The Capitol Fax Blog » House votes to ban guv’s billboards

Friday, May 16, 2008

* This bill is probably not going anywhere in the Senate, but it’s still a good idea…

Two years after motorists complained about the cost of big blue tollway signs displaying Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s name, the House approved legislation Thursday that would ban the governor and other officials from putting their names on billboards aimed at promoting state programs. […]

[Rep. Elizabeth Coulson’a] bill would broaden an ethics law Blagojevich pushed in 2003 that bans state officials and lawmakers from appearing in public-service announcements on television, radio and in print media.

* There was one “No” vote…

Blagojevich’s aides have explained their belief that the signs are part of the governor’s duties, merely informational about the new tollway systems and do not violate the law.

One lawmaker — Chicago Democrat Kenneth Dunkin - agreed.

Dunkin said Thursday the public should know what elected officials are accomplishing and saw no problem with the Blagojevich tollway billboards. He described the proposed prohibition as a “vendetta toward one particular individual.”

* You can listen to Rep. Dunkin’s comments to reporters by clicking this link.

Thoughts?

- posted by Rich Miller

42 Comments

- Rich Miller - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 2:46 am:
Just a warning: Any racist crud posted in comments about Dunkin will result in a lifetime ban. If you think what you’re writing may be over the line, then it most likely is. Don’t do it. There will be no leniency.

- Leroy - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 6:40 am:
I agree with Dunkin. This is kind of hypocritical.

Chicago is still going to be ‘City of Chicago, Richard M Daley Mayor’ on every sign, Stroger Hospital is still going to be called Stroger Hospital, every state web site is still going to have some politician’s smiling mug as the top banner, my driver’s license is still going to have Jesse White’s name on it needlessly….etc

But I guess by passing this law, the lawmakers are showing they *really* do care about this issue…sigh.

- What a joke - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 7:27 am:
Okay, how about a mental comment? Dunkin is a farce who repeatedly sells out the interests of his own district to suck up to who knows who. He casts votes that make zero sense either logically or politically, (yesterday being just the latest example, with him voting against a bill supported by his sponsor, Jesse White, in order to side with a guy that Jesse can’t stand), asks inane questions on bills that he knows nothing about, and almost seems hellbent on making sure that people understand that he’s clueless.

And let’s not forget about the 300K for the sparsely attended house music festival. Those were tax dollars well-spent.

When you want to know who the hell still could passionately defend a Governor spiraling down the drain, just look at Rep. Dunkin.

- For Rod: - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 7:40 am:
For Rod:

“Here’s your sign”.

- Princeville - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 7:43 am:
$500,000 seems to my humble opinion to be a large chunk of tax dollars to inform the public and promote accomplishments. “Open Road Tolling Rod R Blagojevich Governor” , they could not do this in a press release? I’m sure they did , so why the overkill? How many zooming by actually read the billboards anyway? Priorities is a word we hear a lot of late, I don’t feel , as a John Q Public that signs tooting ‘look what I’ve done’ should be a priority. My opinion has nothing to do with what I think of or don’t think of Blagojevich, I really don’t see the money spent was a prioritized necessity.

- Excessively rabid - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 8:15 am:
I don’t like any of the constitutional officers putting their name on anything that costs tax dollars to change when they leave. But then I don’t like much of anything they do to sound important. And there is no such thing in this state as a Deputy Governor.

- Ghost - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 8:30 am:
This should be banned. These are nothing but political adds for incumbants. ALos look at the all kids program which gave backpacks, pencils and other items to school kids, with tax payer money, with the gov’s name on it under the ruse of promoting the program.

No State dollars should be spens plastering lected officials names on signs (cept their office) etc. This is just done to get their name out for the elcection.

Dunkins explanation shows the very political purpose. Why does an elected official want people to know what they are doing? To get points and support for the next election. Let the campaign funds spend money advertising accomplishments, not tax payer dollars.

