McHenry County Blog

State Senator and Republican gubernatorial candidate Kirk Dillard speaks to mainly women at Crystal Lake's 1776 restaurant.

Billing himself as the only non-millionaire in the race for the Republican nomination for governor, State Senator Kirk Dillard spoke to mainly women at Crystal Lake’s 1776 restaurant Tuesday morning.

He related having received this advice from his former boss, former Governor Jim Edgar:

“You must find a way to attract women and Latinos.”

State Senator Kirk Dillard greets Cathy Danca after the 1776 breakfast hosted by his colleague State Senator Pam Althoff.

Jobs, education and safety are the approaches Dillard said he was taking for both demographics.

My friend Pete Castillo and I arrived during the question and answer session for the 45 or so McHenry Countians in attendance.

Dillard reflected on his ability to work with newly-elected Senate President John Cullerton:

“We work on things we can get along on.”

In answer to a question about the pension debt hanging over Illinois, Dillard came out in favor of a two-tiered pension system with new employees not being guaranteed a certain amount each month.

(Government pensions are typically called “defined benefits.” They guarantee a certain amount each month and, in the case of Illinois, a 3% increase each year whether inflation is lower or higher. Private enterprise has moved from the defined benefit approach to a “defined contribution” approach in which the employer agrees to put so much a pay period into a pension pot. The amount available for retirement depends on how the money is invested and whether and how much the employee sets aside his or her own money for retirement.)

Dillard said he thought he was the only one who could pull that off (not his words). In a telephone town meeting with Andy McKenna, I heard his rival take something of a similar approach to reforming future pensions.

Dillard pointed out that the pension problem is not just one for state taxpayers. Local governments’ police and fire protection personnel have similar problems of under funding.

“We can’t sustain” the state pension situation, Dillard said. If something is not done about the pension system, “we will have no money for education, (hospitals and other functions financed by state government).”

Why does Dillard say that?

Because the Illinois state constitution pretty much says that pensions get paid first. At least as long as members of the Illinois Supreme Court get pensions like other state employees.

Prairie Grove Village Administrator Jeanine Smith and former State Representative Rosemary Kurtz listen to GOP gubernatorial candidate Kirk Dillard.

“I’m the person who has the political courage to get it done),” the state senator said, indicating he would tell state employee union leaders,

“If we don’t make these changes, we’ll go insolvent and a Federal bankruptcy judge will (impose) them.”

A question was asked about providing “tax credits up to a certain level” for contributions to not-for-profit organizations. Credits are subtractions from what one owes in state or federal income taxes.

Dillard indicated his support for such a change in the income tax law because not-for-profit groups provide better services cheaper than state government.

Touching on the precarious nature of state finances, Edgar’s former chief of staff pointed out that bills were paid in 17 days when the former governor was in office, but now a nursing home in his district hasn’t been paid “in more than five months.”

More tomorrow.

Springfield political columnist Bernie (OK, Bernard) Schoenburg of Springfield’s State Journal-Register flushed out details of why State Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo) hasn’t announced his future political plans.

Part, he points out, is probably because of his son Henry’s bar mitzvah last weekend.

And here are details about Franks’ trip to Ireland that I have seen no where else:

“Franks was to take off this weekend on a trip to Ireland with other lawmakers, including House Speaker MICHAEL MADIGAN and Senate President JOHN CULLERTON.

“The organizer of the trip is state Rep. DAN BURKE, D-Chicago, Franks said. Travelers are spending their own money, Franks said, though some meetings will take place with Irish officials.”

Sparking Schoenburg’s interest in Franks was a press release he sent out to national and state media. The Springfield reporter shared some of it:

“As a guest, Rep. Franks can provide firsthand insight into the quirky, dysfunctional chemistry between the legislature and Blagojevich.

“Rep. Franks … chaired several hearings that revealed the abuses of power and wrongdoing Blagojevich has been indicted on.”

The promotion apparently worked. The columnist wrote,

Franks was “interviewed by some national radio shows and by newspapers including USA Today.”

McHenry County Blog has suggested a campaign theme that might win Franks the Democratic Party nomination.

I wonder if Madigan, who, remember, has strings all over Illinois, and Cullerton will encourage or discourage Franks.

