|
Capitol FaxRich Miller's commentary on State GovernmentSometimes, you run across something so perfect that you just have to share it.Last week, an anonymous commenter on my blog composed a thing of pure beauty. The Automated Rod Blagojevich Story Generator is a very funny satire on how our state politics are stuck in a bizarre, ever-repeating spectacle. The idea, the commenter explained, is to "pick one item from each section to generate a typical Rod Blagojevich story." And here it is... Today Governor Blagojevich's office announced a... 1) new program 2) variation on a previously proposed program 3) impotent condemnation of the Federal government over policy 4) sympathetic "me-too" press statement riding the tail of a national issue 5) new lawsuit 6) no-bid contract for a friend 7) renamed version of a previous governor's program ...that met with... 1) skepticism from the General Assembly over implementation. 2) howls of derision from members of his own party. 3) noncommittal responses from state leadership. 4) a call for his impeachment by Rep. Jack Franks. 5) complaints of unfunded mandates and frivolous expense by civic/business groups. 6) unanswered questions about accountability from experts in the field. His new idea is to provide... 1) free healthcare for pets. 2) singing lessons to Miley Cyrus. 3) free trips out of the country for anyone who is of Syrian extraction or named Madigan. 4) generous retirement plans for prosecuting attorneys and judges. Blagojevich said there would be enough money for all the programs he proposes and to pay off the state deficit by way of... 1) GRT tax. 2) a value-added tax on general revenue. 3) a previously rejected funding plan. 4) just not looking too closely at the books. 5) a truckload of new gambling expansion. 6) auctioning off everything not nailed down. 7) removing "corporate loopholes" in campaign funding restrictions. The governor, thru a spokesperson, dodged questions about... 1) a current racketeering investigation in which his name is prominent. 2) a lack of detail on the implementation of the new initiative. 3) the absence of funding mechanism for the proposal. 4) the fact that insiders and campaign contributors would be involved. 5) a new law suit / countersuit. 6) a previous, related suit of his being dismissed as frivolous or without merit. 7) his taxes. Later, on his way... 1) to a fundraiser 2) from a fundraiser 3) to his home 4) to a Hannah Montana concert 5) to a Cubs game 6) to a Hawks game 7) to an intramural Jai ali contest 8) to Winston & Strawn 9) from something that most definitely was NOT a fundraiser ...the governor was accosted by reporters demanding an explanation. The governor... 1) ducked into his state airplane 2) ducked into a black Suburban 3) gathered a protective ring of schoolchildren from a passing field trip 4) began quoting 1970's Cubs batting averages 5) demonstrated his recall of state area codes 6) blamed George Ryan for everything 7) said whatever it was, he didn't do it, unless it was for "the people" 8) reminded everyone he got bad grades in school 9) blamed Mike Madigan for not doing enough 10) asked Emil Jones to run block for him and ran for the sidelines 11) told the elephant struck by lightning/ boy digging in horse stall story ...and reiterated that he was... 1) the son of immigrants 2) the son-in-law of a powerful Chicago alderman 3) a man of the people 4) not a big reader or mathematician 5) not a "process" guy 6) not wearing lifts 7) not yet indicted 8) not using "just for men" ...and said that details would be... 1) forthcoming from a press aide. 2) forthcoming from private lawyers on state payroll. 3) open to negotiation, if he felt like it. 4) something Lon and those guys would take care of. 5) George Ryan's fault. A spokesperson for the governor clarified his comments by saying... 1) we don't do business that way. 2) we never knew this was going on. 3) we were always in the forefront of preventing/promoting this exact kind of thing. 4) we have never heard of this person (or organization). 5) this was something that was done by low level-underlings. 6) accused is not indicted. 7) indicted is not convicted. 8) convicted means nothing until after an appeal. 9) this is all a plot by Madigan. 10) we will study the issue and appoint a task force headed by a relative or friend. 11) it was an "up" day. Rich Miller also publishes Capitol Fax, a daily political newsletter, and thecapitolfaxblog.com. Letter To The EditorDear Editor, Have you ever had a place that you go to feel comfort and peace? I do but that place was robbed of its comfort and peace when someone took something that didn't belong to them. I am talking about the cemetery in Thomson, IL. My daughter is buried there along with other family members including two nieces and one nephew. My sister and I brought things for our children and someone took them. We cannot give our children the things children should get so we give them decorations to help us ease our pain and suffering and someone took that from us. I don't know how low you have to be to take things from a cemetery but I hope you get as much satisfaction out of the things you took from us as we did when we placed them by our children's headstones. All I can say is when the safest place on earth is no longer safe, what is this world coming to? Autumn Brown Senate Week In Review:A view from the Illinois Senate Republican Press Office, May 5-9, 2008SPRINGFIELD Illinois Senators returned to the Capitol May 7 to address a wide range of issues, including a plan to review the process by which state prisons are closed, according to State Sen. Tim Bivins (R-Dixon). A bipartisan group of lawmakers came together May 8 to introduce House Bill 1235, which would create a Correctional Facilities Panel charged with examining the conditions at Illinois' correctional centers. Until the panel completes the review and submits its findings to the General Assembly, a moratorium would be placed on all correctional facility closures. House Bill 1235 was introduced after a number of seemingly arbitrary and sudden prison closure announcements, including the Administration's recently publicized intentions to close Pontiac Correctional Center. In other