McHenry County Blog

A press release from Chris Lauzen, Republican candidate for Kane County Board Chairman:

DuPage County Board Chairman
Dan Cronin Endorses Chris Lauzen
for Kane County Board Chairman

Aurora, IL (March 2, 2012): State Senator Chris Lauzen announced today the endorsement of DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin (R, Elmhurst) for his run for Republican nominee for Kane County Board Chairman.

Former State Senator Cronin and Chris Lauzen served together in Springfield for nearly 18 years prior to Cronin’s 2010 election to DuPage County Board Chairman.

“I worked with Senator Lauzen in Springfield and I know he is smart and tough.

State Senator Chris Lauzen announces his candidacy for Kane County Board Chairman while his family looks on.

‘He has worked tirelessly for families, small businesses and taxpayers. Please vote for Chris Lauzen in the March primary election,” said Cronin.

Lauzen cited the DuPage County Board Chairman’s similar professional and political preparation for county board chairman responsibilities.

“Dan and I literally sat next to each other in the Senate working for years on similar initiatives like tax relief, ethics reform and improvements to the employment environment . . . He has taken his substantial knowledge and political connections across the entire spectrum of local, state and national politics to benefit his constituents in his home county . . . I intend to do the same if I’m elected,” stated Lauzen.

In the Illinois General Assembly, Dan Cronin built a record as a reformer and challenged the status quo and entrenched special interests. He sponsored property tax relief and eminent domain reforms to protect taxpayers from government confiscation of private property.

“I am especially delighted to receive former Senator Dan Cronin’s support because, in just his first two years as Board Chairman of the second largest county in Illinois, he has already implemented a $10.4 M decrease in spending and strengthened the county’s ethics ordinance through votes on the county board . . . these are two of my top priorities,” said Lauzen.

Any questions, please call 630-264-2419 or email campaign@lauzen.com.

Jack Franks welcomed those attending the House Reapportionment Committee hearing at Marengo High School Satureday.

The latest campaign finance reports are in and Democratic Party State Rep. Jack Franks has $475,713.01 I the bank. That’s as of the end of March, 2011

He has a burn rate of over $12,000 a month.

He raised about $15,000 more than he spent during the last three months.

Contributions amounted to almost $56,000 and he spent almost $39,000 during the firt three months of this year.

Who did he get his money from?

Below his contributions are listed in descending order. The ones that are in boldface type are from McHenry County.

$5,000 – Pritzker, J.B. & M.K., Partner, New World Ventures, Evanston

$1,000 – Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois, Springfield
$1,000 – AT&T Services Inc, Chicago
$1,000 – Attorneys Title Guaranty Fund Inc, Chicago
$1,000 – Aycox, Rod, Occupation: President. Employer: Select Management Resources LLC. Alpharetta, GA
$1,000 – Barton Management Inc, Northfield
$1,000 – BNSF Railway Company, Fort Worth, TX
$1,000 – Browder, Perry J., Occupation: Attorney, Employer: Simmons Cooper LLC, Glenview
$1,000 – Coca-Cola Refreshments, Brandon, FL
$1,000 – Gillman, Seth & Michael, Occupation: Administrator, Employer: Passages Hospice, Lincolnwood
$1,000 – Hebeisen, Keith A & Jodi B, Occupation: lawyer, Employer: Clifford Law Offices, Northbrook
$1,000 – Illinois State Medical Society PAC, Chicago
$1,000 – Intren, Inc., Union
$1,000 – Lappe, Fred, Attorney, Chicago
$1,000 – Muno, Doris, President, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises Inc, Chicago
$1.000 – Peck Bloom Austriaco & Koenig LLC, Chicago
$1,000 – Rubin, Arnold G, attorney, Chicago
$1,000 – Salvi Schostok & Pritchard, Waukegan
$1,000 – Worker’s Comp Chicago, LLC, Chicago

The numbers on this billboard are a bit out of date now, but the thrust of the message still sounds correct. Take a look at the donations from lawyers, labor and lobbyists. Franks gave $2,400 to other candidates during this spring's local election cycle, $2,000 to a Chicago candidate.