I wonder if Madigan, who, remember, has strings all over Illinois both as House Speaker and Chairman of the Democratic Party, and Cullerton will encourage or discourage Franks’s gubernatorial ambitions.

Apparently I missed some tension while having dinner at the Crystal Lake Country Club.

I admit to raising the body temperatures of some club members by asking if they were ready to pay a 6.25% state sales tax on their membership fees.

I didn’t get to watch the Illinois House defeat Governor Pat Quinn’s 50% income tax increase.

Now the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting,

Reporter Dave McKinney and Jordan Wilson wrote that the bill failed 42-74.

Republicans voted against the bill. 25 Democrats did, too.

The article does not point out that the state income tax would have risen 50% under the legislation.

If a 50% income tax increase can’t pass, it is unlikely Senate President John Cullerton’s and Senator James Meeks’ 67% income tax hike probably won’t pass either. The article says only 35 indicated support for the larger tax hike.

Is the next move “pass my budget or else,” Governor Quinn’s so-called “Doomsday Budget“?

It seems to me that House Democrats have decided to try to force Republicans to vote for whatever tax increase they eventually want to pass.

But, since the Dems have a veto-proof majority in both houses, every Republican who votes for such a tax hike will let a Democrat off the hook come election time. I hope there are any such weak sisters.

Yesterday I wrote more stories about Springfield than I ever have before in one day.

I covered Mike Tryon’s campaign sign bill, Jack Franks’ recall constitutional amendment and the John Cullerton/James Meeks’ 67% income tax hike/ services sales tax imposition and Terry Link/Dave Syverson four casino bill.

But before all the action, I picked up on State Rep. Art Turner’s comment on the incomplete “COURAGE” being displayed by House Democrats.

I entitled it

After an extended part caucus in which a reported 39 of the needed votes seemed to have identified themselves, according to the Chicago Tribune, Turner said,

“We’re looking for courage. We’re close. We’ve got it spelled C-O-U-R, but we’re looking for the rest of it.”

I observed that the last four letters of “COURAGE” are

Meanwhile in the Illinois Senate, the article says,

“…an even bigger tax plan emerged, courtesy of Sen. James Meeks (D-Chicago).

“The proposal — which could raise upward of $6 billion — would increase the income tax by 67 percent and expand the sales tax on services such as dry cleaning, video rental, dating services and carpet cleaning. The theory is that a larger tax bite would mean fewer cuts.”

I ended the article with

And that admonishment was before the State Senate voted to raise income taxes by 67% and taxed every electronic signal coming into our home except radio.

So, Turner has half of his wish.

Senate Democrats provided all the letters to his word “COURAGE” and now House has two income tax choices:

But the RAGE may have to wait for readers of two of the four newspapers I read.

Look at the front pages of the Sunday editions of the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Elgin Courier-News and McHenry County’s Northwest Herald.

Nothing about the pending tax hike above the fold on the front page of the Chicago Tribune. But there was room to hype a “summer fun” guide.

There’s a story about state politics on the Tribune’s front page, but it’s about politicians trying to get kids into the University of Illinois, not about politicians trying to pick our pockets.

Nothing about the tax hike below the fold either.

The Chicago Sun-Times did figure out that the tax hike story was important enough to mention on its front page, though. Kudos to the Sun-Times

In the Elgin Courier-News there is a large word that might be appropriate if applied to taxpayers:

But i’t about abandoned homes.

There is an ad for Elgin’s Grand Victoria Casino on the bottom of the page. Guess the paper has learned who is paying its bills.

But there is nothing in the paper about the 67% income tax hike passed in the Senate.

And, finally, the Northwest Herald’s front page:

Nothing above the fold, but the Associated Press story is found below.

So, the score card is 2 for 4.

Readers of the largest circulation newspaper in Illinois won’t know anything about the tax hike, if that is there only source of news today.

They will be in for a big surprise tomorrow, if either bill passes.

If you want to call your legislator, the state switchboard in Springfield is open. The number is 217-782-2000.

A 50% income tax hike was not high enough. Slot machines in every convenience store and tavern wouldn’t tempt enough people.

Senate Democrats caved into the Rev. and Senator James Meeks’ goal and voted 31-27-1 to raise income tax rates 67%, plus putting sales taxes on 39 services, including internet service providers, cable television, photocopying, private clubs, dating services, oil exchange and goodness knows what else, except sponsor Senator John Cullerton told the Senate that barbers had been left alone.

