Capitol Fax

Rich Miller’s commentary on State Government

For the past several weeks, I’ve been confiding to friends that I think Gov. Pat Quinn has turned out to be a much better campaigner than anyone expected, and a much worse governor than everyone had hoped.

The campaign team that Quinn has put together is quite good. He’s raised a ton of cash, which has paid for some well-produced television ads.

“He’s had to unlearn three decades of muscle memory,” cracked someone from inside Quinn’s campaign a couple of months ago.

Indeed.

Quinn has never been an “A-List” campaigner. He has never really understood what it took to win a really big race - and it’s showed whenever he’s tried. He ran for secretary of state and was clobbered by George Ryan. Two years later he ran for US Senate and was creamed in the Democratic primary by Dick Durbin. He still owed thousands of dollars from that 1996 US Senate race until early this year.

From what I gather, the governor’s brother sat him down and told him that if he wanted to continue being governor then he would have to do all those things he detested, like spend a few hours a day raising money. To his credit, Quinn listened. And I, for one, have been pretty impressed with the results.

It’s the “governing” part of the job that’s been the problem for me. From the failure of his budget rollout, to his constant flip-flops on everything from taxes, to gambling to ethics reforms to a government shutdown, Quinn has seemed that he’s in over his head. I, like everybody else, wanted him to succeed after the six-year Rod Blagojevich horror show. But he just hasn’t proved to me, at least, that he’s up to the task.

Last week came one of the biggest blows yet to Quinn’s credibility as governor.

Quinn unexpectedly and harshly lashed out at Comptroller Dan Hynes during a press conference for refusing to sign off on a $500 million short-term borrowing plan, which Quinn said was needed to pay outstanding bills before the end of the year. Quinn claimed that Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias had already agreed to the plan, which turned out to be false. Giannoulias had done no such thing. Both Hynes and Giannoulias must both agree before the bonds can be sold. Hynes, of course, is challenging Gov. Quinn in the Democratic primary.

Quinn’s office was needlessly secretive and grossly incompetent during this entire process. The governor switched the type of borrowing that he wanted to do, changed the amount that he wanted to borrow, demanded - out of the blue - an immediate deadline to approve the plan, refused to provide Attorney General Lisa Madigan with crucial information, all without disclosing how he intended to spend the cash.

You’d think this wouldn’t be a very tough sell. Small and large not-for-profit service providers are hurting badly because the state hasn’t been able to reimburse them in weeks or months.

Heck, even Rod Blagojevich was able to get a short-term borrowing plan approved by the comptroller, treasurer and attorney general after he was arrested by the FBI last year - around the same time that the attorney general was attempting to have him removed from office via the courts. If Blagojevich could put it together, why can’t Quinn? After all, the state’s financial crisis is worse now than it was then, with backlogged bills totaling $4.6 billion.

Hynes eventually turned thumbs down on Quinn’s borrowing idea, saying the cash couldn’t really be spent because there was simply no money to ever pay off the loan. He also pointed out that when Pat Quinn was state treasurer, Quinn opposed a very similar borrowing plan attempted by then-Gov. Jim Edgar.

Some might say that Hynes was politically motivated here, but his case is pretty solid. The real political motivation is likely from Gov. Quinn. The governor tried to humiliate his political rival over unpaid bills, got caught in a lie (saying that Treasurer Giannoulias had signed off on the loan, when he hadn’t) and then couldn’t explain the basic mechanics for how the cash would be used or how the loan would be repaid.

I just wish somebody in that governor’s office would learn how to play this game. It really isn’t that difficult, but you’d never know it from the past ten years.

Why Are Democrats So Angry?

In the 11/25/09 commentary Mr. Gonzalez asked, “What are Republicans afraid of?” “Now that the Obama Administration’s Justice Department has decided to follow the U.S. Constitution and bring some of the alleged terrorists from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to New York to face terrorism charges…” What is he talking about? I have poured over our Constitution since reading that nonsense and nowhere did I find that enemy combatants captured on foreign soil are afforded the same Constitutional rights as those in this country are afforded. Please enlighten us Paul.