$500 – Boron, Andrew and Elizabeth, Highland Park
$500 – Burnham Committee (an Alderman Ed Burke committee), Chicago
$500 – Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters, Chicago
$500 – Clancy, Tim, Calumet City
$500 – Genentech, San Francisco, CA
$500 – Gold, Laurence, Barrington
$500 – Hannigan, Richard D. Ltd., Mundelein
$500 – Illinois Laborers’ Legislative Comm #1, Springfield
$500 – Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Springfield
$500 – Illinois Vendors PAC, Chicago
$500 – Law Offices Of Rubin & Norris, LLC, Chicago
$500 – Petroleum Political Education, Springfield
$500 – Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, Washington, D.C.
$500 – Plumbers & Pipe Fitters PAC Local 501, Aurora
$500- Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 99, Bloomington
$500 – Power Rogers & Smith PC, Chicago
$500 – Stieber, Jay & Nancy, Prospect Heights

$400 – White, Jesse, Chicago

$300 – Dermer, Alice, Chicago
$300 – Fletcher, O’Brien, Kasper & Nottage, PC, Chicago
$300 – Ganan & Shapiro PC, Chicago

$250 – Allied Benefit Systems Inc, Chicago
$250 – Astellas Pharma US Inc, Deerfield
$250 – Bandolik, Steven, Crystal Lake
$250 – Berman, Arthur, Chicago
$250 – Black, Stella, Chicago
$250 – Bless & Associates, Arlington Hts
$250 – Bush, Robert, Chicago
$250 – Castle, John and Nancy, Sycamore
$250 – Cohen, Jacob, Chicago
$250 – Credit Union Political Action Council, Npaerville
$250 – Dixon, Scott & Cindy, Johnsburg
$250 – Electronic Knowledge Interchange Company, Chicago
$250 – Falcioni, Robert, Monee
$250 – Filan, William Ltd, Chicago
$250 – Globetrotters Engineering Corp, Chicago
$250 – Government Navigation Group, Springfield
$250 – Haskins, Charles G Jr Attorney at Law, Chicago
$250 – Hassakis, Janet, Mt. Vernon, LA
$250 – Hennessy & Roach, PC, Chicago
$250 – Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, Chicago
$250 – IBEW Local 117, Crystal Lake
$250 – IBEW Local 9, Hillsboro
$250 – Illinois BANKPAC, Springfield
$250 – Illinois Consulting Engineers PAC, Springfield
$250 -Illinois Fire Chiefs Assoc PAC, Bridgeview
$250 – Illinois Hotel Motel PAC5, Springfield
$250 – Illinois Optometric Assoc PAC, Springfield
$250 – Illinois State Council of Machinist and Aerospace Workers, Mt. Carmel
$250 – Mid-West Truckers Association Inc, Springfield
$250 – Kaplan, Howard Gordon, Chicago
$250 – Kinney, Orrin & Karen, Harvard
$250 – Law office of James A. Knepper, PC, Chicago
$250 – Latherow, Jerry A., Chicago
$250 – Middleton, Charles, Chicago
$250 – Middleton, Charles, Chicago
$250 – Nader, Terence & Mary, McHenry
$250 – Nager, Jean & Benjamin, Crystal Lake
$250 – Neil Francis Flynn, Attorney, Springfield
$250 – Newman, Robert T, Homewood
$250 – OBrien Farms Inc, River Forest
$250 – Pfaff, Bruce R. & Deborah, Barrington
$250 – Professional Towing & Recovery PAC, Northbrook
$250 – Sexton John Sand & Gravel Corp, Hillside
$250 – Social Engineering Associates, Inc, Chicago
$250 – Sorling Northrup Hanna Cullen & Cochran LTD, Chicago
$250 – T Mobile, Cincinnati, OH
$250 – Topinka, Judy B., Riverside
$250 – Fed of Independent IL Colleges and Universities, Springfield
$250 – UFCW Local 881, Rosemont
$250 – United Transportation Union, Chicago

$200 – Cronin, Dan, Oak Brook
$200 – Dan Shomon Inc, Chicago
$200 – Hesch, Chris, Woodstock
$200 – Planned Parenthood Votes IL, Springfield

Did Franks share his money with other politicians?