I guess they talk so much they are dangerous.

Speaking against the bill were

• Lake Barrington’s Dan Duffy
• DuPage County’s Kirk Dillard
• LaSalle’s County’s Gary Dahl
• Okawville ’s David Luechtefeld
• Dixon’s Tim Bivens
• Bloomington’s Bill Brady
• Chenoa’s Dan Rutherford
• Palatine’s Matt Murphy

Silent was Republican Senate Leader Christine Radogno.

By far the most effective was Matt Murphy.

He is in the Ronald Reagan of disagreeing without being disagreeable.

His best line was,

“To me this is a prescription to win the race with Michigan to the economic bottom of this nation.”

Murphy began by asking that people disagree agreeably, that they not take the debate personally.

Next he moved onto the fact that Illinois is “one of 7 states with fewer jobs than we had ten years ago.

“That means $4,000 in lost taxes for every job we don’t have.

“The people in this state are leaving. They are assessing the value of the American Dream and are sadly finding it someplace else.

He said the proposal was “the highest tax increase in Illinois history.

Then, he compared Illinois with Michigan.

Murphy warned Democrats that the promise of property tax relief held out by Senator Meeks and others in promoting Senate Bill 750 would backfire, just as the lottery did.

People heard Zeke Giorgi tell them that the lottery would solve the problem of funding education and were surprised when it did not. (In fact, the lottery was passed to fund the Regional Transportation Authority in 1974, which Murphy apparently did not know or his point would have stronger. The lottery was not earmarked for education until the mic-1980’s when the next generation of legislators got tried of complaints that it wasn’t going to education.)

Murphy was referring to the so-called “tax swap” part of the bill.

People will think,

“My property tax bill is finally going down.

“It’s not.

“It’s going up.”

Had Murphy (or anyone else) a longer perspective, they might have pointed out that (and I’m virtually certain I am correct here) have pointed out that the property tax credit used to be 10%, but was cut back to 5% in order to use the money for something else in the budget.

“Be careful. Be careful,” he said.

He again assuaged the feelings of the bill’s supporters.

“I appreciate the Senate, the intentions of the (supporters of the bill).

“If you look at Governor Quinn’s budget, it balances.”

“You can come up with cuts (to balance the budget).

“I did my homework. I didn’t share it, Mr. President. I didn’t share it,” referring to Senate President John Cullerton’s chiding of Republicans for not coming up with suggested cuts.

“You can make the cuts.

“You don’t have to raise taxes.

“To fund the pension, you may have to short term borrow.

Referring to the bill, Murphy concluded by saying,

“This is a dagger hanging over the head of everyone in Illinois.”

There were so many other good arguments by Republican senators.

But it’s late and I’m tired. Maybe I’ll find time to give some of the other speeches justice tomorrow.

If the House doesn’t decide to follow the Senate Democrats’ lead and try to mortally wound Illinois.

I do want to tell you that Murphy’s demeanor and presentation impressed me the most.

Is he running for governor?

Oh, yes.

With Rockford Republican Dave Syverson leading the way for the GOP, Lake County’s Terry Link managed to pass his bill to put casinos in Waukegan, Rockford, Danville and Chicago. The vote was 30-28-0. It failed the first time up.

State Senator Brad Burzynski (R-Rochelle), who represents part of the Rockford area, verified the vote, that is, made sure the 30 votes necessary to pass a bill in the Senate really were on the floor.

The Senate lists the bill being debated on its web site as it broadcasts debates. Senate Bill 174 was the 67% income tax hike and service sales tax imposition bill. Senate Bill 744 was the casino bill. Murphy has a photo with the casino bill’s number under his name because he spoke against that bill.

You may have noted that the Chicago Tribune is putting a story with the logo

on its front page.

Everyday, I guess, but I only looked at Friday’s and Monday’s papers for this article.

Friday the upper right hand story was entitled

It was by Springfield Bureau Chief Ray Long, with the assistance of Ashley Rueff and Robert Becker.

It probably tilts toward the reformers’ point of view a bit, but it tells what’s happening in the State Capitol.

Monday’s article, by Rick Pearson, is not so objective.

Pearson starts with the premise that reform could be linked to an income tax hike.

