The Capitol Fax Blog » Honeymoon sunset?

Wednesday, Mar 25, 2009

* The state constitution is pretty limited on how it can be amended by popular referendum. So, this threat by Gov. Quinn to gather petitions to amend the constitution to require campaign donation limits is mostly empty rhetoric, but it won’t go unnoticed at the Statehouse…

“The Legislature should know that if they don’t pass sufficient reforms to clean up politics, this governor — and, I think, the people at large — will take matters into their own hands,” Quinn said in an exclusive interview with the Post-Dispatch.

Quinn predicted that “a ‘clean-government’ constitutional amendment” limiting campaign contributions would be “enthusiastically received by the public” in the wake of ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s ouster in January for alleged corruption. […]

“Until May 31 (the end of the regular legislative session), the ball’s in the legislative court,” Quinn said. “If on that day … we come up with something that’s insufficient … then, in the summer, fall, we’ll have to go to the people. And I think legislators should all be aware of that. I’m not here to run in place.”

The response…

Madigan spokesman Steve Brown on Tuesday noted that contribution limits are still under consideration by the committee, but he also reiterated the concerns. “Can you show me an instance where limits have turned a crook into an honest man?” Brown asked.

Ironically enough, Quinn was in Collinsville for a fundraiser to retire old debt from his 1996 US Senate campaign.

* Meanwhile, this story doesn’t go into the angle, but several legislators are quite upset about these closures…

A decision by the Illinois Department of Human Services to close its longstanding office here in the seat of tiny Stark County has provoked shock and outrage from city and county officials.

“It is disappointing that the state of Illinois makes these types of decisions that affect taxpayers without any consultation from the local communities that this office serves,” said Toulon Mayor Kyle Ham. “With this decision, the entire county will be without essential services for those who need it the most.”

Numerous downstate office are on the chopping block.

* And Gov. Quinn’s proposed sales tax expansion is starting to gain more notice…

Illinoisans suffering from dry, flaky scalps and chafing rashes could soon find themselves paying a bit more for shampoos and lotions on store shelves touting relief.

Drinks like iced tea and Starbucks beverages found in stores could cost more, too.

It’s part of Gov. Pat Quinn’s proposed overhaul of state sales tax laws that impose a 1 percent rate on shampoos and other hygiene products promising to provide relief, while similar products are hit with the full 6.25 percent state sales tax.

* As are his proposed DNR fees…

If paying a little extra is necessary to keep the park open, Davis said he would be willing to purchase a season pass but thought $5 per car was too expensive.

* And this Blagojevich-style response probably won’t go over too well…

A dozen officials at the Illinois Department of Transportation got raises averaging $6,000 a year during the waning days of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s administration, even as the state drowned in debt, The Associated Press found.

The raises - the largest amounting to an 11.5 percent increase, or nearly $10,000 - came on top of a routine cost-of-living boost most IDOT employees received Jan. 1. They took effect Jan. 16, two weeks before new Gov. Pat Quinn replaced Blagojevich, who was thrown out of office amid corruption allegations.

IDOT spokeswoman Marisa Kollias said the raises were necessary to keep “seasoned management and staff” on board. The agency’s personnel chief and director of finance and administration were among the managers who got the extra money.

IDOT officials initially denied anyone at the agency had received a bonus. Then the agency wouldn’t comment, saying Quinn’s office was handling all salary matters.

* Related…

* House passess bill to prevent appointing big donors to state boards

* State falls behind on its CWLP bill

* Ralph Martire: Quinn has allies in fight to reform tax structure

* Will the “cutting committee” cut much?

* State Capitol Q&A: Quinn’s first budget proposes bold cuts

* Quinn Pitches Plan To Make State Pay Its Bills

* Editorial — Time to pay up

* Illinois Jobs in Jeopardy if Tax Hike Used to Camouflage Spending Problem

* WIU hopeful, but prepared for Illinois budget

- posted by Rich Miller

49 Comments

- Quinn T. Sential - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 9:49 am:
{“Can you show me an instance where limits have turned a crook into an honest man?”}

Isn’t this the same argument that people make when opposing gun control legislation in Springfield? Should only the criminals be allowed to carry guns?