The only campaign contribution to others over $150 was to legislative colleague and Chicago City Clerk candidate Susana Mendoza. The state representative won the office.

He also gave $400 in amounts under $150 to other unnamed candidates.

What school administrators receive in compensation will be easily obtainable starting in October.

State Senator Dan Cronin, joined by Kirk Dillard, Chris Lauzen and John Millner have decided that the most highly paid local politicians, school district superintendents (and other administrative personnel), should be an open book.

Starting October 1st the following will be on your local school web site:

“The salary compensation report shall include without limitation base salary, bonuses, pension contributions, retirement increases, the cost of health insurance, the cost of life insurance, paid sick and vacation day payouts, annuities, and any other form of compensation or income paid on behalf of the employee.”

This will soon become the “go to” place for those looking for a new administrative job to figure out how much they can request.

House sponsor Sandra Pihos has gotten the bill on Short Debate. Since no one has yet to vote against the legislation, passage is a virtual certainty.

And, as a bonus, the teachers’ contract will also be posted on the internet.

Too bad the bill doesn’t cover junior college presidents and presidents emeriti.

A dramatic declaration of independence was issued by Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna in Decatur on Saturday at the GOP state convention.

McKenna tongue lashed both former Governor Jim Thompson and either DuPage County Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom or DuPage GOP Party Chairman Dan Cronin.

Taking on Thompson’s continuing show of support of incarcerated former Republican Governor George Ryan, McKenna said,

“It disappoints me with a former governor lobbies the president to pardon a former governor.”

No names were used, but there was certainly no doubt about the identities of the former governors to whom McKenna was referring. Thompson did not attend the convention.

McKenna then took on either DuPage County Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom or County Republican Party Chairman and State Senator Dan Cronin for his pushing DuPage County State Senators Dan Cronin, who is DuPage County party chairman, Kirk Dillard, who just retired as party chairman and newly-elected David Millner to vote

• to double the sales tax for the Regional Transportation Authority for the collar counties from one-fourth of a percentage point to one-half a percentage point, plus
• impose of a new quarter of one percent sales tax to be used for law enforcement, as well as transportation purposes, as originally was envisioned.

State Senator Carol Pankau and Randy Hultgren were the only DuPage County state senators to vote against the 300% increase in the RTA sales tax.

“It disappoints me when a county chairman goes to Springfield to lobby for a sales tax increase,”

McKenna said in his speech to the convention. (Since Cronin is there all the time in his role as state senator, I tend to think McKenna was talking about Schillerstrom.)

McKenna, as state party chairman, had openly and vociferously criticized Democrats for proposing the tripling of the RTA sales tax in the collar counties.

Cronin’s, Dillard’s and Millner’s flip to the tax hike side of the roll call in order to obtain more money for DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett and, presumably, the DuPage County Sheriff’s Department, undermined McKenna’s effort to differential between the Republican and Democratic Parties.

The decision by the tax hiking DuPage County Republicans obviously motivated McKenna to risk a major schism with the county whose politicians dominated legislative politics for so long under Senate President Pate Philip and House Minority Leader Lee Daniels.

DuPage County GOP Chairman Cronin was reportedly quite angered and his delegations behavior later in the convention may have been pay back for the criticism.

There was a floor effort to reverse a committee’s nomination of Pekin’s Demetra DeMonte as Republican National Committeewoman.

The incumbent Mary Jo Arndt of DuPage County had endorsed Chicago’s Carol Smith Donovan for the office. Former congressional candidate Kathy Salvi was also seeking the office, but after she lost to DeMonte, DeMonte agreed to appoint Salvi deputy national committee woman.

During a floor fight, supporters of Donovan from DuPage County were yelling,

“Roll call! Roll call!”

After the vote, which DeMonte won 358-263, I noticed the seats of the DuPage County delegation were empty.

I assume they walked out.

If Schillerstrom was the target of McKenna’s wrath, his effusive praise of subsequent speaker Joe Birkett seemed a bit strange.

Birkett was every bit as much in favor of tripling the RTA sales tax to finance his office as Schillerstrom.