I would like to pint out that not only is Mr. Gonzalez being completely disingenuous to Prairie Advocate readers, but Eric Holder and Obama himself are being disingenuous to all Americans by making this horrendous decision. Eric Holder could not defend his decision to try these murderous thugs in this country (six short blocks from ground zero) when being questioned by the Senate Judiciary Committee on November 18th. Senator Lindsay Graham asked Mr. Holder where it states in the Constitution, or where in our history have these types of terrorists ever been afforded Constitutional rights to stand trial in our nation. Mr. Holder could not answer that question because it has never been done before. Mr. Holder and Obama both know that the proper venue for these admitted terrorists is a military tribunal, because that is what our Constitution says. This is nothing more than a witch-hunt of a past administration and our CIA driven by pure left-wing ideology.

So what are Republicans afraid of?

One thing Republicans are NOT afraid of is the truth being told! Contrary to Mr. Gonzalez’ ranting, President Bush did not trample on the Constitution. That has been proven to the American people time and again with numerous Congressional hearings up to and including the famous 9/11 Commission. As I recall, the Democratic Party also voted for everything that President Bush did after 9/11, but here we are being told that the American people “allowed” Bus to break U.S. law. What laws were broken Mr. Gonzalez? Examples please! I’d like to remind him that the president is not capable of passing anything, nor to declare war without Congressional approval, especially spending. Yet, Mr. Gonzalez wants to place all blame and expense on Republicans. Sorry, but that smacks of complete partisanship, liberal lies, and a massive case of Bush Derangement Syndrome!

What Republicans are afraid of is how much more pain and suffering the families and friends of the victims of 9/11 are going to endure! How many of their wounds are going to be ripped open again after some of them were only now starting to heal? How are they going to cope hearing lies and hatred against our country that will most assuredly be spewed by these animals that killed their loved ones? How this is going to make the sight of ground zero a mocking arena for terrorist sympathizers, and terrorist wannabes! How are the officials in New York going to keep the city safe? Gosh, I was always told that it was the Democratic Party that was oh-so compassionate and the champion of the little guy and the middle class. Where is their compassion for the victims now?

What Republicans are concerned about is the simple fact that in our court system we have this thing called Discovery. Discovery places all of our intelligence information directly into the hands of the very people that masterminded and participated in the slaughter of almost 3,000 Americans. How this is going to weaken, not strengthen our nation, and make our “leader” look as weak as a puppy dog! Does any clear-thinking American really want our national intelligence secrets made public and handed to the very people that set out to kill as many innocent Americans as possible? Has Obama and his minions divided this nation so much that we are now blinded by sheer political ideology as to allow this insanity that will undoubtedly become nothing more than a Kangaroo Court?

Are Democrats going to have any remorse when our country is mocked and ridiculed by unadulterated propaganda and lies? Are they going to feel any remorse when our beloved America is attacked again because all this trial is going to do is embolden those that wish to destroy us? Are they going to feel any remorse for the families of the 9/11 survivors?

Somehow, I fear the answer to those questions is NO, they will not. Especially if Mr. Gonzalez’ letter is any kind of indication into the angry mindset of the Democratic Party and the Obama regime. So what party is really being hypocritical? Which party is not defending the Constitution?

Kathy Hood

Chadwick, IL

Not Afraid

Just to set the record straight, I am not afraid of change. I am afraid of a person who thinks that we need a little more socialism in our economy. Also, I’m afraid of a person who truly believes that he knows better how I should live my life than I do myself.

I think the problem can be found in his definition of change. I would, instead, call it loss rather than change; the loss of freedoms we Americans have enjoyed for over 200 years.

This quote sums up my thoughts on such a person:

“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.” C.S. Lewis

Respectfully,

Bob Stretton

Savanna, IL

Some Additional Thoughts On Terrorists Coming to Thomson

While home on break this weekend, I actually got to read some local newspapers. I have been following the story of the Gitmo prisoners possibly coming to the Thomson Prison, so the commentaries by locals caught my interest. Many of you and good thoughts, some of which I hadn’t thought of before. Now, I would like to add some more points to ponder.

One mention that I found interesting was the reality of the number of jobs that would be brought to the area by containing this detainees. It was noted that thousands of jobs is most likely not going to be seen, but instead that perhaps a eight hundred jobs or so jobs would be more likely. I think that this is even over shooting the number of jobs that would be created…or at least jobs for local residents. It is more than likely that specifically and highly trained guards and other works would be brought in from other areas than it is that someone off the street would be hired to work at the prison. Yes, this people would need places to live, food to eat, and other services which would lead to an increase need and perhaps more jobs, but some of these jobs would only be temporary, as construction workers would only been needed until the houses were built, and it wouldn’t be a sudden saving of the local economy and hiring of thousands of people right away either. More than likely, it would be only be a few hundred, if even that, who would possibly see new employment, and although the local economy may see a rise in some areas, it’s not going to be this huge sudden rise in cash flow.

