McHenry County Blog

The following handout from Governor Pat Quinn’s legislative lobbying operation has been distributed by the Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems.

OPPOSE HB 996

(Proposed Charitable Games Act Amendments)

Would undermine the original intent of the Charitable Games Act to allow charities to conduct modest gaming events as a fundraising activity.

Would allow charities to conduct high stakes gambling:

• The bill would allow the bet size to double for many games, from $10 to $20, and would allow the cash winnings to double as well, from $250 to $500. The bill would also allow unlimited non cash prizes.
• For non house backed games like Texas Hold ’em, the bill would allow unlimited amounts to be wagered.

Pat Qunin’s arguments against expanding charitable gambling.

Would allow charities to operate casino-like environments:

The bill would allow video gaming terminals to be operated at the same time a charitable games event is conducted. Current law prohibits simultaneous operation of slot machines and similar devices for this very reason.

Would allow more charitable gaming events in the facilities that host such events, increasing the burden on the neighborhoods where these facilities are located.

• Would change the formula for the amount to be paid to the State by the charity from the event receipts:  rather than 3% of the gross proceeds, the amount would be 5% of the net proceeds could make it more difficult to ascertain whether the correct amount was remitted.

Would allow charities to compete more directly with other forms of legalized gambling:

• The sum total of the changes made by the bill would enable charities to conduct gaming on a level that legitimately rivals
  other gaming interests, such as riverboats.
  More events with higher betting levels and higher value winnings (cash and non-cash) would increase the challenges of policing these events and enforcing the limitations.

That’s what Governor Pat Quinn’s $11,562.72 in charitable contributions, reported in the Chicago Sun-Times Sunday, divided by his reported income of $201,066 yields as a percentage.

5.8%.

A group called the Sergeant Shriver National Center on Poverty Law has developed what it calls a “scorecard” on support of government programs to fight poverty.

I found out by reading Diane Novak’s article,
“Congress’ strong polarization clear in poverty scorecard.”

It links to the following chart:

The scorecard can be enlarged by clicking on it.

An explanation of the bills is at the bottom of this post.

Mark Kirk

Don Manzullo

The best grade was received by a Republican went to Mark Kirk for his votes as a member of the House of Representatives.  He got a “C.”

Don Manzullo received a “D.”

Melissa Bean got an “A.”

Melissa Bean

In fact, the worst a Democrat received was an “A,” which makes me think that the issues selected may have screened out any vote on which a Democrat might have scored poorly.

There is another comparison I’d like to see.

Call it a “Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is” scorecard.

Let me see a chart showing the percentage of household income that each Member of Congress contributes to his/her church and other charities.

Needless to say, Republicans don’t do well on this comparison.  The votes used in this tally follow:

Thanks to Dave Diersen’s GOPUSA Illinos for pointing me to this story.

The Soar to Higher Heights Foundation is being contacted by the Charitable Trusts Division of the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, according to press officer Robyn Ziegler.

McHenry County Blog checked last week as to whether the foundation had registered with the Secretary of State’s Office and the Attorney General’s Office.

The "Frequently Asked Questions" page on the Illinois Attorney General's Charitable Trusts Division page says, "All charities that solicit in Illinois should be registered with the Office of the Attorney General." The Soar to Higher Heights Foundation has not yet done so.

When I called both offices said it had not, but the Attorney General’s Office told me that its Charitable Trusts Division would check further.

I got my reply yesterday.

“You’re right. The organization doesn’t exist yet, so obviously they are not registered with our office” Zeigler told me.

“The Attorney General’s Office is reaching out to those individuals identified as affiliated with this group.

“Our goal is make sure they understand the Charitable Trust laws of the state, including the requirement to be registered with our office, if they are soliciting for charitable purposes.

“Those efforts help to protect the charitable assets that have been collected for this or any charitable purpose.”

But, when I checked again with the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office I was told,
“It was incorporated 8-13,2010.”

That’s last Friday.

The only name attached to the foundation is its agent, David Joseph Ruelle

“They don’t list officers until their first annual report,”

the Secretary of State’s employee told me.

The Township Trustees’ law firm, Ancel Glink, has sent a bill for over $36,000 for the month of March.

Ancel Glink Partners Keri-Lyn Krafthefer and Rob Bush before the April 13, 2010, Grafton Township Annual Town Meeting.

That doesn’t count the time spent preparing all the resolutions that weren’t voted upon at the Annual Town Meeting and the giving of additional advice in April or the price of having two Ancel Glink partners—Keri-Lyn Krafthefer and Rob Bush—at the meeting.

The bill’s format makes it easy to write a story. It’s divided by purpose:

• Corporate (including, I would guess getting newly-hired Township Administrator Pam Fender squared away – $8,678
• Linda Moore v. Grafton Township (the separation of powers suit by the Township Supervisor against the Township Trustees resulting from the Trustees’ attempt to strip Moore of her non-statutory duties) – $18,501
• Daniel G. Ziller, Jr., et al v. Gerry McMahon, et al (the suit that stopped the Trustees and former Township Supervisor John Rossi’s plan to build a new township hall, costing $5 million when interest is included, without asking permission of the voters) – $926
• Annual Town Meeting the meeting was held April 13th) – $8,328

I read this and conclude that the real purpose of Grafton Township government must be to provide lawyers with money.

As the Bible in Luke 12:34 (King James version) says,

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Perhaps not coincidentally, it follows a verse (New American Standard) that states in part,

“Sell your possessions and give to charity…”

Providing welfare actually is a function of township government.

Grafton Township budgeted $79,671 for General and Emergency Assistance in this year.

$51,963 was spent.

$18,056 went to assist down-on-their-luck township residents.

$33,900 went for the employee which dispenses it.

"Let us give more the charities and less to government," the sign held by this teen says.

One of the signs I saw as I was leaving for the middle of the old Walmart parking lot was held by a  teen.

She agreed to hold it up so I could get a photo.

It says,

Let Us Give
More to Charities
and Less to
Government