Can you show me an instance where; in the absence of regulation, a dishonest man has been otherwise impeded from under-taking dishonest schemes?

Can you show me an instance where a legislator consistently votes in direct opposition to legislation supported and advanced by their largest campaign contributors?

- tubbfan - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 9:50 am:
You’ve got the wrong quote from the Pantagraph story about the possibility of DNR fees:

“(Quinn) can go to hell. This is my park,” Bush said Monday.

Much more apropos

- Rufus - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 9:52 am:
“Can you show me an instance where limits have turned a crook into an honest man?” Brown asked.

My question to Mr. Brown would be “…and how many crooks in the Legislature are there?”

- Cassandra - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 9:54 am:
In order to know if the IDOT bonuses were reasonable we would need to know who got them and why. Were these highly trained, certified engineers whose expertise was needed in light of not only current projects as wellas an upcoming capital bill. Or were they political hacks whom our Blago wanted to reward for their loyalty (past and future) before his hasty departure. I guess we’ll never know unless there is an inspector general or similar investigation.

And how many other bonuses and other forms of state salary hanky panky went on in state government (and are still going on). Probably, quite a lot. State officials and employees for the most part still don’t seem to quite get it with respect to the fiscal crisis. They believe they are eternally entitled regardless of their economic surroundings. And Quinn’s 1% “cuts” seem suspiciously vague. Have any of them actually happened, as he claims? What are they exactly.

As to the DHS office closings….seems hard to believe this troubled agency is actually doing something right. Downstaters need to get with the 21st century and start using the internet to do
government business. Physical office settings are increasingly unnecessary…and far too expensive to maintain. If you want to see a state office person somewhere, get a video hookup. They’re cheap.

- Six Degrees of Separation - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 10:00 am:
The IDOT BonusGate story will surely bring a few howls of public protest, as many equate a few thousand dollar bonus to a public employee with hundred thousand dollar bonuses provided to the banking industry courtesy of the taxpayer bailout.

However, IDOT is a funny place compared to other state agencies. You see a lot of talented people quitting to take jobs in the private sector, but you hardly ever see the reverse, even in this economy.

Still, Quinn should take a good look at who got what, and separate the Kurt Granberg-style Blago parachutes from the earned raises, if any.

- Suzanne - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 10:00 am:
Brown asked “Can you show me an instance where limits have turned a crook into an honest man?”

The more interesting question may be why an honest man would eschew limits.

- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 10:01 am:
OK - so Quinn understands that to stomach his tax increases, voters need to see a better government. At least he understands.

Now the Democrats have to decide if they really want to do something to improve Illinois government before demanding more money from Illinoians. If they want Quinn elected next year, they will. If they want Quinn to lose next year, they will continue down the path they are currently using. Increased taxes without demonstrating an improved state government may resurrect a mortibund GOP next year. (Please note - I said may.)

Now for those who believe that Michael Madigan is only focused on seating his daughter in the governor’s chair next year, any foot dragging from Madigan’s office regarding Quinn’s reform plan could be understandably viewed as political sabotage. Madigan has to support Quinn, but Brown’s comments don’t show it.

- Lynn S - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 10:18 am:
Why would an honest man eschew limits? Because money is the mother’s milk of politics.

I’m not certain where Cassandra lives, but I’m in Champaign, and I can tell you there are many rural communities around here that don’t have broadband, or if they don’t it’s outreageously expensive, so how are you going to do a video link? And what about the families who don’t have a home computer and can’t afford internet in the little town of 500 or 1000 that they live in? What about families living in the country (not even in a village or town) who only get dial-up?

The DHS office in Ford County is one of those on the chopping block, and folks are very upset. If this happens, some families will have to drive 50+ miles to the DHS office in Champaign to transact business. (Why they can’t be transferred to an office that’s closer to them, I don’t know.) I noticed that gas here this morning was up to $2.09/gal., and I guarantee it’s even more than that in a town like Cabery (assuming Cabery still even has a gas station!).

- wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 10:32 am:
A $25 annual fee for Illinois parks is a bargain. That’s a trip to McDonald’s for a family of four. Pack a picnic instead and go enjoy some good, clean, outdoor fun for the entire family.

