This is a group I have seen on public television, the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. Now is the time. Even though large contractors have been stopped from campaign donations, we are still one of only four states that allows unlimited political campaign contributions! Can you imagine the effect of that? This needs to be stopped.
Also, Gov. Quinn's campaign to Reform Illinois Now wants to hear your comments:
There is sure to be a free-for-all if/when the Stimulus package passes with all that road building money. With Ray LaHood at the helm of Transportation guys like Ozinga will be working double time hauling concrete. Hope they fix Harlem over at the I55 interchange and Mannheim Road through Stone Park and Melrose Park - you could lose a Smartcar in some of those holes...
Crook County tax assessor wants $344,000 in new furniture, etc.:
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/iteam&id=6642139
How Illinois works.
Three contractors are bidding to fix a broken fence at the White House. One is from Illinois , another is from Tennessee , and the third is from Minnesota.
All three go with a White House official to examine the fence.
The Minnesota contractor takes out a tape measure and does some measuring, then works some figures with a pencil. "Well," he says, "I figure the job will run about $900: $400 for materials, $400 for my crew and $100 profit for me."
The Tennessee contractor also does some measuring and figuring, then says, "I can do this job for $700: $300 for materials, $300 for my crew and $100 profit for me."
The Illinois contractor doesn't measure or figure, but leans over to the White House official and whispers, "$2,700."
The official, incredulous, says, "You didn't even measure like the other guys! How did you come up with such a high figure?" The Illinois contractor whispers back, "$1000 for me, $1000 for you, and we hire the guy from Tennessee to fix the fence."
"Done!" replies the government official.
And that, my friends, is how Illinois works.
In the interest of sanity, Burris needs to make an announcement soon that he will retain the Senate seat until the next regularly scheduled election, but will not be a candidate for next term. That takes the heat off, preserves a vote the Admin needs, and saves the state the cost of a special election. Burris does his best and gets the thanks of the people. The Dems and Repubs raise dough, nominate their candidates and fight it out. That simple decision would take all the interest out of this situation and let him focus on the financial crisis we all face. Durbin should pitch this to him. NOW.
His word that he will not run again cannot be trusted, obviously, but no matter: he would never win.
He is not necessarily helpful if he joins the liberal warhorse block, like the ones who loaded the stimulus with pork. Reid and Pelosi are likely a positive menace, in my view. If he does what Durbin tells him to do, that would be OK. But he won't. And he isn't going anywhere. He's Roland Burris. The man who took an appointment from Rod Blagoevich.
I do not agree with a special election for 2 years of a Senator. I trust Pat Quinn. Not going to happen though. The cowards in the Senate let themselves be intimidated by two-bit race baiter Bobby Rush, supporter of Obama's white opponent in 2004.
@Catherine:
"Reid and Pelosi are likely a positive menace"
Can you expound on that point? I was trying to follow along and got lost. Thanks.
Reid and Pelosi are old school liberal warhorses. It has often been observed that Obama's greatest fights will be with his own party as he tries to hew a middle course. These two are the exemplars of that party.
The stimulus includes an $8 billion high speed train from Disneyland to Las Vegas, something the nation is surely crying out for, never mind those collapsing bridges. I think it is a potent symbol of the Reid-Pelosi nexus.
Diane Feinstein, another warhorse, is an example of this phenomenon. After Obama said he did not want Burris, Feinstein openly supported Burris.
Speak Out for Political Reform
The State Journal-Register editorialized over the weekend on the prospects for reform, noting, "Never has there been a more fertile time for political reform in Illinois government." The good news is that legislators are lining up to tout their support for reform bills. The bad news? It's March, not May, and nothing has passed yet. Reform is possible, and maybe even more likely now than usual, but mark our words -- nothing will happen unless voters demand it.
If you believe in reform and you have not yet called your legislators to tell them to support campaign reform, then pick up the phone already. Now is the time. And there are many, many opportunities in the coming weeks for you to make your views known. Write a letter. Make a phone call. Attend a hearing. Join a coalition. Do all these things. But do it now. Here's how to get involved:
http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x1362390283/Our-opinion-Get-involved-with-state-government-reform*
The SJ-R editorial offers advice on how to contact your public officials, including this information for the legislative leaders.
Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago
327 Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
782-2728
john@senatorcullerton.com
www.senatorcullerton.com
House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago
300 Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
782-5350
House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego
316 Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
782-1331
tom@tomcross.com
www.tomcross.com
Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno, R-Lemont
309A Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
782-9407
cradogno@sbcglobal.net
www.senatorradogno.org
* Join a Coalition
Civic, non-profit and business leaders came together last week to announce a new reform coalition, CHANGE Illinois. The group, which includes ICPR, has launched a new website, www.changeil.org. Co-chairs include former DEA Administrator Peter Bensinger, Woods Fund President Deborah Harrington, and Chicago Metropolis 20/20 CEO George Ranney. At the launch, the group called for campaign contribution limits and more powers and resources for the State Board of Elections. To get involved, please visit their website.
http://www.changeil.org/node/4
* Attend a hearing
The legislative Joint Committee on Government Reform has cancelled tomorrow's hearing on Outside Influences on Government. But there remain hearings of the Joint Committee and Gov. Quinn's Illinois Reform Commission in the weeks to come. All of these meetings are open to the public. Your elected officials need to hear from you. Here's an updated list of where they'll be:
Joint Committee: http://www.ilga.gov/joint/DocumentsFebruary%2010,%202009%20Press%20Release%20Announcing%20Schedule%20and%20Subject%20Matter.pdf
Gov. Quinn's Illinois Reform Commission:
http://reformillinoisnow.org/townhall.php
Tuesday, March 10
Joint Committee on Government Reform - State Capitol - focused on Outside Influences on Government
AND
Quinn Reform Commission Zeke Georgi Building Auditorium, 2000 S Wyman Street, Rockford
Tuesday, March 17
Joint Committee on Government Reform - State Capitol - focused on Campaign Reform
Tuesday, March 24
Joint Committee on Government Reform - State Capitol - focused on Procurement Issues
Thursday, March 26
Quinn Reform Commission TBD, Quad Cities
Tuesday, March 31
Joint Committee on Government Reform - State Capitol - focused on Procurement Issues
Monday, April 6
Quinn Reform Commission University of Illinois College of Law, Max L Rowe Auditorium, 504 E Pennsylvania Ave.
Thursday, April 23
Quinn Reform Commission TDB, East St. Louis
Tuesday, April 28
Quinn Reform Commission TDB, DeKalb
At the same time that voters are outraged about the corrupt practices of the Blagojevich administration and their long-term impact on the state, news reports are claiming that reform is "not a very popular position" in the Capitol. You know what legislators have to do. Tell them: in person, by phone, in the mail, and by joining together with other reformers. Now is the time.
To date, 20 House members have signed on as sponsors of HB 24, a measure to reform campaign finance. Similar legislation in the Senate, SB 1768, has a smaller but growing list of sponsors.
Legislators need to hear your voices. Contact your House and Senate members and tell them what you think of our current political crisis. Now is the time for people to speak up.
Not one, not two, but three different Chicago newspapers ran opinion pieces recently in favor of campaign finance reform, joining a growing chorus of support for fixing our broken political system.
Crain's took a look at "the corruption that has come to define Illinois" and concluded, "Illinois can reclaim its dignity by curbing the flow of campaign cash that pollutes our politics and government."
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/mag/article.pl?articleId=31460
The Sun-Times wrote, "with our state in post-impeachment crisis, now is the time for Springfield lawmakers to enact meaningful campaign contribution limits." The Sun-Times also observed, "In theory, public disclosure … discourages dirty dealings. In practice, we've seen how well that has worked."
http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/1465661,CST-EDT-edit08a.article
And in the Tribune, former First Chicago NBD CEO Richard Thomas noted, "illegal practices that are discouraged abroad are tolerated here in Illinois." And he argued "placing limits on campaign contributions would be a good place to start."
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-oped0308corruptmar08,0,2097154.story
Support for campaign finance reform is growing outside of the Capitol. Former Executive Ethics Commission Chairman Scott Turow recently told the legislative Joint Committee on Government Reform, in a hearing on transparency, that he believes that campaign finance reform is "indispensable," even asserting, "our state will continue to be perceived as an ethical swamp, both in Illinois and outside of it, unless we prohibit unlimited campaign donations." A broad coalition of business, civic, and non-profit groups, including ICPR, recently formed, calling itself CHANGE Illinois.
http://www.ilga.gov/joint/Documents/Written%20Testimony%20of%20Scott%20Turow.pdf
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