Also, as someone as probably already stated, this could drive away potential people from moving or even staying in the area. I may not be from Carroll County, but I live just a half a mile from the county line and with having family and many friends who live in Carroll County, I’ve grown up in the area and with my family and a large sum of friends, besides the natural beauty of the area, I would love to eventually settle down and raise a family in the Carroll County area. However, I must admit, this possibility of having convicted terrorist being held only miles away makes me rethink this idea and even makes me fear slightly for the safety of my friends and family. If I, growing up, spending over twenty years in the area, is rethinking staying in the area imagine what is going to go through the mind of someone who’s considering coming to the area.

Yes, the prison is supposed to be heavily guarded and everything, but really, how guaranteed is this really? Look at everything that has happened in how nation over the past decade. We never thought that people would board American airplanes with bombs and fly them into buildings or walk onto high school and college campuses with guns and start shooting. How many of us are never thought we’d ever have to worry about our jobs are now unemployed? We never thought our economy would crash like it has. Currently, there is a member of our nation’s military being tried in court as a terrorist. And we’ve just recently seen how easy it can be to sneak into the White House. I think it’s safe to say that nothing is guaranteed anymore.

What about the location of the prison? I’ve never thought that it was smart to built something that’s supposed to contain criminals so close to a railroad track. Then there’s the highway that runs right by the prison not to mention the Mississippi River being only miles away. Those seem like nice escape options to me. There’s been discussion that Chicago being only hours away would be a good target for possible heightened attack possibilities, but about the Bryon Nuclear Plant being only about an hour of so away? Yes, chances for a prisoner to escape is probably pretty low, but what are the dangers if I would happen?

All in all, I personally don’t think that being the Gitmo prisoners to Illinois is a good idea at all. It’s not going to create the jobs or great rise in our economy. And even if it would, would that really be worth the potential negatives it could bring? There has to be a better solution to help revive the local economy, a solution that will keep local residents from leaving and even bring new people to the area. Perhaps the opening of more local businesses would be one such solution. Yes, many companies have left the area and businesses have closed, but several new restaurants and shops/businesses have opened in the past year or two in Shannon and Mount Carroll alone. The increasing number of wind farmers is increasing the number of jobs in the area where they exist, perhaps Carroll County should look into that possibility.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and this is mine. You’re free to think what you want. These are just some more points to ponder. Hopefully, the public will have some say in this decision. Either way, I guess we’ll just have to see what happens.

Kara Brinkmeier

Pearl City

Thomson (A Call to Arms) Terrorist

A sad day for Thomson but not just for us

Our Country changing towards more of disgust

The almighty dollar has taken its toll

No Terrorist in Thomson should be our goal

Or, anywhere stateside they’d play a role

Suicidal Murdering Extremist there soul

You don’t change that with time in prison

For the day they get out is the day they have risen

What then do we do about our Decision?

Oh No, It’s too late they’ll be a collision

And for those naive enough to think

Terrorist VISITS safe, Don’t BLINK

We play to their hand we lose our land

Some leaders have their judgment amiss

They’d just a soon give Terrorist a kiss

It’s time to speak out for what we believe

Before once again our Country will grieve

I ask all my fellow Americans HELP STOP these shenanigans

Write, Call or E-Mail your government leader

Do it now for our Country we’ll always need her

Gary Brown,

High Point, NC

Thomson, IL - raised patriot

(Family Tree over 100 yrs in Thomson)

Just Wondering . . .

At What Point in Time does an officer who has sworn to uphold the law, and to protect and serve the public, have to do something to earn his pay, instead of just put in his time and collect a paycheck? Just Wondering ….

At What Point in Time does an elected public official have to be held accountable by the public he serves, to abide by the same laws set forth for all the people residing in his hometown? When is he allowed to act as though he and his family are above the law, and with total disregard and abandon, breaks those same laws that we are all expected to live by? Just Wondering …..

At What Point in Time do the patrons of the local establishments have to abide by the laws set forth, and not pretend they don’t exist or pertain to them, because they live in town? Does this irrational thinking excuse those that drink and drive, even if they did bother to eat at some point in time that same night? Just Wondering ….

