* This is what budget cuts look like…
The Chicago Police Department may be forced to assume primary responsibility for patrolling 53 miles of Chicago area expressways — at a time when police manpower is woefully short — under Gov. Quinn’s proposal to slash the State Police budget and lay off 464 state troopers.
State Police have had exclusive control over Chicago area expressways since 1985. In 2001, Chicago Police joined forces with the State Police to help enforce traffic laws on the Eisenhower, Dan Ryan, Stevenson, Kennedy, Edens spur and Bishop Ford to curb rampant speeding.
Now, Quinn’s sweeping budget cuts are threatening to shift the entire burden to Chicago as early as July 1 — and it couldn’t come at a more difficult time. The Chicago Police Department is 700 officers short of its authorized strength and more than 2,100 officers short each day, counting those on medical rolls and limited duty.
And this…
With expected retirements, the layoffs will reduce the number of sworn state troopers by about 600, or 30 percent, Monken said. The force currently has a little over 2,000 troopers.
The five offices are those in Litchfield, Carmi, Pecatonica, Macomb and Des Plaines. State Police have 22 offices now.
“There will be significant consequences to public safety,” Monken warned.
“We expect an increase in traffic fatalities, increased exposure to terrorist threats in Illinois, an increase in gun and drug trafficking, in addition to the loss of an estimated $12 million in citation revenue for counties across the state,” he said.
And this…
Specialty units would be hit hard by the cuts. The Statewide Terrorism Intelligence Center would lose more than half of its officers, and Monken said the State Police’s methamphetamine response team would be “all but eliminated.”
“Investigations will get hit pretty hard when we send people to the Illinois Gaming Board. Those are investigators that go over,” he said.
And while the governor’s office claims this is unrelated to the budget, it most likely is. Gov. Quinn wouldn’t even think about dinging veterans if budget times were good…
The cost to stay in one of the state’s four nursing homes for veterans could jump by as much as 45 percent under a plan being pushed by the Quinn administration.
Quinn, who made veterans a priority during his tenure as lieutenant governor, has asked lawmakers to approve a $400 per month increase in the maintenance fee for veterans’ home residents.
Now, you could say that the proposed $32 million cut to the State Police budget and the increased rate for veterans are just more scare tactics by the governor. Cut schools, cut the coppers, cut the vets. Create panic.
Then again, the state is deeply in the red. The governor’s proposed $2+ billion in cuts would have to be tripled to erase the current structural deficit. And then there’s that projected $6+ billion in past due bills that the state can’t afford to pay and will roll over into Fiscal Year 2012.
You can’t just cut “fat” and make the numbers work by magic. You have to cut muscle and bone.
* Meanwhile, the AP crafts a lede for maximum impact…
A top contender for Gov. Pat Quinn’s running mate job said Tuesday that Quinn has failed to make the case that raising taxes is the only way to solve Illinois’ budget crisis, potentially undercutting the governor on his signature issue.
Sen. Susan Garrett said if the state cuts unnecessary spending and reduces pension costs she would be willing to consider Quinn’s proposal for higher taxes.
“But we’re not ready to do that yet. The message hasn’t been articulated to the general public,” the Lake Forest Democrat told reporters.
I don’t think she was nearly as harsh on Quinn as the lede implies (watch the video if you missed it yesterday). She never specifically blamed Quinn for not articulating the message, using “we” over and over again. But this sort of story was easily predictable.
The Illinois GOP e-mailed the article to its press list earlier this morning. They’re clearly happy with the result. Expect more like this.
Also along that vein, Sen. Garrett admitted publicly yesterday that she had been contacted by Gov. Quinn’s chief of staff about running for the LG office. Others, however, haven’t even been able to get their calls returned…
Unlike Garrett, [state Rep. Mike Boland (D-East Moline)] said he has not been contacted by Quinn or his top aides, but he has tried.
“All of us have probably sent communications to the governor, but none of us have ever gotten called back,” he said.