I get Wisconsin and Michigan state parks plus Brookfield Zoo annual passes every year. Best investments you can make. Once you have them, you’re motivated to get out and use them. Two, three visits a year and they’re paid for.

But the state has to hold up its end. Keep the parks open and well-maintained. Good for the local businesses, too.

- Suzanne - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 10:33 am:
Lynn, all mother’s wean their babies at some point.

- Suzanne - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 10:34 am:
…but using apostrophes properly? Not as frequently ;-)

- Bill - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 10:41 am:
==Madigan has to support Quinn==

LOL

- Ford County - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 10:44 am:
(assuming Cabery still even has a gas station!)

Nope. There’s a Casey’s in Cullom and Herscher, and Meier Oil in Kempton.

- BigDog - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 10:45 am:
Cassandra - read the linked article and it names some of the IDOT people and their titles & salaries.

- Cassandra - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 10:51 am:
My point is that it really isn’t necessary to see the state employee who is brokering one’s access to state benefits. If you are eligible for TANF, food stamps, Medicaid, Medicare, whatever, you should be able to apply for these benefits online or via a hotline plus online. However, if folks need the comfort of seeing a human face while they apply for government benefits, it would be far cheaper for the government to supply video hookups at a number of locations than to maintain expensive state office buildings with associated costs–rents for buildings not owned, maintenance costs, security, heat, electricity.

If we are indeed in a state fiscal crisis, we need to find more effective ways to get govt benefits to folks who need them–ways that free up monies
for the benefits themselves…not for politically connected landlords.

- Reality is - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 10:56 am:
Of course you can do those things Cassandra. But the savings will be offset if not surpassed by the cost of creating, supporting, maintaining and upgrading such systems. Also, you would also have to host those “video hookups” in some building that would have a waiting room, heating, electricity, security, etc ;)

- More Giveaways - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 10:58 am:
Wouldn’t the IDOT Finance and Adminitration person actually work under Filan, who was Blagojevich’s budget person, and is “still working” for Quinn? Filan was in charge when these bonuses and cost of living raises were approved and now he is the one who helped draft Quinn’s proposed budget which asks state employees to take four days off without pay and contibute more towards their pensions. Quinn & his new IDOT director better take a closer look at what is going on in that agency. Someone in authority had to okay these hefty increases. It is time to find out who, how and when this was approved!

- Whose in Charge? - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 11:08 am:
Quinn’s office knew about the IDOT salary increases six weeks ago and Quinn just commented Tuesday? Sounds like another AIG.

- Ms Port Belly Mushroom - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 11:12 am:
More Giveaways–

Milt Sees is gone. They–meaning Rod’s ragtag political operatives–were probably anticipating that and figured they could blame Sees but still hand out the money for the campaign help. Pretty Blagojevich-like strategy.

- Princess - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 11:41 am:
Cassandra, as seems usual, you are rattling about an area you know nothing or little about. Stark County is a dinky little nowhere area that does not have all those wonderful little things you speak of at their disposal. While I would agree that they could close the office for driver’s license which is in Wyoming as people who can drive can run over to Kewanee, or into Peoria. But I hate to see them close the HS office. Your solutions don’t really cut it as many of these poorer citizens don’t have computers and their libraries in both Toulon and Wyoming are a joke. They can’t just jump a computer and getting to Kewanee is not always easy for some of them. No it is not real far, but there are those that do not drive, can’t drive for whatever reason, and there is no public transportation gonna get them there. As I already stated, I’d rather they look into another type of office to shutter. Or maybe I go go along with the HS office being open less days/hours a week out in Toulon and sharing employees with Henry County or at least have days where transportation came around and hauled the citizens with the need into Kewanee to their offices with stops n pick-ups at the bigger library for computer use. One can’t just shut it down without giving some real thought to what happens when it is gone.

- 2ConfusedCrew - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 12:46 pm:
1. Did any notice Rep. Pumpkin Head hovering around the Metro east funder?
2. Rufus I think the record shows most jsil bsit is exec branch not in the legislature.
3. Glenn Poshard tried limits, not zero credit from public or media and got banged everytime the media could weave a story looking like a “violation”
History tells the honest person to take a pass on limits.