At What Point in Time does the local law abiding citizens tire of all this unacceptable behavior, draw it out, and put an end to it? When will the majority of citizens speak up, and hold these perpetrators accountable for their actions, instead of whispering behind closed doors while things are quietly swept under the carpet? Just Wondering ….

At What Point in Time does an innocent man, who has just finished enjoying a meal at a local eating establishment, is crossing the street to his car, and trying to get home to end his day, get his story told? What is right about him being hit by an automobile, dragged down the street in front of witnesses, driven to meet the lifeline helicopter, flown to the hospital, never making it home, and no one wants to talk about it?! He not only never got home that night, but he never got home again. He only got out of the hospital to go to his own funeral and be buried. Can anyone please tell me why someone will not stop just listening to those whispering walls, and speak up, to right a wrong? Shouldn’t the parties involved be held accountable to the same rules the rest of us have to follow?

At What Point in Time? I was Just Wondering . . .

A Very Concerned Citizen & Shannon Business Owner

Debbie Greenfield

P.S. Rest in Peace: Clarence “Pete” Irion Jan. 1938—Nov. 2009

Scrooge Stole Tree Out of Back Yard

Twas a month before Christmas

In our back yard we thought

Our spruce would be safe

But last year should have taught.

Some amoral scoundrel

For the second year in a row

Snuck into our back yard

His tree saw in tow.

We grew them from twigs

And you cut off the top

We assume for a small Christmas tree

And we ask you to STOP.

If you are needy, just ask.

No need to steal.

We have an artificial one we’d give you for free

Such a deal!

So if someone you know

Has a cute little tree

Ask them where they got it

Maybe they stole it from me!

The Sheriff is interested

In knowing their name

So if you know it, share it

Put an end to this game!!

Mike & Lori Reynolds

Shannon, IL

Capitol Report

By Jim Sacia, State Representative, 89th District

As our state continues to lumber along, failing to address our financial crisis, our Governor is forced to face significant and difficult decisions. Recently he notified our local office of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) that they would be closed and consolidated into our Rockford office.

I immediately sent off a letter to the Governor sharing my concerns, and I included a letter from our Presiding Circuit Judge Theresa Ursin.

The following is my letter and an excerpt from Judge Ursin’s as well:

“Dear Governor Quinn,

I am writing to respectfully ask that you reconsider the closure of the Stephenson County, Freeport, Illinois, Office of DCFS.

On November 23, 2009, I met with a large concerned group consisting of our Circuit Court Presiding Judge, our Mayor, our States Attorney, area law enforcement officials, DCFS officials, concerned citizens and many other organizations who will be directly affected.

Governor, our numbers are literally “over the top” for need in this area. DCFS averages direct contact with 147 children per month who are wards of the state from Stephenson County and another 13 wards from Jo Daviess County which they also cover. As you are aware Governor, the child contact is only a part of their significant responsibility.

I understand that a major concern is the significant per annum cost for their rented facility. There is little doubt that this figure could easily be cut in half if not significantly reduced more if we utilize a remarkable facility at our Martin Luther King Center in Freeport. There are also other facilities available at a considerable savings should part of Martin Luther King Center not be available. Certainly my office stands ready to assist CMS in their search for adequate office space.

An overriding concern to me Governor is that DCFS is becoming “bloated” at the top, as are many other state agencies.

When I was first elected eight years ago, DCFS had eight highly paid administrative positions at Springfield and Chicago. That number has grown to eighteen. Our field support, or “in the trenches” case workers, continues to shrink. I need not elaborate on this as it speaks for itself.”

Judge Ursin writes in part”…Having been involved in child protection cases since 1985, I am very familiar with the kinds of services needed. I started out as a lawyer in private practice representing families. For twelve years I was the Assistant State’s Attorney prosecuting abuse and neglect cases. Since 1999, I have been the judge who hears all of the abuse and neglect cases. Among the many other issues facing these families, most of them have transportation problems which limit their ability to get to their appointments or meet with their caseworker…”

In summation, until we address our “bloated at the top” agencies we will not solve our financial crisis. Governor Quinn has promised “fumigation” of political appointees from the Blagojevich Administration.

As always, you can reach me, Sally or Barb at 815/232-0774 or e-mail us at jimsacia@aeroinc.net. You can also visit my website at www.jimsacia.com. It's always a pleasure to hear from you.

Representative Jim Sacia