As if taxpayers would willingly accept a 50% income tax hike for any change in the way of doing business that led the Democrats to hike spending by a billion dollars a year since they took control of all three branches of state government, thus, getting the state into the mess it now has.

Did you know

“rank-and-file legislators may decide the more reforms they enact, the more it could give them cover for raising the state’s income tax…”

Didn’t think so.

Having established the theme of his article, Pearson goes around and asks whether such a quid pro quo is likely.

Needless to say, he found someone to agree with the strategy he advances. And he got quoted first.

But others, like Senate President John Cullerton and House Republican Leader Tom Cross disagreed.

House Speaker Mike Madigan is the only significant voice to support Pearson’s thesis.

And the “let me continue doing what I’ve always done, but limit what others (excluding newspapers) can spend” approach to finance reform is not meaningful reform.

Pearson doesn’t even point out that most of the so-called reform folks are liberal enough to be in favor a massive income tax hike anyway.

Keep an eye the Tribune’s coverage of this strategy for passing a huge tax hike this week.

One of the proposals which has the greatest potential to break the logjam in Springfield is the one I campaigned on for governor in 2002:

Needless to say, legislative leaders think this is horrible idea.

New Republican Senate Leader Christine Radogno told the Chicago Tribune “she would not support term limits for legislative leaders.

“House Majority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) declined to take a position…”

Some with long memories will remember that he said he would serve no more than ten years when campaigning to replace Lee Daniels in 2002.

That promise went by the wayside last year.

Newly elected Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) “wants to read the report before taking any position, spokeswoman Rikeesha Phelon said.”

And Lisa Madigan surely is speaking for her father when she says,

“That’s something that I’m skeptical of. You don’t necessarily want to put into place a situation where it’s staff and lobbyists and special interests who control a lot of government. There’s no harm in having some institutional knowledge. Voters always have the ability to make sure that someone’s not re-elected.”

She has a point, but there’s nothing saying the term-limited leaders couldn’t remain in office in order to offer their expertise.

There is no official way to submit proposals for the new stimulus package, so an association of the largest counties in Illinois took it upon themselves to develop their own list.

County Administrator Peter Austin emailed me,

“We submitted it as a part of the Metro Counties organization to CMAP (a combination of the old NIPC and CATS) and the IL Senatorial Task Force called for by Senator (John) Cullerton and Chaired by Senator (Michael) Bond.”

Below is what McHenry County government submitted:

Transportation Projects

Reconstruction

1. Chapel/Lincoln Intersection reconstruction – $1.8 million

2. Fleming Road Reconstruction with porous pavement – $3.5 million

Resurfacing

3. Critical Priority County Resurfacing (approx 42 lane miles) – $8 million – Includes the following roads which are rated at a 4.0 or worse on the MCDOT Pavement Condition Rating Survey:

a. Pyott Road
b. Chapel Hill Road
c. Franklinville Road
d. Hobe Road
e. Maple Street
f. Ramer Road
g. Deep Cut/Nelson Road
h. Hampshire Road
i. Burlington Road

2. High Priority County Resurfacing (approx 97 lane miles) – $18 million – Includes the following roads which are rated between a 4.0 and 5.25 on the MCDOT Pavement Condition Rating Survey:

a. Roberts Road
b. Lawrence Road
c. Cary Road
d. Lake-Cook Road
e. Flat Iron Road
f. Marengo Road (in Huntley)
g. Miller Road
h. Harmony Road
i. River Road
j. Hartland Road

3. Randall Road resurfacing – $4 million – Randall is rated at a 5.25 on the MCDOT Pavement Condition Rating Survey

Bridge Projects

4. McHenry County has 12 bridges planned for replacement over the next 5 years. All are Federally eligible and the County is anticipating replacement costs at about $1 million per bridge for a total of $12 million. The bridges are:

a. Kishwaukee Valley Road,
b. Graf Road (1 county and 1 township)
c. Dunham Road (1 county and 1 township)
d. Lawrence Road (1 county and 1 township)
e. Union Road
f. Hill Road
g. Noe Road
h. County Line Road
i. Blivin Road

Construction Projects

1. Former Woodstock Cardunal Bank Renovation – to become new County Treasurer’s Office

Size of project: 5700 square feet
Renovation costs: $416,603
Contingency 10%: $ 41,603
Arch/Professional Fees $ 56,078
FFE $ 80,000
Miscellaneous $ 42,500
$636,784