= = = = =
On top right, Illinois Republican State Central Committee Chairman Andy McKenna can be seen listening to the McHenry County Central Committee caucus before Saturday’s state convention in Decatur. The smaller picture of Jim Thompson was taken at the John McCain Addison rally in February. The two women are, on the right, Demetra DeMonte, Illinois’ new Republican National Committeewoman, and, to her right, Kathy Salvi, who ran second to Dave McSweeney in the 2006 8th congressional district primary election. McSweeney supported Salvi in her national committeewoman campaign. DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett can be seen to the left.

A dramatic declaration of independence was issued by Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna in Decatur on Saturday at the GOP state convention.

McKenna tongue lashed both former Governor Jim Thompson and either DuPage County Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom or DuPage GOP Party Chairman Dan Cronin.

Taking on Thompson’s continuing show of support of incarcerated former Republican Governor George Ryan, McKenna said,

“It disappoints me with a former governor lobbies the president to pardon a former governor.”

No names were used, but there was certainly no doubt about the identities of the former governors to whom McKenna was referring. Thompson did not attend the convention.

McKenna then took on either DuPage County Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom or County Republican Party Chairman and State Senator Dan Cronin for his pushing DuPage County State Senators Dan Cronin, who is DuPage County party chairman, Kirk Dillard, who just retired as party chairman and newly-elected David Millner to vote

• to double the sales tax for the Regional Transportation Authority for the collar counties from one-fourth of a percentage point to one-half a percentage point, plus
• impose of a new quarter of one percent sales tax to be used for law enforcement, as well as transportation purposes, as originally was envisioned.

State Senator Carol Pankau and Randy Hultgren were the only DuPage County state senators to vote against the 300% increase in the RTA sales tax.

“It disappoints me when a county chairman goes to Springfield to lobby for a sales tax increase,”

McKenna said in his speech to the convention. (Since Cronin is there all the time in his role as state senator, I tend to think McKenna was talking about Schillerstrom.)

McKenna, as state party chairman, had openly and vociferously criticized Democrats for proposing the tripling of the RTA sales tax in the collar counties.

Cronin’s, Dillard’s and Millner’s flip to the tax hike side of the roll call in order to obtain more money for DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett and, presumably, the DuPage County Sheriff’s Department, undermined McKenna’s effort to differential between the Republican and Democratic Parties.

The decision by the tax hiking DuPage County Republicans obviously motivated McKenna to risk a major schism with the county whose politicians dominated legislative politics for so long under Senate President Pate Philip and House Minority Leader Lee Daniels.

DuPage County GOP Chairman Cronin was reportedly quite angered and his delegations behavior later in the convention may have been pay back for the criticism.

There was a floor effort to reverse a committee’s nomination of Pekin’s Demetra DeMonte as Republican National Committeewoman.

The incumbent Mary Jo Arndt of DuPage County had endorsed Chicago’s Carol Smith Donovan for the office. Former congressional candidate Kathy Salvi was also seeking the office, but after she lost to DeMonte, DeMonte agreed to appoint Salvi deputy national committee woman.

During a floor fight, supporters of Donovan from DuPage County were yelling,

“Roll call! Roll call!”

After the vote, which DeMonte won 358-263, I noticed the seats of the DuPage County delegation were empty.

I assume they walked out.

If Schillerstrom was the target of McKenna’s wrath, his effusive praise of subsequent speaker Joe Birkett seemed a bit strange.

Birkett was every bit as much in favor of tripling the RTA sales tax to finance his office as Schillerstrom.

= = = = =
On top right, Illinois Republican State Central Committee Chairman Andy McKenna can be seen listening to the McHenry County Central Committee caucus before Saturday’s state convention in Decatur. The smaller picture of Jim Thompson was taken at the John McCain Addison rally in February. The two women are, on the right, Demetra DeMonte, Illinois’ new Republican National Committeewoman, and, to her right, Kathy Salvi, who ran second to Dave McSweeney in the 2006 8th congressional district primary election. McSweeney supported Salvi in her national committeewoman campaign. DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett can be seen to the left.

$9 million more a year for the County Board to spend.

No pain.

Except on us taxpayers.