Rep. Boland has touted himself as Quinn’s top legislative ally for years. If people like him can’t get a return call while top Quinnsters court Garrett and supply her with a “driver” on interview day, then you get a good idea of where this is going.
I had a long talk with Garrett yesterday, and I’ll have more on this for subscribers tomorrow.
*** UPDATE *** From a press release…
State Representative Mike Boland (D-East Moline) yesterday announced he would step aside in his quest to be the Lt. Governor and throw his support to Art Turner to be named the Democratic nominee.
…Boland’s wife, Mary Boland, is a member of the Democratic State Central Committee.
“It is my strong belief that the nominee to replace Scott Lee Cohen should be someone who ran for the office of Lt. Governor in the February Primary,” Boland stated. “To not choose someone who has already campaigned extensively throughout this huge state and garnered over 180,000 votes would be to tell all of the hundreds of thousands of voters who took the time and made the effort to vote in the primary election that their votes meant nothing,” Boland emphasized. “Art Turner came in second in the primary voting and that has to mean something,”said Boland.
Yeah. It means he came in second.
* Related…
* Locals on the list for lieutenant governor
* Garrett downplays Lt. Gov. front-runner talk
* State Capitol Q&A: A look at the lieutenant governor position
* Democrats’ lieutenant governor favorites emerging
- Fed up - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 9:33 am:
As someone who drives I57 and I80 on a regular basis you never see the state police on these highways and people drive at reckless speeds weaving in and out of traffic all the time so I don’t know if less police really matters. I don’t think Chicago police will even try to patrol the highways in the city they don’t have the manpower.
- Redbright - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 9:33 am:
There is no frivolity left in the state budget; it went years ago.
Don’t the State Police patrol the Chicago highways in payment for the state having lottery sales locations at the two airports? I thought I read that on this blog several years ago.
- Cousin Ralph - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 9:38 am:
Not calling Rep. Boland is foolish and insulting. Little things like that keep important people from giving 100% to a guy’s campaign.
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 9:39 am:
Director Monken’s comments on decreased revenue from violations shows me that, at least in Illinois and perhaps across the country, our state, counties and municipalities lean perhaps too heavily on catching speedsters and stop sign disobeyers to fund their budgets. Here’s a novel idea: learn from this recession and don’t do that. Cut overhead costs or revamp the ISP, FOP and circuit/county clerk compensation and pension systems. Violation and fine collections are unpredictable. It costs a fortune in manpower and paperwork processing to catch traffic violators, bill or collect the fines and adjudicate them in court. I know “public safety” is a concern for any elected official, but this mentality really worries me and makes me wonder if even the ISP have our true interests at heart.
- Vibes - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 9:43 am:
This may be an urban myth, but I thought the agreement to have ISP patrol the Chicago expressways was part of a deal cut to put lottery machines in the airports. Anyone have a better memory of that?
I can’t wait to see the Mayor take this one on — as I think about it, however, forget about the lottery, let’s put slots and video poker behind the security lines, that way it’s only out-of-staters and ticketed passenger locals who can lose dough. And everytime we get huge delays and thunderstorms, we’d see a nice revenue spike to the state.
- Macbeth - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 10:01 am:
What’s “unnecessary spending” a code word for?
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 10:01 am:
I believe the the expressway patrols for lottery machines at the aiports was the deal back in the day. Whether it was a handshake deal or force of law, I can’t recall, and the google’s not helping.
I know some troopers will tell you that patrolling the expressways is one of their most dangerous responsibilities.
- OneMan - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 10:15 am:
We really need 30 investigators to cover a boat?
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 10:16 am:
OneMan, is that 30 on one boat or 30 for all boats? Also, if you want to keep organized crime out of the casino industry, you need coppers.
- OneMan - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 10:27 am:
Rich –
I understand and agree with the need to keep an eye on things but 30 because of a new boat seems a bit much.