- Amuzing Myself - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 8:41 am:
It’s about freakin’ time! Great idea and great way to do it and make the case at the same time. It really is no different than George Ryan’s face all over the organ donor tv ads or Judy’s college savings programs. Good government policy. Too bad it’s unlikely to become law under these jokers.

- OneMan - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 8:55 am:
I can think of better ways to spend my tax money. When we get a new governor, how much is it going to cost to get Rods name off of those tollway signs.

It seems like they don’t put the name of the Cook County board president on the forest preserve signs anymore.

- M. Night - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 9:00 am:
The tollway signs are not just obnoxious, they are a lie. Open-Road Tolling was under way well before the first Blago administration. Like most things the governor likes to take credit for, other hardworking people had been laying the groundwork on these things, for sometimes years, only to have him come in at the last minute and try to take credit for it. Legislative strides in worker’s comp, overtime, minimum wage, and advancements in gay rights come to mind as projects that dem legislators in the senate worked long and hard to bring forward. It was the fact of Pate’s retirement and the change of majority in the Senate that finally uncorked the bottle and let these initiatives see daylight.

Rod didn’t have anything to do with these efforts, particularly in the hard times when it was uphill work - until it came time to sign the passed bills. Then he pats himself on the back in ginned-up PR displays for the persistence and vision to get this passed. His auto-pen could take about as much credit.

- Pot calling kettle - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 9:04 am:
It’s a budget thing (or should be). Why put up signs knowing that they might have to be taken down in less than 4 years just to take a name off?

The gov. complains about agency (fill in the blank) wasting money whenever he wants to shift some to his program of the week. Here is a perfect example of needless spending.

- VanillaMan - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 9:04 am:
I’ve had it with politicians piggy-backing on tax-payer funded informational signage. Maps too! This wasn’t a problem for decades until some twerp sold a governor on the possibility of free publicity as some kind of political benefit.

Honestly, when you look at old road maps and see an old photo of some guy who’s governor at the time the map was printed - it looks utterly ridiculous.

Enough. Blagojevich was definately one of the worst offenders of this kind of crap. His tollway signage is an insult to thinking people.

- wordslinger - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 9:10 am:
It’s obnoxious, no matter who it is — Daley, Stroger, etc. I truly believe a future candidate for governor could win a nice chunk of votes by promising to discontinue the practice.

- fedup dem - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 9:14 am:
I suspect Rep. Dunkin has just provided ample campaign fodder for his opposition in the 2010 Democratic Primary with his vote and his comments on this matter.

- Anon from BB - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 9:14 am:
The problem with this kind of signage is that it has an upfront cost and actually has an ongoing cost. When the political office changes hands, the state or county or municipality has to spend money to change all the signs that the former politic office holder had their name on.

- Dirt Guy - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 9:34 am:
Dunkin’s argument that when you enter a state the Governor’s name is on the sign is a poor example, especially here in Illinois. The “Welcome” signs have Blago’s name on them in a microscopic size. If you didn’t know what you were looking at you couldn’t read it. On the other hand the Open Road signs are so in your face it is distracting and tasteless.

- Far South of I 80 - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 9:38 am:
I’m not a Bladgo cheerleader but, this was an issue prior to the current administration. I question why do we have any governor’s name on any signs, buildings, etc.? Isn’t it another waste of taxpayer money to change signage every few years.

- The Rookie - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 9:38 am:
I think that Dunkin got it right! This is an attack on “ONE PARTICULAR” individual. If the public opinion of the Governor wasn’t so low, this law would never see the light of day. So now its a problem, Springfield???

Its kinda hypocritical if you ask me?

… and you did. :-)

- Napoleon has left the building - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 9:44 am:
Some states don’t even change the stationary or office doors when their constitutional officers change. They just say “office of the Governor, office of the Illinois Secretary of State” - I think that we should move towards that. It’s not the money, but the point. These offices, these jobs and these facilities do not belong to Rod Blagojevich and he didn’t pay for them - we did.