- curly - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 12:49 pm:
Brown asked “Can you show me an instance where limits have turned a crook into an honest man?”

It’s “person”, Steve, not “man”.

This little hint tells us the Madigan team is leaning in the direction of maintaining the status quo regarding campaign finance reform. Otherwise, why say anything other than “it’s under consideration”?

And why shouldn’t they want to maintain the status quo–they’ve earned a veto proof majority and control of statewide Democratic fundraising through their hard work, it’s f—– golden, and they don’t want to give it up for nothing.

Limits will help keep all persons, honest and dishonest, from simply buying their way into the office in the first place. New campaign skills and tactics will emerge to replace paid advertising. The reputation and ideas of the candidates will become more critical to their success.

- Reddbyrd - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 12:50 pm:
One of Brown’s better lines since being forced into muffledom following the Blagoof “highjacking”

- steve schnorf - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 1:11 pm:
Too many fools continue to think we should get out of this mess painlessly, or at least painlessly to them. Good luck! It can be tax increases or it can be cuts, or it can be both, but it ain’t gonna be painless.

- Ghost - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 1:30 pm:
Cassandra consider this, it is easier for DHS to detect fraud i it has a field presence and is able to ientify actual people behind certain claims. the more aoutonmous and removed the provision of benefits becomes, the easier it is to make fraudulen claims under identities that do not exist.

As for Steve Schnorf… you bet, but you ain gona get there with cuts. it is a romantic notion that we can put even a small dent in this with cuts to what blago left. The only way out of the debt problem is revenue; raising that revenue is going to be painful. The real question is in what different ways are we going to raise this revenue.

- steve schnorf - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 1:44 pm:
Ghost, there are cuts that can and should be made. PQ identified some of them in his budget. We may even have to make cuts that shouldn’t be made. At that point, I agree with you, we aren’t going to solve this problem with cuts alone.

- Princess - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 1:46 pm:
Well Steve Schnorf “Too many fools continue to think we should get out of this mess painlessly, or at least painlessly to them. Good luck! It can be tax increases or it can be cuts, or it can be both, but it ain’t gonna be painless”–I hope I was not the ‘fool’ you are refering to. I was serious in the suggestions I made and they are not foolish suggestions. Do you not think it makes more sense to ax an office concerning citizens that can drive over citizens that are down and out and really need a close office? Makes more sense to me to have regional SOS offices than HS offices. One is more painful to a select few than the other. Cuts are one thing, but I have little respect for decisions made from a far off office somewhere just looking at figures on paper without also looking at the small details. Transportation in small rural areas is an issue that should not be overlooked without finding a way to deal with the situation.

- steve schnorf - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 2:05 pm:
Princess, I was not referring to you specifically, BUT if you list all the things someone believes shouldn’t be cut, you are left with nothing at all to cut. I have no idea whether the Stark County DHS office should be closed, but some things, somewhere, are going to need to close.

- Princess - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 2:26 pm:
I did offer other suggestions in the way of cuts. Rotating days at offices in outlaying areas for HS and/or cutting back on number of SOS offices. Maybe what we can’t do is look at only one agency at a time but at savings overall and then adjusting the funding.

- Not Just IDOT - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 2:33 pm:
IDNR also gave huge raises to Senior Public Service Administrators. Governor Quinn add this agency to your list along with IDOT for checking into what is going on with taxpayer money. We need to stop this before raising state income taxes. Quinn do your homework first before passing budget.

- dupage dan - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 3:08 pm:
We in Illinois have long lived with the many counties (102) that dot our wonderful landscape. If we compare to a nearby state (Wisconsin - 72) or a comparable rural/urban state (Pennsylvania - 67) or the most populous state (California - 58) we see that Illinois has way more counties. Divide that further into townships that hold sway in Illinois resulting in more layers of gov’t than any other state and you see how “state” taxes may seem low but, with all these other taxing bodies the “statewide” tax burden is higher than we are led to believe. Now, no county wants to lose their services. But, the fact is that some of these rural offices have fixed costs that are high enough that it is hard to justify the keeping them open. If we cut the # of counties in the state by 1/3, we could realize some cost savings on the gov’t side but the citizens would have to travel farther to get some face time with a state employee. Like the 3 other states I mentioned. Reality sets in folks, things are changing - gotta roll with the punches.

