Yesterday’s Crain’s story didn’t get much notice. Let’s try to remedy that today.
Greg Baise has a few ideas, some old, some new.
In a speech Tuesday that veered between outrage and tongue-in-cheek quips, Illinois Manufacturers’ Assn. President Greg Baise accused both Democrats and Republicans of playing politics and looking out for themselves, rather than focusing on substantive issues, such as the loss of high-paying factory jobs and soaring deficits in the state budget. […]
Mr. Baise, a one-time GOP candidate for state treasurer, proposed that Illinois junk its current system of electing one state representative from each district and return to a system it used until the 1970s of electing three state representatives from each, larger district — no more than two of them from any one political party. Mr. Baise said that would weaken the ability of a handful of legislative leaders to monopolize the legislative agenda.
Mr. Baise also proposed that the General Assembly meet no more than 60 days a year and that its members lose their state pensions and have their salaries cut by two-thirds. Returning to the days of “part-time†lawmakers would allow more “civilians†to hold office, he said.
Mr. Baise also proposed that all local governments with the exception of counties, cities and school districts hold a referendum asking taxpayers if they should be abolished. The state has far too many levels of government, which waste far too much money, he argued.
I’m not sure that the pension/pay stuff will play well with all those legislators his group lobbies. And if anyone thinks that Mike Madigan wouldn’t have found a way to dominate the Illinois House if Pat Quinn’s ill-considered Cutback Amendment had failed, they’ve got another thing coming. But you gotta do what you gotta do, I suppose.
Don’t get me wrong, I favor repealing the Cutback Amendment and reverting to the old system. Even with MJM around, there are plenty of benefits. And he can’t be Speaker forever, can he? Can he?