McHenry County Blog

A press release from State Senator Dan Duffy:

On the last night of legislative session in Springfield, when the clock was ticking towards midnight, President Cullerton called his “pension reform” bill for a vote.

President Cullerton’s pension reform bill didn’t address the teacher’s pension problems or other key pension liabilities which are bankrupting the state.

Although Sen. Duffy fully supports pension reforms, he debated the flaws of President Cullerton’s bill on the senate floor.

This brief three minute audio clip illustrates the contentious relationship between President Cullerton and Senator Duffy.

They both have differing opinions regarding how to address the states crippling debt.

Duffy wants to deal with the pension problem now, while Cullerton would like to keep kicking the can down the road.

Below is what Duffy said on the Senate Floor that last night of the session:

Duffy: “Mr. President I haven’t been here as long as some of my esteemed members of the Senate but I’ve been here for four years and I know that things move pretty quickly on the last day of session.

“Is this the only reform, pension reform bill, that we’re going to receive tonight?”

Chair: “President Cullerton.”

Cullerton: “Yes. This is the one I believe, that we have a consensus hopefully of a majority of the Senators.

“The other two systems there still are some very contentious issues that we don’t have an agreement on, so but these two, the General Assembly and the state employees I believe we have an agreement. Hopefully a majority of the Senators would agree.”

Chair: “Senator Duffy.”

Duffy: “To the bill Mr. President.

DanDuffy

“You know, after all the years of people discussing this pension problem.”After all the research, the think tanks, the analysis.

“After all the time and energy that went into pension reforms, and this is it?

“You know, this is like trying to put out a forest fire with a spray bottle. Earlier a member mentioned that he didn’t think someone in the chamber got the memo.

“I don’t think the leadership of the Democratic Party got the memo.

“We’re in debt.

“We have 83 billion dollars in unfunded pension liabilities, and this is all that we get.

“We are never going to get out of debt and we are never going to put our place in the state of Illinois and bring jobs and bring people back to the state of Illinois unless we truly try to take a look at our problems in this state.

“Now you’ve tried with Medicaid, and we’ve taken a step forward.

“Now we’re going to take two steps back with this farce of a bill that we call pension reform.

“We need to implement some fair and constitutionally accurate pension reforms.

“We need to cap pensions.

“We need to reduce COLA’s.

“We need to end the double dipping.

“Why is it that we can’t take a look at these low hanging fruit situations like that and cut those out immediately?

“Why is it that we let people in Illinois on pension systems receive multiple pensions from the state of Illinois?

“How hard is it to say pick one pension and go with it?

“So, you know if we’re not going to take a look at the easiest items and reform those then we’re not serious about pension reform.

“I understand this is a political year, I understand that there is an election coming up, but the people of Illinois are very smart.

“They can’t be fooled.

“To try to take this bill, put this out there, and say that now you’ve tackled pension reform, is a complete joke, and the people understand that it’s a farce.

“This is not going near far enough.

“This isn’t even the tip of the iceberg.

“We’re 85 billion dollars in debt and that’s going to continue to compound every day our bond rating is going to continue to drop and people and companies are going to continue to leave the state of Illinois until the leadership on that side of the aisle grabs a ball grabs a mitt, and decides to get in the game.

“You have the leadership.

“You’re in charge.

“You can pass any bill, anytime you want without one vote from this side of the aisle.

“Well now here’s your chance to do something.

“Here’s your chance to lead and put Illinois back on top.

“And you are failing.

“You are passing up that opportunity and you are kicking that can down the road once again.”

This doesn’t mean a lot to anyone but the candidates themselves, but the lottery results are in for length of terms for State Senators.

With four-year terms, the two 2012 winners in McHenry County are

• Pam Althoff  (Term lengths are 4-2-4)
• Dan Duffy (Term lengths are 4-2-4)

Karen McConnaughay drew a two-year term.  Her other terms this decade will be four year terms.

Here are the results of the Secretary of State’s length of term lottery for all districts:

Above you can find the years when State Senators get four and two year terms. Click to enlarge.

Sunday's Tribune editorial on Medicaid claims those who voted "No" have no right to vote "Yes" for more money for schools or public safety.

The State is in a fiscal pit brought on, I would argue, by far too many people not willing to vote, “No.”

Perhaps someone other than I voted “No” more often in the Illinois General Assembly, but I doubt it.

I know that when the Illinois Conservative Union was keeping track of budget votes in the 1970′s I voted to appropriated less money than anyone else. (Ask John Curry, who did the tallies.)

And I didn’t vote for Governor George Ryan’s Illinois FIRST bonding program for which my 14-year son will still be paying off, if he doesn’t leave Illinois to avoid that and other burdens, when he is in his late 20′s. A lot of that money went to pay for asphalt, a road surface that needs replacement about every five years and most assuredly should not be financed with 25-year bonds.