Absolutely no effort on the county board’s part.

Not even a county board vote.

The best kind of a tax hike.

One someone else takes the heat for.

No need to pass a sales tax increase as has been done twice in the Rockford area, once for a new jail and once for roads.

Free money.

And, we have DuPage County Republicans to thank.

So, thanks, DuPage County Republicans.

Oh, they didn’t do it by themselves.

Chicago Democratic Party legislators did most of the heavy lifting.

That’s appropriate because Chicago’s CTA gets most of the money.

But, let’s remember what three DuPage County state senators–doing the dirty work of DuPage County Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom–did to us.

Originally, the bribe for the McHenry County Board was to be $9 million earmarked for roads and public transportation. (Wasn’t that supposed to be RTA’s job?)

Here’s the language:

“to fund operating and capital costs of public transportation services or facilities or to fund operating, capital, right-of-way, construction, and maintenance costs of other transportation purposes, including road, bridge, public safety, and transit purposes intended to improve mobility or reduce congestion in the county.”

Proportionate amounts for all the collar counties.

But, for the most part, that was not sufficient enticement to merit a “Yes” vote on House Bill 656 from either collar county Republicans or Democrats.

None of the legislators representing McHenry County were part of the cabal that forced this 7.7% sales tax hike down our throats.

Then, the big-spending DuPage County Republicans, led by County Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom, decided that wasn’t good enough.

They wanted to spend the money on “public safety,” not roads.

So, the current DuPage County Republican County Chairman, Dan Cronin, conspired with the immediate past GOP chairman, Kirk Dillard, and the two convinced a third, newly minted DuPage County state senator, John Miller, to vote for the CTA bailout bill with an amendment that would allow the road money to be spent on the sheriff’s department and other public safety desires.

They didn’t come up with this idea on their own.

Their DuPage County Board Chairman Schillerstrom convinced them.

Hey, better than sweating out whether the voters would approve a half-cent sales tax in February 5th’s primary election, right?

Why let the people decide when three state senators can do the job so much quicker?

So much less messy.

And, remember that name Schillerstrom.

He wants to run for statewide office.

Note to any primary opponents: contact me.

So, now the McHenry County Board has almost twice the current state Motor Fuel Tax subsidy of $4.6 million to spend every year.

Now, the question is how to spend it.

The opposition coalition, by the way, was similar to 1974’s when the few Republicans who voted in favor of the Regional Transportation Authority’s creation, went down to defeat.

Think House Speaker and bill sponsor Bob Blair (R-Will County) and senate sponsor John Connelly (R-Lake County).

$9 million more a year for the County Board to spend.

No pain.

Except on us taxpayers.

Absolutely no effort on the county board’s part.

Not even a county board vote.

The best kind of a tax hike.

One someone else takes the heat for.

No need to pass a sales tax increase as has been done twice in the Rockford area, once for a new jail and once for roads.

Free money.

And, we have DuPage County Republicans to thank.

So, thanks, DuPage County Republicans.

Oh, they didn’t do it by themselves.

Chicago Democratic Party legislators did most of the heavy lifting.

That’s appropriate because Chicago’s CTA gets most of the money.

But, let’s remember what three DuPage County state senators–doing the dirty work of DuPage County Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom–did to us.

Originally, the bribe for the McHenry County Board was to be $9 million earmarked for roads and public transportation. (Wasn’t that supposed to be RTA’s job?)

Here’s the language:

“to fund operating and capital costs of public transportation services or facilities or to fund operating, capital, right-of-way, construction, and maintenance costs of other transportation purposes, including road, bridge, public safety, and transit purposes intended to improve mobility or reduce congestion in the county.”

Proportionate amounts for all the collar counties.

But, for the most part, that was not sufficient enticement to merit a “Yes” vote on House Bill 656 from either collar county Republicans or Democrats.

None of the legislators representing McHenry County were part of the cabal that forced this 7.7% sales tax hike down our throats.

Then, the big-spending DuPage County Republicans, led by County Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom, decided that wasn’t good enough.

They wanted to spend the money on “public safety,” not roads.