== In addition to laying off 464 sworn personnel, 30 officers are being transferred to help the Illinois Gaming Board patrol a 10th riverboat casino planned for Des Plaines, as well as enforce video poker regulations statewide. ==
SJ&R but the ST is saying the 30 are for Video Poker. So what’s the breakdown?
regardless at this point no one can apply for a video poker anything so there is nothing to investigate and shouldn’t the cost of the ‘boat officers’ come from the boat proceeds?
- Will County Woman - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 10:37 am:
“You can’t just cut “fat” and make the numbers work by magic. You have to cut muscle and bone.”
Cut free ride for ALL seniors, make sure the Lt. Guv office stays closed, get rid of monken (since he is just “acting” anyway), cut and/or consolidate a few state agencies and voila! magic beans found you $32 million, give or take.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 10:40 am:
Your magic beans are goofy. Free rides for seniors costs the transit agencies money. Not the state.
- Tom Joad - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 10:48 am:
The legislators seem to that these “scare tactics” are a bluff by Quinn. Yet, you see no real proposals from any of the members that take care of more than a small percentage of the deficit. They are trying to preserve their ability to pass the blame on to Quinn in the Fall when the members are campaigning to save their seats. Its funny that Congress just stodd up and did what they thought was right, but Illinois legislators can’t even talk about solutions.
The state Republicans are just like the federal Republicans. They have just a few minor proposals that allow them to pretend they have a plan to balance the budget, but nothing that will make a big difference.
The Brady Plan, to cut 10@ of all budgets is just a T-baging anti government proposal that the Republicans won’t criticize or offer alternatives to.
So, Quinn should start making plans to carry out his “scare tactics” right away, before the legislature adjourns.
- OneMan - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 10:51 am:
Mr Joad they think they are a bluff because he has done it in the past. If he had pulled the trigger on some stuff last year, we wouldn’t be in the same mess (likely a mess however) we are now.
Also Dan Hynes would have won the nomination.
- Robert - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 10:51 am:
keeping score on former LG candidates…
Castillo endorsed Raja.
Hendon said nice things about Garrett (lol - since he hates Turner more than he dislikes Garrett).
Boland endorses Turner.
Is Sheila Simon going to get SLC’s endorsement?
- Robert - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 10:53 am:
Fed up - just so others don’t take your post the wrong way, I got a ticket on I-80 in Illinois, albeit close to Iowa. I’ve actually found that state police patrol I-80 more than I-55.
- Merit Comp Slave - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 10:57 am:
In 1991, 1992, Illinois was in a similar budget crunch. They proposed to close 8 districts and lay off 415 cops and 113 civilians when Edgar was asking for a tax increase. Guess what? They passed a 5 & 5 ERI and raised taxes. These tactics have worked in the past - guess we’re dusting them off again. As in 1992 if you’re going to cut all the cops and teachers, other departments should get cut just as painfully.
- amused - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 10:59 am:
@ Cousin Ralph
Boland is notorious for being self centered and not returning phone calls himself - perhaps the Quinster is just giving Bolo a dose of his own medicine.
- Bill - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 11:00 am:
If anybody on the committee except his wife cared what Boland thought he wouldn’t be pulling out.
- Will County Woman - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 11:00 am:
“Its funny that Congress just stodd up and did what they thought was right, but Illinois legislators can’t even talk about solutions.”
Right so Mike Madigan can do what Nancy Pelosi did and forget about the republicans and just pass the tax increase already! Kudos to Nancy Pelosi for her LEADERSHIP, by the way. I don’t necessarily like the health care reform that was passed and signed into law, i wanted a national system like what the europeans have. instead we have something far more complicated and too costly. but if Nancy Pelosi could get the votes together in spite of the political consequences to her party surely mike madigan can too.
“In politics if you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman.” —Margaret Thatcher
;)
- Doug - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 11:03 am:
There has to be something major going on that Boland would even consider dropping out. I’d love to know what it is!
- amused - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 11:07 am:
Boland couldn’t have cut a deal w/ Quinn - no phone call from him - and Turner is Madigan’s candidate - so ask yourself what could the Speaker promise Boland?