But in the fairly large vote to cut welfare’s medical benefits last week, State Rep. Jack Franks cast a vote against reform by voting “No.”

Voting in favor in the House, as explained in this press release, was State Rep. Mike Tryon.

Kent Gaffney did not vote.

State Senator Pam Althoff and Dan Duffy also supported the changes.

David McSweeney

Dan Duffy

A message from Brent Smith:

“We have two people who have precincts in McHenry County and could use our support.

“Please consider volunteering to march with

• Senator Dan Duffy 26th District in the Memorial Day Parade in Wauconda he will be at across the street from the High School on Main Street at 9:00 a.m. and
• David McSweeney running for House Representative 52nd District will be joining the Wauconda Township Republican Club in the parade.

“Line up is at 9am, with parade step-off at 10am. It should not be more than and hour to donate your time; kids and friends welcome to join in the fun.”

= = = = =
For more information about Dan Duffy you can contact Brent Smith (815) 382-3985.

For more information abut David McSweeney you can contact Drew (847) 507-0561).

Rarely can it be said that local governmental officials want people looking over their backs.

Dan Duffy

When someone new starts coming to board meetings, it’s not long before one of the officials tries to find out why the newcomer is there.

The audience member might be a threat at the next election.

Last year State Senator Dan Duffy presented the idea of requiring local governments to publish the transactions of their check books.

That, of course, would allow the ordinary hoi poloi to see what their tax dollars are being spent on and the public officials would not know who knew what.

In any event, I noticed that St. Louis Post Springfield reporter Kevin McDermott mentioned Duffy’s bill in an article about the $53 million embezzlement in Dixon, Illinois.

Here’s what McDermott wrote:

“…the story is nonetheless making waves in Springfield and elsewhere, prompting local leaders to double-check the books.

“How many other Dixons might be out there right now?” asked Illinois state Sen. Dan Duffy, R-Barrington.

“His bill to require cities to post their finances online was believed to be dead this year, but it is now revived because of shock in Springfield over the Dixon story.”

The bill’s number is HB3895.

A press release from State Senator Dan Duffy:

Dan Duffy

Senator Duffy calls for government checkbooks to be online

Lawmaker says transparency could have prevented 53M theft from Dixon, IL

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (May 9, 2012) – Following allegations that a Dixon city official stole $53 million from city coffers, State Senator Dan Duffy is calling for legislation that would require local governments in Illinois to post their checkbooks online.

Senator Duffy’s bill, SB 3392, would require all local governments – including school boards, townships and municipalities – to post their checkbooks online.

The state senator said it’s possible that the alleged Dixon theft could have been flagged earlier if the public had access to this vital information.

Senator Duffy has been pursuing this transparency bill for several years.

In the past, Springfield leadership has not allowed this bill to be called in a senate committee for a hearing.

“These accusations highlight why it’s so important for Illinois to move forward on government transparency,” said Sen. Duffy, R-Lake Barrington.

“If you look at the city of Dixon’s website, there is almost no financial information available to the public.

“Without filing onerous Freedom of Information Act requests, the public had no mechanism for holding its city officials accountable or investigating the finances themselves.”

The Illinois Policy Institute supports this legislation and greater efforts by Sen. Duffy to improve the level of government transparency in Illinois.

Since 2010, the nonpartisan Institute has partnered with local citizen activists to grade governments on how much public information is available online. More than 130 government entities have been graded using the Institute’s 10-Point Transparency Checklist.

The city of Dixon received a failing grade on the [Illinois Policy] Institute’s audit, scoring only 18.1 out of 100 possible points. [Emphasis added.]

In addition to having no budget or financial information available on the city’s website, there also is no information outlining how to file a Freedom of Information Request, how much government employees are paid or tax information.

“After seeing how little public information is available on Dixon’s website, it’s no surprise that the alleged theft went under the radar for so long,” said Brian Costin, director of government reform at the Illinois Policy Institute.

“What Dixon and the entire state must do now is create a culture of transparency and accountability. This will help weed out corruption, and restore the public’s faith in local government.”

A press release from State Senator Dan Duffy:

Dixon $30 million theft prompts Sens. Duffy to call for government checkbooks to be online

Lawmaker says transparency could have prevented theft from city

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (May 1, 2012) – Following allegations that a Dixon city official stole $30 million from city coffers, State Sens. Dan Duffy is calling for legislation that would require local governments in Illinois to post their checkbooks online.

Senate Bill 3392 would require all local governments – including school boards, townships and municipalities – to post their checkbooks online. The state senators say it’s possible that the alleged theft could have been flagged earlier if the public had access to this vital information.

“These accusations highlight why it’s so important for Illinois to move forward on government transparency,” said Sen. Duffy, R-Lake Barrington.

Dan Duffy

“If you look at the city of Dixon’s website, there is almost no financial information available to the public. Without filing onerous Freedom of Information Act requests, the public had no mechanism for holding its city officials accountable or investigating the finances themselves.”