So, the current DuPage County Republican County Chairman, Dan Cronin, conspired with the immediate past GOP chairman, Kirk Dillard, and the two convinced a third, newly minted DuPage County state senator, John Miller, to vote for the CTA bailout bill with an amendment that would allow the road money to be spent on the sheriff’s department and other public safety desires.

They didn’t come up with this idea on their own.

Their DuPage County Board Chairman Schillerstrom convinced them.

Hey, better than sweating out whether the voters would approve a half-cent sales tax in February 5th’s primary election, right?

Why let the people decide when three state senators can do the job so much quicker?

So much less messy.

And, remember that name Schillerstrom.

He wants to run for statewide office.

Note to any primary opponents: contact me.

So, now the McHenry County Board has almost twice the current state Motor Fuel Tax subsidy of $4.6 million to spend every year.

Now, the question is how to spend it.

The opposition coalition, by the way, was similar to 1974’s when the few Republicans who voted in favor of the Regional Transportation Authority’s creation, went down to defeat.

Think House Speaker and bill sponsor Bob Blair (R-Will County) and senate sponsor John Connelly (R-Lake County).

Yesterday, I held forth on how the Chicago Tribune’s bad, bad advice for more Republicans to vote for the RTA sales tax bill (Senate Bill 656) would further decimate suburban Republicans in the legislature.

Today, I turn to the root cause of the problem:

DuPage County’s rapacious county officials.

You know, the ones who never have enough money and–in the worst way–do not want to have to ask their constituents for permission to raise their taxes.

It’s as if this black cloud sweeping over Chicago has reversed course and headed due West.

The cloud of high taxes, heavier tax burdens.

In the State Senate, three DuPage County Republicans took a dive for DuPage County Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom and voted for the CTA/RTA bailout:

• Dan Cronin
• Kirk Dillard and
• John Millner

This fall, how will any of these suburban Republicans explain why railroad commuter fares soared, even though RTA sales taxes only increased 25% in Cook County,while tripling in DuPage County? (And, yes, I know the county folks are going to take half of the increase.)

Maybe the senators are not up for election.

In an article by Meg Dedolph, the Naperville Sun reports the blowback that Schillerstrom is getting from

• State Rep. Joe Dunn of Naperville,
• State Sen. Randy Hultgren of Wheaton and
• State Rep. Jim Meyer of Bolingbrook

And, Schillerstrom should be taking grief.

“All” he has to do is pass a February 5th referendum to impose a quarter cent county sales tax and the legislation would not be needed.

Winnebago County did it by referendum.

Why can’t DuPage, if it is really needed and the “will of people?”

But local officials like Schillerstrom, of course, simply don’t trust the will of his people?

Local officials always want state legislators to take the heat for raising local taxes.

My belief is that those who spend tax dollars should take the responsibility for raising them…or at least proposing raising them. If they can convince a majority of the electorate to approve a referendum, they should feel free to pass the blame.

Undoubtedly there will be consequences.

The obvious one will be to give a boost to Democrats in DuPage County.

Let me tell you a consequence that may be unintended, but one which could affect national politics.

After misreading the Senate roll call on SB 656, I wrote an article about how State Senator Debbie Halvorson’s “Yes” vote could hurt her in her attempt to win Jerry Weller’s congressional seat. I have apologized elsewhere for my mistake, but I do so again.

Nevertheless, the three DuPage County Republican state senators who cast “Yes” votes allowed Halvorson to skate. She is recorded as not voting.

Now, if her vote had been required and cast, the chain of logic I laid out in my article showing how Republicans could benefit would be in play.

If Halvorson wins the seat for the Democrats, fingers ought to be pointed at Schillerstrom and these three state senators for helping allow it to happen.

Of course, she still might be required to vote “Yes,” if the DuPage County senators change their minds and vote “No” on the amendatory veto. One is the GOP county chairman and another is immediate past chairman. Too bad they haven’t shown their concern for the GOP’s future in their RTA votes.

But, they have another chance to help undo the damage they have inflicted on the Republican Party’s anti-tax brand.

Schillerstrom is following in the footsteps of DuPage County Republicans in the 1980’s. Then the biggest legislative goal of DuPage County officials was to get their legislators to raise local taxes without a referendum.