I agree with the House bill, I further think that all bodies of government, state or local, should be banned from naming facilities after current office holders. It is completely strange to me that John Stroger could name a facility after himself and approve the budget to build it. Same thing goes for the Thompson center.

Illinois elected officials are too drunk on power and too arrogant to realize that the citizens know what they do, and we don’t need to see their names on every building to be reminded of it.

- Cranky Old Man - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 9:53 am:
OneMan ==When we get a new governor, how much is it going to cost to get Rods name off of those tollway signs.==
I agree completely and have been asking that since this bagan. It’s a double hit…and it will only go up in cost as time passes.
Think of the amount of stationary that is thrown out when politicians change/leave office. Can’t it be generic and let the printer add the name? Just a thought.

- Take It Easy - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 10:02 am:
I loved those JBT DASH FOR CASH signs.

- SuperDave - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 10:04 am:
some of this can be traced back to complaints of George Ryan doing organ donor commercials (never mind the fact that Edgar did them as SoS- and frankly I think did them remarkably well to elevate the issue).

I also agree that seeing an old Governor’s picture on a highway map is probably something that needs to be corrected as well. There’s nothing inherently political or policy related to a friggin map. State government - particularly constitutional officers - have increasingly used the “brand” of their office on things that, frankly, should be marketed differently.

When the name of the office holder damages the integrity of the office itself, someone needs to be the grown up and say enough is enough. Little Rodney doesn’t need any more publicity. You would think by now he would know that sometimes its best if people don’t know your name.

It would be funny though to see one of the new tollway signs with “Rodney Blagojevich, a.k.a. Public Official A”… it would probably cost a state worker their job but it would almost be worth it.

- Reform & Renewal - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 10:14 am:
Those Blago signs have been on the tollway long enough………just like billboards they need to be changed to keep your attention…..so I recommend the following:

Send Blago a check— get a job!

Gov. Blagojevich— I raised your toll!

Gov. Blagojevich - No Reform No Renewal
Just higher tolls!

- Bill - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 10:55 am:
Thank you Rep. Dunkin or your courageous stand. The people of Illinois can always count on you to do the right thing. No one protested when it was any other governor. Now, all of a sudden it is a bad thing. I’m sure that the Senate will prove you right and kill this stupid bill.

- Carl Nyberg - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 10:59 am:
I bicycled down a main drag on the South Side a couple weeks and noticed Rep. Dunkin is a big fan of leaving his signs up.

Practically every abandoned building had a Dunkin sign on it.

- Huh? - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 11:00 am:
Instead of wasting time on legislation banning his billboards, why didn’t the House just ban Blago…?

- gray wolf - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 11:00 am:
how about using graffitti artists for this signage?-probably could do a facinating job on the gov’s complex name-and for little cost!-maybe even a contest-and it will also demonstrate a committed dedication to the visual arts

- phocion - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 11:00 am:
I don’t understand why you would need to give a warning like that with this one particular African American legislator. Regardless, Dunkin has been getting a fair share of negative publicity lately, a far cry from when he was the media darling for sponsoring the Hollywood tax breaks Rod wanted. Seems anyone who is on Blago’s side is going to feel the sting. And in the case of Dunkin and his miserable performance and silly antics, the bad press is overdue and well-deserved. And “what a joke” forgot to mention Dunkin’s masterpiece - giving the finger to the Illinois House following his induction into the Century Club. Yeah, Blago found a real winner to be his mouthpiece in the House. Just a piece of unsolicted advice to the Governor: your positions may be more defensible if those doing the defending are credible and respected.

- Rich Miller - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 11:02 am:
=== don’t understand why you would need to give a warning like that===

Because it’s happened before with him, and I have better things to do than delete moronic racist rants.

- He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 11:11 am:
I agree with the Ban. The roads, buildings etc do NOT belong to elected officials or Department Directors, they belong to the people of Illinois. It just cost the taxpayers money to put the names of elected officials on everything only to be thrown away or Repainted when that person is voted out of office, impeached, or leaves.