- Idoter - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 3:41 pm:
The dir of finance at idot got one of the raises as did her chief of personnel doubet, these two are the two who would push for raises for anyone especially those in upper management and would both have to sign something to get these approved and processed i think if you check they also got substantial one time bonusees in the previous year to the tune of $6000 each, in addition IDOT has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars defending a lawsuit that the chief of personnel is involved in. all facts folks its time this group is gone

- Cassandra - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 4:26 pm:
But Ghost, Social Security is moving to an online application system and you can apply for Medicare online as well. If the feds can develop secure systems, state systems should be able to replicate them as well. In-person applications can also be fraudulent.

I’m not saying that closing rural offices is
necessarily the priority; there is even less of an excuse for the welfare, food stamp, unemployment etc offices dotted around Cook and the collars. A 21st century city and its environs should be able to handle pretty much all requests for financial benefits online or via videoconferencing. I’m convinced that this is the future.

- Ghost - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 4:30 pm:
it is interesting to see the outcry over management raises. The current union contract allows for 4.5% step increases each year PLUS that 15.7% cola increase over 4 years. This comes out to a roughly 8% per year increase for union members.

- Belle - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 4:51 pm:
It ain’t really the amount, it’s the secrecy surrounding where the money comes from. We have the technology, we can let sunshine in, no more ‘gift card’ contributions, no more annonymous contributions, everything recorded and published for all to see…that is what i think it will take.

- Old Timer - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 4:58 pm:
Director’s of personnel are a dime a dozen-it is not a valued position at IDOT. Doubet is nothing more than a political hack. It’s time to make all the names public and it’s time for the Governor to take a stand against this instead of constantly threatening the AFSCME, TEAMSTER and Merit Comp workers. I would bet that these infamous 12 are the same one’s that received thousands of dollars worth of bonuses a year ago. The only difference is this time, it’s spread out over a year. I, for one, could do a lot with an extra $500 a month!

- IDOT Guy - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 5:33 pm:
One thing most people don’t know, a majority if IDOT’s funding is from Federal Motor Fuel Tax, not the general fund, so these raises don’t have much effect on the states bottom line. And before some asks about how many more roads can be fixed/built with that money, they need to get CMS out of the picture, because they “charge” IDOT a incredible amount of money for things IDOT did themselves previously, and “launder” that money to the general fund to be used for stuff other than the roads it was intended for.

- Fairness - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 5:41 pm:
IDOT non-union employees were told there would not be any raises or bonus, only to find out F&A was keeping the money for itself. These are not essential seasoned engineers but Blago political hacks. Seems like IDOT employees were told the same thing last year. Time to show someone the door.

- Anon again - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 5:54 pm:
To fairness these are the exact same people who got the large $6000 bonus payout 1 year ago. Fix it Quinn it stinks get rid of the problems its been to long

- Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 6:33 pm:
IDOT Guy wrote:
“One thing most people don’t know, a majority if IDOT’s funding is from Federal Motor Fuel Tax, not the general fund, so these raises don’t have much effect on the states bottom line.”

Sorry Chief, a majority of IDOT’s funding is from STATE Road Fund Tax Revenues, and the Road Fund has been ho’d out like crazy over the past six years to pay for everything from pension bonds to Governor Office Staff. These raises may be chump change to the State’s bottom line, but the symbolic value is huge, and that’s why Secretary Hannig needs to requisition a large broom and start sweeping, starting with D-Bag Doubet.

- Shaft - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 6:44 pm:
The Illinois IDOT jobs are nothing but mere political kick back jobs for who ever is in power. We cannot stop them from giving raises while they tax our pants off. These people smear their political pay raises in the faces of the working class state workers when the working class are forced to take furlough days. Join the team, become politically connected and contact your local state senator to obtain and IDOT job or bogus contract. You can then sit at the top, look down and spit on the tax payers and laugh because nothing can or will be done, this is Illinois. Don’t like it….move.