The Illinois Policy Institute supports this legislation and greater efforts by Sen. Duffy and others to improve the level of government transparency in Illinois.

Since 2010, the nonpartisan Institute has partnered with local citizen activists to grade governments on how much public information is available online. More than 130 government entities have been graded using the Institute’s 10-Point Transparency Checklist.

The city of Dixon received a failing grade on the Institute’s audit, scoring only 18.1 out of 100 possible points. In addition to having no budget or financial information available on the city’s website, there also is no information outlining how to file a Freedom of Information Request, how much government employees are paid or tax information.

“After seeing how little public information is available on Dixon’s website, it’s no surprise that the alleged theft went under the radar for so long,” said Brian Costin, director of government reform at the Illinois Policy Institute. “What Dixon and the entire state must do now is create a culture of transparency and accountability. This will help weed out corruption, and restore the public’s faith in local government.”

A press release from State Senator Dan Duffy:

Dan Duffy

Springfield, IL. – State Sen. Dan Duffy is among a group of lawmakers who are banding together to promote common sense government.

“We are coming together and uniting our efforts to promote a limited, fiscally-responsible and ethically-reformed state government,” said Duffy (Lake Barrington).

More information about the Common Sense Caucus.

The Common Sense Caucus (CSC) is dedicated to promoting a limited, fiscally responsible, ethically reformed state government.

CSC members must have the courage to:

• Stop Spending – State government must stop spending beyond its means.
• Stop Borrowing – The State Government must stop “Cooking the Books”.   Illinois borrows billions annually to continue the status quo and has the nerve to claim we have a “balanced budget”. We must actually balance the budget per our Illinois Constitution.
• Repeal the Quinn/Madigan 67% Tax Increase – We must “open Illinois for business” and create a business friendly environment.
  

  In my Libertarian Party campaign for Governor in 2002, I planted this idea.

• Reform Pensions – Modify government employee benefits to match private sector benefits.
• Reform Ethics Laws – Implement substantial political ethic reforms which will help change the culture of corruption in Illinois.
• Adopt Term Limits – Set term limits for all levels of state government, including legislative leaders.
• Demand transparency and accountability – End the “behind closed doors” approach and mentality in Springfield.
• Repair our reputation in the nation – Make Illinois a state we can all be proud to call “home”.

We will evaluate every single piece of legislation based on these principles. We will support all legislation that concurs with these main principles – and oppose legislation that does not.

The CSC will add an interesting dynamic to the final weeks of the 2012 legislative session and beyond.

No outside lobbyists, groups, or money will influence our votes.

We will consider future members for the CSC by reviewing their voting record.

We will have all members voting records regarding these issues available to be publicly viewed.

Every member will be held accountable for their votes.

The Common Sense Caucus will be co-chaired by Dan Duffy (R-26th District) and Senator Kyle McCarter (R-51st District).

Other members include

• Sam McCann (R-49th District)
• Darin LaHood (R-37th District)
• Chris Lauzen (R-25th District)

A press release from State Senator Dan Duffy:

A red light camera in Florida.

Senator Duffy’s “One Second for Safety” bill, SB3504, passed in the Senate 43 YEAS and 5 Nays

Senator Duffy’s “One Second for Safety” bill adds one second of yellow time to intersections which are equipped with Red Light Cameras. This bill is based on studies conducted by

• Texas A&M University
• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)
• Georgia
• Ohio and others.

All studies show accidents decrease anywhere from 35% to 92% by adding one second of yellow time at troubled intersections.

No studies dispute these facts.

This bill follows all federal traffic safety guidelines which state yellow light time must be between 3 – 6 seconds.

The bill will not allow cities and municipalities to reduce yellow light time at red light camera intersections.

Along with reducing accidents, the One Second for Safety bill will also drastically reduce red light camera tickets.

The City of Chicago and powerful Red Light Camera lobbyists strongly opposed the bill.

The Senate agreed with Senator Duffy’s safety measure and overwhelmingly supported the bill.

SB3504 will now move onto the House for a vote.

Please contact your House Representative and ask them to SUPPORT SB3504. A list of email addresses can be found at http://www.senatorduffy.com/, click on “G.A. Email List” at top of the page or a list of all contact information can be found by clicking on the representative’s name through the following link, http://www.ilga.gov/house/.

Dan Duffy conducting his Springfield 101 course in Prairie Grove.

Here’s the information that popped into my inbox:

“Please come to hear Senator Dan Duffy R, this Wed. 11th,  at 7 pm speak on Legislation at the Church of Holy Apostles, 5211 W. Bull Valley rd.  in McHenry, Il.

“Our Rockford group met him on Advocacy day in Springfield.

“He is pro life and he told us, he gives a talk on Springfield 101 and explains what we need to know about legislation.

“He was invited to Holy Apostles to speak.”