $2 billion larger than last year’s, despite still having billions in unpaid bills. Click here to continue reading...
IL lawmakers punt on spending decisions; ultimately pass blame
By Ben Yount, Illinois Watchdog
SPRINGFIELD — Don’t blame us, say lawmakers.
Target your frustrations elsewhere, they’re telling voters who may be angry about pay raises for public workers, cuts to services for the poor or fewer dollars going to public schools.
The state Legislature is piecing together a nearly $36 billion budget in the last days of the spring session.
Lawmakers, however, are punting spending decisions to Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn.
“We gave them a lump sum so they can decide where they’re going to spend their money,” state Rep. Luis Arroyo, D-Chicago, told lawmakers as he detailed the $70 million for Illinois’ prisons.
A lump sum budget is as simple as it sounds. Lawmakers decide what will be spent, but the Quinn administration decides how it will be spent. Click here to continue reading...