- Bill - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 11:11 am:
Quinn has been bragging that he will get to pick the candidate so he is going to own the decision whether he actually does get to pick or not. If Turner does not get the nod Quinn will have successfully alienated at least half of the Chicago base that handed him the nomination. He should have kept his big trap shut and let the speaker take the heat, but noooooooo…
Harold was right.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 11:15 am:
== There has to be something major going on that Boland would even consider dropping out. I’d love to know what it is! ==
I’d guess this is Mike Boland being hacked off at Pat Quinn for not returning his phone calls and backing Susan Garrett over a longtime friend.
Absurd to think that Boland “cut a deal” with anyone, since other than his wife’s one vote, he has nothing to offer.
Even more absurd to suggest a deal was cut with Madigan, given that he reportedly recommended Garrett for the slot.
- amused - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 11:19 am:
I thought Madigan was behind Art Turner?
guess I need a better scorecard!
- Cousin Ralph - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 11:19 am:
So they both are petty? I dont know Boland sufficiently to address your post Amused. However, it does look like Boland is going out of his way to make it clear he does not support the Gov’s prefered candidate and looks to turn up the heat by endorsing Turner. If what you say is true, Amused, then maybe the Gov. should have given the baby his bottle and returned Boland’s phone call, thanked him for all he does and advise him that while he thinks Boland would make a wonderful running mate, the Gov. has reached a difficult conclusion that the DEM ticket would be strongest with Garrett on it. While class and courtesy does’nt always work, arrogance rarely does.
- Bill - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 11:23 am:
==…arrogance rarely does. ..==
Exactly right. Quinn is becoming more Rod-like every day and he hasn’t even been elected yet.
- amused - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 11:41 am:
I certainly agree - Cousin Ralph - that class and courtesy are almost always the way to go.
- Doug - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 11:53 am:
What could Boland have been promised? His term is up in November. He was extremely confident that he would win the Lt. Gov spot.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 11:55 am:
===What could Boland have been promised? ===
By whom? That’s a pretty silly question.
- amused - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 11:58 am:
“He was extremely confident that he would win the Lt. Gov spot.”
in psych 101 they call that a delusion!
- fedup dem - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 12:04 pm:
I was wondering what would happen on Saturday should no candidate for Lt. Governor receive a majority of the weighted vote. After all, with 16 candidates still i the race, it is quite possible for no one to gain the needed majority in the initial round of voting. could someone explain what would happen in such an eventuality?
- cermak_rd - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 12:07 pm:
If they’re going to eliminate the meth control unit, can they please just eliminate the law that limits my ability to buy Pseudophed for my freaking sinuses? It’s annoying to be unable to buy it when I have a flareup in the middle of the night. I don’t really care if some numbnut blows up his house or destroys his teeth with the stuff.
- Secret Square - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 1:22 pm:
“I don’t really care if some numbnut blows up his house”
You might care more, though, if that numbnut lived next door to you or in your apartment building. I recall at least one incident in central Illinois where a meth lab explosion destroyed an 8-unit apartment building. Not just the “numbnut” but at least 7 innocent neighbors got their homes blown up that day.
- bored now - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 2:39 pm:
i’ve seen plenty of state troopers on both i-57 and i-80. which makes me wonder if fedup has been on either in the last 10 years (the time since i moved here)…
- cermak_rd - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 4:27 pm:
How could someone make meth in an apartment building without people noticing? I was under the impression that Cook County didn’t have a meth manufacturing problem (we import it) is that people live too closely together to get away with it.
- Robert - Wednesday, Mar 24, 10 @ 6:18 pm:
bored now–maybe Quinn’s driver was recently reassigned from fedup to the millionaire Lake Forest LG candidate Susan Garrett, and now fedup sees the cops and is really “fed up”.
- Its Only Me - Thursday, Mar 25, 10 @ 8:53 am:
Hey Boland-those of us who voted for SLC already got the memo that our votes meant nothing. Therefore in November its Green for me.