McHenry County Blog


Archive for the ‘Earmarks’

Past Pork

August 24, 2007 By: Cal Skinner Category: Earmarks, Member Initiative, Mike Tryon, Pork

Yesterday, I presume all of the pork or member initiatives or earmarks or add-ons were vetoed by Governor Rod Blagojevich. If you would like to know what State Senator Pam Althoff and State Rep. Mike Tryon put in the budget, you can find it here and in links to this article. There are other projects as well which I assume that State Reps. Jack Franks and Mark Beaubien are responsible for. State Senator Bill Peterson may have put some in, too, but I haven’t seen any project lists from these three.

= = = = =
Addendum: Rich Miller’s Capitol Fax Blog says,

It appears that most, if not all, of the House Republican “pork” was left intact. Bizarre, eh?

So, maybe Reps. Tryon and Beaubien’s member initiatives are intact.
= = = = =

In keeping with my attempt to create a political record that people interested in governmental affairs can find, however, today McHenry County Blog publishes a list of almost $2 million of member initiatives for 2002 provided by State Representative Mike Tryon:

MEMBER INITIATIVE ALLOCATIONS, 2002 $

Algonquin/LITH Fire department imaging cameras – 27,800

Cary – sidewalks – 50,000

PADS – new transitional shelter – 25,000

Crystal Lake Park District – picnic shelter – 43,400

Safety Town – LITH – 58,000

Lakewood Police – new station – 100,000

Huntley – tornado warning system – 50,000

Family Services – new parking lot and renovations – 25,000

Marengo – new sewer/water to high school – 25,000

Pioneer Center – renovate basement of one group home – 45,000

Algonquin – Cornish Park – 25,000

(Lakeside) Legacy – 75,000

Crystal Lake – sidewalks and streetlights – 50,000

Crystal Lake Park District – 36,000

Boone Creek Watershed – 325,000

Turning Point – 75,000

Grafton Township (building expansion) – 150,800

MCCD – 750,000

Habitat for Humanity – 30,000

TOTAL – 1,966,000

Past Pork

August 24, 2007 By: Cal Skinner Category: Earmarks, Member Initiative, Mike Tryon, Pork

Yesterday, I presume all of the pork or member initiatives or earmarks or add-ons were vetoed by Governor Rod Blagojevich. If you would like to know what State Senator Pam Althoff and State Rep. Mike Tryon put in the budget, you can find it here and in links to this article. There are other projects as well which I assume that State Reps. Jack Franks and Mark Beaubien are responsible for. State Senator Bill Peterson may have put some in, too, but I haven’t seen any project lists from these three.

= = = = =
Addendum: Rich Miller’s Capitol Fax Blog says,

It appears that most, if not all, of the House Republican “pork” was left intact. Bizarre, eh?

So, maybe Reps. Tryon and Beaubien’s member initiatives are intact.
= = = = =

In keeping with my attempt to create a political record that people interested in governmental affairs can find, however, today McHenry County Blog publishes a list of almost $2 million of member initiatives for 2002 provided by State Representative Mike Tryon:

MEMBER INITIATIVE ALLOCATIONS, 2002 $

Algonquin/LITH Fire department imaging cameras – 27,800

Cary – sidewalks – 50,000

PADS – new transitional shelter – 25,000

Crystal Lake Park District – picnic shelter – 43,400

Safety Town – LITH – 58,000

Lakewood Police – new station – 100,000

Huntley – tornado warning system – 50,000

Family Services – new parking lot and renovations – 25,000

Marengo – new sewer/water to high school – 25,000

Pioneer Center – renovate basement of one group home – 45,000

Algonquin – Cornish Park – 25,000

(Lakeside) Legacy – 75,000

Crystal Lake – sidewalks and streetlights – 50,000

Crystal Lake Park District – 36,000

Boone Creek Watershed – 325,000

Turning Point – 75,000

Grafton Township (building expansion) – 150,800

MCCD – 750,000

Habitat for Humanity – 30,000

TOTAL – 1,966,000

Libraries Win Money in Budget Sweepstakes

August 14, 2007 By: Cal Skinner Category: Algonquin Library District, Cary Library District, Crystal Lake Library, Earmarks, Huntley Library District, Jack Franks, Mark Beaubien, Member Initiative, Mike Tryon, Pork

There is no guarantee that any of the so-called member initiatives (“pork” to most) in the budget sent to Governor Rod Blagojevich will ever reach local governments and charitable organizations, but if it does it isn’t just municipalities and townships who will end up in the winning circle.