action, Senate Republicans are once again calling for an end to costly Road Funds diversions, which they say will help the state take better care of its roadways. Under Gov. Rod Blagojevich, more than $2 billion has been taken out of Road Funds to finance unrelated government programs. The state gasoline tax and other fees are contained in Road Funds, which is meant to be used for the repair and construction of new roads; however, the Governor has used the diverted funds for programs unrelated to transportation priorities. In other business, a Senate committee gave its approval to a measure aimed at curbing "pay-to-play" politics in state government. House Bill 824, which passed the Senate Executive Committee May 8, prohibits contractors who receive $50,000 or more in state contracts from donating to the officeholder awarding the deal. The measure would also restrict challengers of those officeholders from making similar donations. The Illinois Senate has long been the burial ground for comprehensive ethics and contractual reforms. However, in recent weeks Senate President Emil Jones and Democrat leaders have come under heavy fire for failing to advance measures reforming "pay-to-play" in state government, and House Bill 824 has been allowed to progress in the Senate. Also this week, a group of Republican Senators called for an end to mandatory state overtime, noting some state employees, such as corrections officers, have to work two or more extra shifts a week. Sen. Bivins said many state workers have been forced into mandatory overtime because the state has cut 12,000 jobs since 2001. However, in many cases it would be less costly to hire additional employees, than relying so heavily on mandatory overtime. The heavy overtime requirements also can jeopardize the safety of workers and of the public. House Bill 5661 would effectively end the practice of mandatory overtime and make overtime a choice for employees, without the fear of facing disciplinary action. The bill overwhelmingly passed out of the House more than a month ago, but has languished in the Democrat-controlled Senate Rules Committee. A majority of Senators have signed on to cosponsor this legislation, but it is not certain the bill will ever be considered. Legislation approved by the Senate this week includes: Identification cards (HB 4165) Allows Illinoisans to renew state identification cards by phone, mail or the Internet. Elections (SB 761) Allows the question of calling a constitutional convention to appear on electronic voting machines. Public safety (SB 2691) Provides for certain changes to enhance safety on college campuses. Legislation approved by Senate committees this week includes: License plates (HB 946) Creates NASCAR-themed license plates. Sex offenders (HB 1998) Requires the State Police to create a database for sex offenders whose whereabouts are unknown because they either failed to register as required or gave false address information. Identity protection (HB 5586) Requires the county recorder to remove from his or her Web site an individual's personal information, if requested. Automobile accidents (HB 5907) Requires that drivers in accidents claiming more than $1,500 worth of damage must forward a written accident report to IDOT. Capitol ReportBy Jim Sacia, State Representative.89th DistrictGas prices: no one can ignore them and it's safe to say they are wreaking havoc in this great country and throughout the world. Visiting with a gentleman from England at a local Rotary meeting last Monday I learned that gas prices in his country have reached $10.00 per gallon. Now that we are paying close to $4.00 per gallon here in Illinois, let's take a look at our situation and see where the money goes. With crude oil futures trading at more than $110.00 per barrel, that translates to $2.63 for a gallon of crude oil. Refining costs, transportation and private sector profits add on an additional 66 cents. Federal motor fuel taxes then add just over 18 cents. Environmental fees add another penny per gallon. State sales taxes at 6.25% (5% state, 1.25 % local) add almost 22 cents per gallon. The state motor fuel tax, which is supposed to help fund our roads, adds another 19 cents per gallon. Additional local sales taxes vary by area. In Cook County, for example, they add another 11 cents per gallon. It all adds up to the price we pay at the pump. It's hard to believe that in 2002 we were paying less than $1.50 per gallon for gas. One has to ask the question: When will this runaway train stop? I don't have that answer. It may take consulting a crystal ball to even make a guess. It is obvious though that increasing world demand, especially from China, reduced refining capabilities due to environmental concerns and OPEC's self-imposed production limits have certainly added to this crisis in the making. Let's take a closer look at the gasoline sales taxes collected here in Illinois. As we pay more for fuel, the state collects more in sales tax revenue. On $4.00 per gallon gas we pay 40 cents in state taxes. In Fiscal Year 2007 the state took in $598.1 million in revenues from gasoline sales taxes alone. The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA) projects that these revenues will increase by $120 million to $718.2 million in Fiscal Year 2008. I along with several of my House Republican colleagues am attempting to give motorists a "sales tax holiday" to reduce the price at the pump during the busy spring and summer driving months. In my opinion, that additional $120 million in tax revenue should be credited to you, the consumer by way of a 6-month sales tax holiday. So far, the Speaker has refused to call our legislation for a vote or even a discussion but we are going to keep trying. As a potential long-term solution, alternative energy continues to be our greatest asset. American ingenuity never ceases to amaze me. There are so many alternatives on the horizon. Certainly ethanol production utilizing different grasses in place of corn has tremendous promise. Bio-diesel using animal fats and other discarded greases as well as soy by-products also has much to offer. 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.
Go back to Prairie Advocate Home Page |