- Shallow Pharnyx - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 11:14 am:
When I worked for DHS Office of Internal Audit, I started looking in to how much it costs to remove Linda Baker’s name and add Carolyn Addams’ name to some of the many DHS offices. Back then it was between $60 and $85 bucks per office. Factor in rising costs and all of the new Directors, Constitutional officers, Governor, etc. and you can bet the state shells out way too much. Why can’t signs read Treasurer of Illinois, Illinois Secretary of State, Governor of Illinois, and for that matter the letterhead? They can sign their names and titles. Those that don’t know who the office holders are can look it up on the state’s website. Just think how much the state could save.

- Plutocrat03 - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 11:55 am:
I first became aware of the issue of politicians ‘owning’ their offices in the days of Paul Powell. he was such an institution that citizens were writing checks to Paul Powell rather than Secretary of State.

IMHO there should be no personalization of public signage. It is as easy to say the Citizens of Chicago Welcome You as well as Richard Daley welcomes you. There is never any cost to replace or refurbish the sign when the officeholder moves on.

I remember looking at the plaques installed on Hoover Dam with all the politicians and minions who pushed paper around were remembered. Nowhere on the dam was there anything honoring the individuals who gave their lives to have the project completed. I thought it was sad.

When I was an elected official, I worked to exclude having my (our) name(s) enshrined on projects. A dedication to the citizens was all I thought appropriate.

The ban is appropriate. It is sad that we need a law to make this kind of common sense policy work.

- GofGelnview - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 12:03 pm:
Maybe those that got the contracts from Rod the Gov to do the work should pay for the signs- uh wait, they have all those legal bills to cover…

- Excessively rabid - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 12:05 pm:
For once, this is not a problem that originated with the Current Non-Occupant. The constitutional officers have been publicizing their names at public expense for years. It would be great to finally put a stop to it. No need to single out Blag for special treatment (wait a minute…Welcome to Illinois - Blag!!!).

- M. Night - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 12:07 pm:
Take a look at some state agencies, the Director’s names should just be spelled out with magnetic letters, the turnover is so great.

- Gregor - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 12:09 pm:
I have a fundraising idea: auction off chances to REMOVE Blago’s name from a state building or sign of your choice.

Pension fund would be in the black in one year.

- been there - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 12:15 pm:
can’t do anything about stroger hospital because it’s named after john stroger, who’s deceased, but we certainly can and should get a state law to stop the use of any public or semipublic (as on driver’s licenses) display of names or photographs of people currently alive and in office that can be construed in any way as promoting them.

- anon - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 1:01 pm:
== can’t do anything about stroger hospital because it’s named after john stroger, who’s deceased, ==

If the Governor’s career is dead, maybe the sign should remain then.

- Captain America - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 1:12 pm:
I thnk a prospective ban on all this political self-promotion is good public policy. It should be applicable to all political officials in all jurisdictions, not just the Governor. It should apply to the Governor, The Secretary of State, the Mayor of Chicago and the Cook County Board President among others.

- Ghost - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 2:15 pm:
If this passes will they have to rename all the (Adalai) Stevenson drives?

- Disgusted - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 7:38 pm:
Those tollway signs ain’t got nothing on the state’s printed matter being sent to tax payers. His name appears 11 times in the All Kids application alone in various sizes but always larger than the print of the actual form. And that’s just one example. There are thousands more.

- Disgusted - Friday, May 16, 08 @ 7:57 pm:
“No one protested when it was any other governor.”

Bill, you’re dead wrong on this one. Every single state worker who has had anything to do with adding a governor’s (or any other elected official’s) name to anything temporary has complains constantly about the waste of time and money. Just ask any Kid Care worker about the thousands of state fair tote bags that couldn’t be used because George Ryan’s name was permanently affixed. They are languishing, well hidden, in some warehouse somewhere. State employees have suggested time and again not to add the politician’s names to signs, printing, maps, etc. and they are ALWAYS ignored.

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