Four libraries will get to claim some money, variously called earmarks, member initiatives or just pork.

These earmarks or pork came from State Representatives Mike Tryon, Jack Franks and Mark Beaubien. State Senator Pam Althoff has another $1.3 million which has not been identified in budget line items.

And, here there are:

  • Algonquin Library District – $12,500 for technology and software upgrades
  • Cay Library District – $5,000 for technology and software upgrades
  • Crystal Lake Library District (which does not exist as a district) – $20,000 for technology and software upgrades
  • Huntley Library District – $12,500 for technology and software upgrades

Libraries Win Money in Budget Sweepstakes

August 14, 2007 By: Cal Skinner Category: Algonquin Library District, Cary Library District, Crystal Lake Library, Earmarks, Huntley Library District, Jack Franks, Mark Beaubien, Member Initiative, Mike Tryon, Pork

There is no guarantee that any of the so-called member initiatives (“pork” to most) in the budget sent to Governor Rod Blagojevich will ever reach local governments and charitable organizations, but if it does it isn’t just municipalities and townships who will end up in the winning circle.

Four libraries will get to claim some money, variously called earmarks, member initiatives or just pork.

These earmarks or pork came from State Representatives Mike Tryon, Jack Franks and Mark Beaubien. State Senator Pam Althoff has another $1.3 million which has not been identified in budget line items.

And, here there are:

  • Algonquin Library District – $12,500 for technology and software upgrades
  • Cay Library District – $5,000 for technology and software upgrades
  • Crystal Lake Library District (which does not exist as a district) – $20,000 for technology and software upgrades
  • Huntley Library District – $12,500 for technology and software upgrades

Cities and Villages Could Cash In with State Budget

August 12, 2007 By: Cal Skinner Category: Earmarks, Jack Franks, Mark Beaubien, Mike Tryon, Pork

Yesterday, McHenry County Blog showed which social service agencies would win big if the budget the General Assembly has passed becomes law.

Want to know which local governments that local State Representatives Jack Franks (D-Bull Valley), Mike Tryon (R-Crystal Lake) and Mark Beaubien (R-Barrington Hills) think highly of…or least think highly of their elected officials?

Take a look at which McHenry County cities and villages McHenry County’s state representatives want to get how much.

I count $2.5 million. All of the money may not be in the budget for the first time. If it were appropriated in past years, it would show up again.

The state reps are supposed to have $650,000 each. Obviously, the money below is more than all three together could allocate. And it doesn’t count what McHenry County Blog reported yesterday and will report tomorrow.

Of course, Governor Rod Blagojevich pledges not to sign the bill because it is “all about pork, politics and false promises.”

Expect him to make everyone else look bad.

Whether it’s pork, a member initiative or an earmark, let’s look at what the municipalities might get:

  • Algonquin – $250,000 Spella Park development
  • Crystal Lake – $250,000 for a regional emergency management forward mobile interoperable communication command center
  • Greenwood – $20,000 for road improvements
  • Harvard – $50,000 for sidewalk improvements
  • Harvard-$30,000 for police and fire equipment
  • Hebron – $100,000 for construction of an addition to the police department and the purchase of equipment
  • Huntley – $1 million to widen Route 47 from Kreutzer to Reed Road
  • Johnsburg – $40,000 for police equipment and infrastructure
  • Lake in the Hills Parks Department – $45,000 for infrastructure and capital improvements
  • Marengo – $200,000 for computer equipment and software for city billing, administration and police
  • McCullom Lake – $20,000 for village hall renovations
  • McHenry – $50,000 for police equipment and infrastructure
  • Port Barrington – $100,000 for sewer and water improvements
  • Richmond – $30,000 for fire equipment and police equipment
  • Spring Grove – $20,000 for a police car and fire equipment
  • Union – $20,000 for emergency fire and police equipment
  • Union – $30,000 for waterway improvement
  • Union – $200,000 for drainage improvement of unnamed tributary of the Kishwaukee River tributary
  • Wonder Lake – $40,000 for police equipment and park improvements
  • Woodstock – $50,000 for police vehicle

Let me note that the waterway improvements for Union may not be legislative earmarks. I know from personal experience in the 1970’s that Union has real drainage problems and can qualify on an objective rating for flood control projects. The project I successfully got in the budget ranked second in the state in is benefit to cost ratio.

