* Carol Marin begins her latest column by “thanking” the state’s powers that be for uniting divergent groups on behalf of a constitutional convention…
The reason that we should salute Rod Blagojevich, Mike Madigan and Emil Jones, our fearless Democratic leaders, is that their toxic, ego-driven, Bermuda triangle of a relationship has so poisoned Springfield, so paralyzed the General Assembly, that the citizens of this state who’ve been forced to watch their antics like endless episodes of “Days of Our Lives” are desperate to fight back.
We have a former governor in federal prison, a current governor under federal investigation, and thanks to Jones’ Senate deep-sixing what Madigan’s House passed, no mechanism for a recall of officeholders.
So, suddenly, a Con-Con has sex appeal.
In the end, however, Marin sides with Dawn Clark Netsch, who opposes the convention…
Like Netsch, I believe that a Con-Con this time around will become a battleground for social issues, shoving aside less flashy but urgent discussions of fiscal policy and education.
Like Netsch, I believe the biggest problem we have right now isn’t the Constitution but the people we’ve put in power.
And so like Netsch, I’m going to say no to Con-Con.
Personally, I think the convention as social issue battleground is overrated. So what if that happens? The General Assembly rarely has a “real” debate on any of these issues, so why can’t citizens do it themselves? Is a debate so bad? And, don’t forget, Illinois voters have the final say on the finished product.
Also, as I’ve pointed out numerous times before, the problem with saying we should just elect new people isn’t valid because 1) legislators choose their voters, not the other way around; and 2) the power of the leaders is so intense and complete that new members don’t have an impact. Look at what happened in 1994 if you want proof. The House Republicans found themselves with 13 new GOP members. The same leadership team stayed in place and it rammed its agenda through both chambers. Two years later, many of the newcomer Republicans were swept out of office by Democrats, and things didn’t change in that leadership team either.
Dawn Clark Netsch is a fine human being who has done much for her state. But her direct, daily experience with Illinois government ended with her loss to Jim Edgar back in 1994 - a dozen years ago. You have to really see this beast up close to get a good idea of what’s going on. Netsch is not a credible witness.
* Then again, there are serious questions about people on both sides of this issue…
Then [Rep. Mike Boland], who is seeking his seventh two-year term in the Illinois House, called for term limits. And, as an added starter, he resurrected his long dormant proposal to make the Illinois General Assembly a one-chamber “unicameral” legislature by either eliminating the House or Senate.
A unicameral legislature, such as the one employed by Nebraska, would ensure “we don’t have this kind of personality clashes that hold up progress in our state,” Boland said. […]
What Boland didn’t say was whether he would prefer to eliminate the House, of which he is a member, and keep the Illinois Senate.
Oy.
* Meanwhile, the Tribune editorializes again today on behalf of a quick and fair resolution to serious problems with the con-con ballot question. The Trib wants the IL Supreme Court to step in and accept an expedited appeal…
• The people of Illinois are entitled to have their say on a constitutional convention free of the obstacles that schemers have tried to put in their way.
• As is, citizens risk having this vote voided after Nov. 4 when a court rules that it was just too convoluted. That could mean holding another election. What a waste.
Justices, please get involved. You have the power to do the best you can with circumstances not of your making—and not of the plaintiffs’ making. We clearly don’t agree with all of Judge Howse’s thoughts, but he had the courage to put the pure interests of voters first, and the procedural problems of election officials second.
Good for him. We trust you’ll show the same courage. Justices, block this fraud.
* Related…
* Constitutional convention supporters hold rally
* Illinois voters have chance to change constitution