McHenry County Blog

A communication from Senator Pam Althoff:

Women in the Illinois State Senate were wearing red today. Pam Althoff in foreground. Photo credit: Senate Republican staff.

“If you were at the Illinois Capitol on February 6th, you would have noticed several legislators, staff, and others wearing red in recognition of the number one killer of women – heart disease.

“According to the American Heart Association, heart disease claims the lives of nearly 35,000 people in Illinois every year.

“I am proud to join the Conference of Women Legislators (COWL) and AHA’s national Go Red For Women movement to raise awareness about women’s heart health.

“Usually women are so busy taking care of others that they pay little attention to their own wellness.

“That’s why it is so important for all of us to spread the awareness and remind the women we love that they need to pay attention to their health and make healthy lifestyles choices.

“We must start with ourselves to become more engaged in the fight to stop the number one killer of women – heart disease.

“I Go Red for all of the women in Illinois because I don’t want another woman to become a statistic.

“Who do you Go Red for?”

I w0uld imagine being a legislator in Springfield this year would be close to dismal.

Anticipation about reapportionment (which I never went through), plus the fear of votes to hike taxes must be making for some fretful times.

There is, however, a comic break in the schedule.

Something called “Capitol Capers” put on by the Conference of Women Legislators (COWL).

It used to be that the Illinois Legislative Correspondents Association put on a Gridiron dinner in which fun was poked at the politicians that couldn’t make the reporters’ stories.

That was the highlight of many sessions.

But, when Senate President Pate Philip decided he wanted to go fishing in Michigan during June and put a constitutional amendment on the ballot to change the ending date of the General Assembly to the end of May, things changed in the legislative process.

It was compressed.

Leaders got still more power.

And the reporters didn’t have time to put together their show, the proceeds of which went for scholarships for reporters.

But, remember, legislators don’t have a lot to do under the current system of legislative governance.

And, dating back to the 1970′s COWL, which came out of the ERA movement, had put on a fund raiser to raise money for its operations.

Pam Althoff

Cowardly Lion

So, after the reporters’ wit disappeared from public display, COWL filled the void.

State Journal-Register columnist Bernie Schoenburg tells of this year’s event here.

Schoenburg reports, “the theme is based on ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ with a legislative freshman lifted by a Midwestern tornado into Emerald City, also known as Springfield.”

And McHenry County’s State Senator Pam Althoff plays the part of the Cowardly Lion.

Girls just want to have fun.

If you’re going to be in Springfield on May 11 and have $150, the show might be worth the price of admission.  The money raised goes for twelve $2,500 scholarships.

The highlight of the session most of the time I was in the Illinois House was the Gridiron Dinner put on by the press corps.

When Senate President Pate Philip managed to shorten the session by getting a constitutional amendment passed requiring a super majority to pass legislation starting on June 1st, rather than on July 1st, that changed.

While Philip got to go fishing earlier, the workload for reporters got too heavy to put on an annual show.

So, who stepped in to fill the void?

Legislators.

After all, they don’t have a lot to do with four people in the General Assembly making most of the important decisions.

The Conference of Women Legislators already put on a fund raising event. I remember Clyde Robbins singing at one held at the pool of the Statehouse Inn. That was the same event that State Senator John D’Arco read poetry.

The event now brings in $90,000, according to Springfield Journal-Register political reporter Bernie Schoenberg (whose high school son Samuel’s accomplishments were featured in last Sunday’s Chicago Tribune). The money goes for for scholarships and leadership training.

Featured in this knock-off of American Idol was McHenry County’s State Senator Pam Althoff. She was Paula Abdul, one of the judges.

There’s even a recording of part of the event that can be accessed through the Journal-Register story.

The highlight of the session most of the time I was in the Illinois House was the Gridiron Dinner put on by the press corps.

When Senate President Pate Philip managed to shorten the session by getting a constitutional amendment passed requiring a super majority to pass legislation starting on June 1st, rather than on July 1st, that changed.

While Philip got to go fishing earlier, the workload for reporters got too heavy to put on an annual show.

So, who stepped in to fill the void?

Legislators.

After all, they don’t have a lot to do with four people in the General Assembly making most of the important decisions.

The Conference of Women Legislators already put on a fund raising event. I remember Clyde Robbins singing at one held at the pool of the Statehouse Inn. That was the same event that State Senator John D’Arco read poetry.

The event now brings in $90,000, according to Springfield Journal-Register political reporter Bernie Schoenberg (whose high school son Samuel’s accomplishments were featured in last Sunday’s Chicago Tribune). The money goes for for scholarships and leadership training.

Featured in this knock-off of American Idol was McHenry County’s State Senator Pam Althoff. She was Paula Abdul, one of the judges.

There’s even a recording of part of the event that can be accessed through the Journal-Register story.