They succeeded. Think DuPage County Airport’s and Water Commission’s, not to mention the school and park districts’ borrowing without asking voters. I once had a study done by the Legislative Research Council that found about 90% of the outstanding debt in DuPage County resulted from non-referendum bonds.

No wonder there was a revolt.

DuPage County successful hiking of taxes without referendums led to Governor Jim Edgar’s property tax cap proposal.

I guess we outside of DuPage County should thank its taxpayers for allowing us to have the protection that they did not have when they needed it.

Yesterday, I held forth on how the Chicago Tribune’s bad, bad advice for more Republicans to vote for the RTA sales tax bill (Senate Bill 656) would further decimate suburban Republicans in the legislature.

Today, I turn to the root cause of the problem:

DuPage County’s rapacious county officials.

You know, the ones who never have enough money and–in the worst way–do not want to have to ask their constituents for permission to raise their taxes.

It’s as if this black cloud sweeping over Chicago has reversed course and headed due West.

The cloud of high taxes, heavier tax burdens.

In the State Senate, three DuPage County Republicans took a dive for DuPage County Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom and voted for the CTA/RTA bailout:

• Dan Cronin
• Kirk Dillard and
• John Millner

This fall, how will any of these suburban Republicans explain why railroad commuter fares soared, even though RTA sales taxes only increased 25% in Cook County,while tripling in DuPage County? (And, yes, I know the county folks are going to take half of the increase.)

Maybe the senators are not up for election.

In an article by Meg Dedolph, the Naperville Sun reports the blowback that Schillerstrom is getting from

• State Rep. Joe Dunn of Naperville,
• State Sen. Randy Hultgren of Wheaton and
• State Rep. Jim Meyer of Bolingbrook

And, Schillerstrom should be taking grief.

“All” he has to do is pass a February 5th referendum to impose a quarter cent county sales tax and the legislation would not be needed.

Winnebago County did it by referendum.

Why can’t DuPage, if it is really needed and the “will of people?”

But local officials like Schillerstrom, of course, simply don’t trust the will of his people?

Local officials always want state legislators to take the heat for raising local taxes.

My belief is that those who spend tax dollars should take the responsibility for raising them…or at least proposing raising them. If they can convince a majority of the electorate to approve a referendum, they should feel free to pass the blame.

Undoubtedly there will be consequences.

The obvious one will be to give a boost to Democrats in DuPage County.

Let me tell you a consequence that may be unintended, but one which could affect national politics.

After misreading the Senate roll call on SB 656, I wrote an article about how State Senator Debbie Halvorson’s “Yes” vote could hurt her in her attempt to win Jerry Weller’s congressional seat. I have apologized elsewhere for my mistake, but I do so again.

Nevertheless, the three DuPage County Republican state senators who cast “Yes” votes allowed Halvorson to skate. She is recorded as not voting.

Now, if her vote had been required and cast, the chain of logic I laid out in my article showing how Republicans could benefit would be in play.

If Halvorson wins the seat for the Democrats, fingers ought to be pointed at Schillerstrom and these three state senators for helping allow it to happen.

Of course, she still might be required to vote “Yes,” if the DuPage County senators change their minds and vote “No” on the amendatory veto. One is the GOP county chairman and another is immediate past chairman. Too bad they haven’t shown their concern for the GOP’s future in their RTA votes.

But, they have another chance to help undo the damage they have inflicted on the Republican Party’s anti-tax brand.

Schillerstrom is following in the footsteps of DuPage County Republicans in the 1980’s. Then the biggest legislative goal of DuPage County officials was to get their legislators to raise local taxes without a referendum.

They succeeded. Think DuPage County Airport’s and Water Commission’s, not to mention the school and park districts’ borrowing without asking voters. I once had a study done by the Legislative Research Council that found about 90% of the outstanding debt in DuPage County resulted from non-referendum bonds.

No wonder there was a revolt.

DuPage County successful hiking of taxes without referendums led to Governor Jim Edgar’s property tax cap proposal.

I guess we outside of DuPage County should thank its taxpayers for allowing us to have the protection that they did not have when they needed it.