Notice who is missing?

How about Bull Valley, Cary, Fox River Grove, Island Lake, Lakewood, Lakemoor, Prairie Grove, Ringwood? Are there others I overlooked?

I don’t know where to put this:

Algonquin/Carpentersville – $2,820,000 for Long Meadow Parkway
Fox River Bridge Crossing, Bolz Road

Is it a combination of efforts from Kane and McHenry County legislators?

Will it be enough to convince local officials not to go forward with a toll bridge?

Tomorrow, see what townships would get so much.

Cities and Villages Could Cash In with State Budget

August 12, 2007 By: Cal Skinner Category: Earmarks, Jack Franks, Mark Beaubien, Mike Tryon, Pork

Yesterday, McHenry County Blog showed which social service agencies would win big if the budget the General Assembly has passed becomes law.

Want to know which local governments that local State Representatives Jack Franks (D-Bull Valley), Mike Tryon (R-Crystal Lake) and Mark Beaubien (R-Barrington Hills) think highly of…or least think highly of their elected officials?

Take a look at which McHenry County cities and villages McHenry County’s state representatives want to get how much.

I count $2.5 million. All of the money may not be in the budget for the first time. If it were appropriated in past years, it would show up again.

The state reps are supposed to have $650,000 each. Obviously, the money below is more than all three together could allocate. And it doesn’t count what McHenry County Blog reported yesterday and will report tomorrow.

Of course, Governor Rod Blagojevich pledges not to sign the bill because it is “all about pork, politics and false promises.”

Expect him to make everyone else look bad.

Whether it’s pork, a member initiative or an earmark, let’s look at what the municipalities might get:

  • Algonquin – $250,000 Spella Park development
  • Crystal Lake – $250,000 for a regional emergency management forward mobile interoperable communication command center
  • Greenwood – $20,000 for road improvements
  • Harvard – $50,000 for sidewalk improvements
  • Harvard-$30,000 for police and fire equipment
  • Hebron – $100,000 for construction of an addition to the police department and the purchase of equipment
  • Huntley – $1 million to widen Route 47 from Kreutzer to Reed Road
  • Johnsburg – $40,000 for police equipment and infrastructure
  • Lake in the Hills Parks Department – $45,000 for infrastructure and capital improvements
  • Marengo – $200,000 for computer equipment and software for city billing, administration and police
  • McCullom Lake – $20,000 for village hall renovations
  • McHenry – $50,000 for police equipment and infrastructure
  • Port Barrington – $100,000 for sewer and water improvements
  • Richmond – $30,000 for fire equipment and police equipment
  • Spring Grove – $20,000 for a police car and fire equipment
  • Union – $20,000 for emergency fire and police equipment
  • Union – $30,000 for waterway improvement
  • Union – $200,000 for drainage improvement of unnamed tributary of the Kishwaukee River tributary
  • Wonder Lake – $40,000 for police equipment and park improvements
  • Woodstock – $50,000 for police vehicle

Let me note that the waterway improvements for Union may not be legislative earmarks. I know from personal experience in the 1970’s that Union has real drainage problems and can qualify on an objective rating for flood control projects. The project I successfully got in the budget ranked second in the state in is benefit to cost ratio.

Notice who is missing?

How about Bull Valley, Cary, Fox River Grove, Island Lake, Lakewood, Lakemoor, Prairie Grove, Ringwood? Are there others I overlooked?

I don’t know where to put this:

Algonquin/Carpentersville – $2,820,000 for Long Meadow Parkway
Fox River Bridge Crossing, Bolz Road

Is it a combination of efforts from Kane and McHenry County legislators?

Will it be enough to convince local officials not to go forward with a toll bridge?

Tomorrow, see what townships would get so much.

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