Week of May 5, 2008
With the deadline for passage of proposed Constitutional Amendments looming on Sunday, the House and Senate addressed several controversial proposals during session last week.
I have mentioned the issue of recall several times in my previous articles this spring. Contrary to the scare tactics used by opponents of the idea, I believe that the option of recall is good for the people of Illinois. I believe in citizen government and in the idea that elected officials should always be held accountable for their performance. After all, we are elected by the people and entrusted with the important job of conducting business on their behalf in a manner that honors the office to which we are elected.
This week, the State Senate voted to kill its own version of the recall bill, |
SJRCA 40. Unlike the House’s version (HJRCA 28), sponsored by Rep. Jack Franks, the Senate’s proposal would have allowed for the recall of judges and local elected officials like Mayors and County Board members. Held hostage by Governor Blagojevich and the promise of the release of Soil and Water Conservation District and University of Illinois Extension funding, several downstate Senate Democrats were forced to vote “NO” on the recall amendment, effectively siding with Governor Blagojevich and Senate President Jones.
Senate Republicans argued for passage of the Amendment based on the principle of allowing the “people” a voice in deciding whether an elected official should be ousted from office for dereliction of duty. Senate Democrats opposing the Amendment, including President Jones, argued that a piece of legislation should never be aimed at any one individual. In the end, the Amendment fell just a few “YES” votes short of passage and the Amendment will not be placed before voters for consideration on November 4 th.
This result was disappointing, but sadly, not surprising. Senate President Jones has cast his lot with Governor Blagojevich and seems intent on doing anything it takes to protect him, even as new allegations of “pay-to-play” in the Blagojevich administration continue to come to light every day through testimony at the Tony Rezko trial. As icing on the cake after yesterday’s disappointing recall vote in the Senate, President Jones addressed reporters’ concerns over upcoming legislative and Constitutional Officer
pay raises by saying, “I need a raise, I need a raise.”
One Amendment that passed the House was a plan to change the way Illinois draws district boundaries for lawmakers. The Amendment would eliminate the practice in which one party gets complete control through luck of the draw. As I stated before, I was hopeful that this Amendment in its final form would go far enough in establishing fairness in the map drawing process that I could support it. In the end, I did not feel that this was so, and I voted to reject HJRCA 44 on these grounds. Because the Senate adjourned until after the deadline for passage of Constitutional Amendments, HJRCA 44 will not see the light of day in that chamber and the archaic system of map drawing currently in place in Illinois will remain the standard for now.
Another attempt to change the income tax structure in Illinois from the current flat tax to a graduated income “sliding scale” style of taxation failed in the Senate. SJRCA 92 would have changed the income tax system from the current 3% flat tax to a graduated system in which those individuals earning more income would pay higher income tax rates. The bill was defeated 19-35-01.
There appears to be some good news on the horizon for Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts and University of Illinois Extension offices. After months of holding this critical funding hostage, Gov. Blagojevich seems poised to release the funding following the result of the recall vote in the Senate I mentioned earlier. It is a shame that the men and women operating SWCD and U of I Extension offices, and especially 4-H kids became pawns in a political game being played by the Governor. There should never be a time that critical community services like these become subject to the whims of a Democrat majority that simply cannot get along well enough to do the business of the people. Though it is a shame it took so long for the funding to be released, it appears for now that the money will make its way to these offices soon.
This time of year brings hundreds of visitors to the Capitol. This week, teachers from throughout the region rallied in Springfield for fair school funding. Russ Ross and John Hasten also visited this week to highlight the success of the Leadership for the Improvement of Teaching Performance program that was established at Eastern Illinois University. A large group of young people from Marshall involved in a leadership program toured the sites with Tiffany Macke and Mayor Smith. It is always great to have visitors. Please make sure to let me know if you are in Springfield.
There is still much work to be done in Springfield. The deadline for passing a budget before overtime session is necessary is May 31 st. It appears unlikely as of now that any significant progress will be made on that front unless a major shift in tone between the Democrat leaders in the House, Senate and Governor’s office takes place.
As always, your input is appreciated on these and other issues of concern to you. Please either phone me at 618-563-4128 or 217-558-1040, write to me at Box 125, Hutsonville, IL 62433 or e-mail me at reddyunit1@aol.com, or keep informed by checking the website at www.peopleforeddy.com.