Profiles in failure
July 2, 2009
Gov. Pat Quinn, House Speaker Michael Madigan, Senate President John Cullerton, do you think the people of Illinois expect too much of you?
They elect you to provide for their well-being and public safety. They urge you to thoughtfully spend the tens of billions of dollars they send to you every year. They ask you to resolve your differences with civility and, when you're tempted to behave haughtily, an ounce of humility.
At this juncture, though, you and your fellow lawmakers have failed them -- the taxpayers who hire you and the vulnerable citizens who have no choice but to rely on the state to meet their daily needs.
Offering a tiny apology
Originally posted: July 7, 2009 - By Eric Zorn
Hmm. It seems that I, for one, owe a wee apology to former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. I blamed most of the paralyzing toxicity in Springfield in recent years on him. Many of my columns have hammered on Blagojevich's stubbornness, his confrontational style and his tendency to grandstand rather than lead.
He and his fellow Democrats had it all. Solid majorities in both chambers and, since 2006, every statewide office. Yet all we got was one long sandbox fight.
So now Blago's gone. Arrested. Impeached. Removed from office. Indicted. Exiled to his home in Ravenswood Manor.
Stand firm
June 18, 2009
"[W]e will never see reforms if we just go ahead and send more money to the same old rotten system that's produced the mess that we're in right now."
--Illinois Senate Republican leader Christine Radogno, June 17, 2009
Yes, yes, yes.
The current Democratic strategy for passing a state income tax increase couldn't be more transparent: Blame minority Republicans for all the horrors that allegedly will occur if -- for lack of more taxing power -- Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn chooses to slash spending on social services.
Wanted: Untainted districts
By Christine Radogno and Tom Cross
June 15, 2009With one governor in prison and another about to go to trial, no one can honestly say that we just need a few minor tweaks to Illinois government. As negotiations begin on a final state budget plan, it would be irresponsible to slap a Band-Aid on the budget, call it cured and get out of town.
We would be derelict in our duties to the people of Illinois if we pass up this opportunity to reinvent Illinois government.
Jobs task force could help recovery process
By Tom Cross, Oswego - June 15, 2009
Nearly one in 10 people are currently out of work in Illinois - the highest unemployment rate since 1983. To make matters worse, between 1998 and 2007, more than 735,000 workers left Illinois to pursue better opportunities in other states.
According to the American Legislative Exchange Council's Economic Competitiveness Index, Illinois' economic outlook for 2009 is bleak. The index ranks Illinois 44th among the 50 states in our ability to compete for jobs and create economic growth this year.
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