- Lynn S - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 6:45 pm:
You may be right about the future, Cassandra, but I can’t help but notice that you have not answered the question about where you live now. I’m not asking for a street address, but a town, or even an area (like Chicagoland or Metro East or Quad Cities), would be nice. It would give us an idea as to what level of internet service you can expect on a daily basis, and how your reality compares to those families living in the more rural parts of our state.

I will also agree about the tremendous number of local government units we have, but if you look at the size of some of those CA counties you’ll find you can easily fit 2 or 3 (or sometimes even 4)IL counties in them. IL to CA may truly be an apples to oranges comparison.

I think Princess truly does offer some good suggestions for cutting back on the cost of delivering services to residents in some of our rural areas, without making it exceedingly difficult for those residents to access the services they may be legally entitled to.

And Steve Schnorf, aren’t you originally from Charleston? (I grew up near Effingham myself.)

- Anon again - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 6:58 pm:
Arthur A i second that D bag and add a dbag stout who have both probably now cost the state around $1,000,000 in legal fees

- ICC - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 7:30 pm:
Idoter is right on. I have a memo from August 1, 2001 from a director. The finance people have found ways to give themselves and a circle of friends raises. They hated Blago! Bonuses are obscene in state government I was shocked when I saw the proof. We joined the union BECAUSE of the “circle of friends” found a way to skim off anything extra and give it to themselves. Merit comp was intended for management yet agencies have found ways to bring in frontline people and pay them less than union people. It isnt right. I was making 30,000 a year doing what I do and union people were making 50,000. THAT isn’t why I joined. It is because I was told by TWO supervisors my review was changed so I wouldn’t receive anymore than required. Our budget for my area has never went down only up. My director was married to a fiscal officer (very romantic story. He was an auditor and ended up Director of IT, anyway..) The money we lost from 5 employees that left was well over 200,000. The frontline picked up the slack but the director got a raise. ALSO his fiscally connected wife’s titles changed every year to look like a “promotion”. Her duties never changed. The memo in my possession flat out says from the agency director at the time:
“As you know, in the past we have allowed the hire of adiitional employees without a specific vacancy. This practice allowed us to ride the float blah bla blah.”

“Salary increases need not necessarily be directly tied to the categories of exceptional, accomplished, etc.”

There is more. My point is this isnt a NEW Blago thing. Quinn needs to start at fiscal and check IT systems as well, FOIA doesn’t show their bonuses and yes, there are many. That’s why they do it. This isn’t made up. I have access to the resources. I assume Quinn can also find those resources. We state employees shouldn’t be fighting with each other. It seems to me Merit Comp people that can be screwed are and union people are hated because of it. I joined the union for many reasons financial was a nice little addition. There is no skimming off frontline pay now that my section is union. They have to fight over what is left now - after my contract is considered. No, the union isnt perfect BUT I certainly feel like I am being treated more fairly. I think all agency heads have found ways to line their poickets whether we are union or not so PLEASE let’s not makes this a merit comp vs. union thing, I was both and I see both sides. WE ARE BOTH RIGHT!

- Anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 7:47 pm:
Shouldn’t we first fix pay-to-play (kickback) corruption in Illinois before spreading around $26B on capital projects?

Ending campaign donations from public contractors within 5 years (before or after) of a contract would cut the greed and restore a measure of credibility to our politicians and Illinois’ damaged reputation.

- grategul - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 7:57 pm:
I am so sorry for the Hard working IDOT

Engineers and Technicians

The Real Life Blood of a Once Great
Agency!!!

They Have been Persecuted and abused!!!

Mr. Gary H. New Sec. of Trans.

He will bring Justice Soon !!!!

- Hack Slacker - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 9:12 pm:
When does the fumigation start that PQ promised?

- MikeintheSuburbs - Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 9:14 pm:
I don’t see where the state constitution allows a referendum to restrict election financing. The relevant article (XIV) limits such questions to “structural and procedural subjects contained in Article IV ” (Legislature). There is nothing in Article IV about campaign financing. Good luck with that Pat.

- steve schnorf - Thursday, Mar 26, 09 @ 12:25 am:
Well, there aren’t too many Steve Schnorfs around, so I suppose I’m the one from Charleston.

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