2. Sheriff’s Evidence Facility Expansion/County Archive Facility Addition – Demolition of Annex V

Size of project: 63,038 of building demolition at Annex V
25,000 square foot addition to Evidence Facility
Demolition costs: $ 346,200
Expansion costs: $3,750,500
$4,096,700
Contingency $ 187,525
Arch/Professional Fees $ 300,040
FFE $ 562,575
Miscellaneous $ 122,901
$5,269,741

3. Site Improvements to County Government Campus – including expanded roads, sewer and water

Construction costs: $13,489,500
Contingency: $ 674,475
Arch/Professional Fees: $ 1,079,160
Miscellaneous $ 404,685
$15,647,820

There is no official way to submit proposals for the new stimulus package, so an association of the largest counties in Illinois took it upon themselves to develop their own list.

County Administrator Peter Austin emailed me,

“We submitted it as a part of the Metro Counties organization to CMAP (a combination of the old NIPC and CATS) and the IL Senatorial Task Force called for by Senator (John) Cullerton and Chaired by Senator (Michael) Bond.”

Below is what McHenry County government submitted:

Transportation Projects

Reconstruction

1. Chapel/Lincoln Intersection reconstruction – $1.8 million

2. Fleming Road Reconstruction with porous pavement – $3.5 million

Resurfacing

3. Critical Priority County Resurfacing (approx 42 lane miles) – $8 million – Includes the following roads which are rated at a 4.0 or worse on the MCDOT Pavement Condition Rating Survey:

a. Pyott Road
b. Chapel Hill Road
c. Franklinville Road
d. Hobe Road
e. Maple Street
f. Ramer Road
g. Deep Cut/Nelson Road
h. Hampshire Road
i. Burlington Road

2. High Priority County Resurfacing (approx 97 lane miles) – $18 million – Includes the following roads which are rated between a 4.0 and 5.25 on the MCDOT Pavement Condition Rating Survey:

a. Roberts Road
b. Lawrence Road
c. Cary Road
d. Lake-Cook Road
e. Flat Iron Road
f. Marengo Road (in Huntley)
g. Miller Road
h. Harmony Road
i. River Road
j. Hartland Road

3. Randall Road resurfacing – $4 million – Randall is rated at a 5.25 on the MCDOT Pavement Condition Rating Survey

Bridge Projects

4. McHenry County has 12 bridges planned for replacement over the next 5 years. All are Federally eligible and the County is anticipating replacement costs at about $1 million per bridge for a total of $12 million. The bridges are:

a. Kishwaukee Valley Road,
b. Graf Road (1 county and 1 township)
c. Dunham Road (1 county and 1 township)
d. Lawrence Road (1 county and 1 township)
e. Union Road
f. Hill Road
g. Noe Road
h. County Line Road
i. Blivin Road

Construction Projects

1. Former Woodstock Cardunal Bank Renovation – to become new County Treasurer’s Office

Size of project: 5700 square feet
Renovation costs: $416,603
Contingency 10%: $ 41,603
Arch/Professional Fees $ 56,078
FFE $ 80,000
Miscellaneous $ 42,500
$636,784

2. Sheriff’s Evidence Facility Expansion/County Archive Facility Addition – Demolition of Annex V

Size of project: 63,038 of building demolition at Annex V
25,000 square foot addition to Evidence Facility
Demolition costs: $ 346,200
Expansion costs: $3,750,500
$4,096,700
Contingency $ 187,525
Arch/Professional Fees $ 300,040
FFE $ 562,575
Miscellaneous $ 122,901
$5,269,741

3. Site Improvements to County Government Campus – including expanded roads, sewer and water

Construction costs: $13,489,500
Contingency: $ 674,475
Arch/Professional Fees: $ 1,079,160
Miscellaneous $ 404,685
$15,647,820

A roomful of Northern Illinois Pro-Lifers met at Mama Rini’s Restaurant Saturday for breakfast to hear Illinois Citizens for Life lobbyist Ralph Rivera explain what happened during the election and what how the group’s cause could be advanced.

“We have very hostile administrations in Washington and Springfield. We need to organize like in the early days. We need to dig in,”

Libertyville’s Bonnie Quirke told the crowd.

As to the situation in Springfield, Rivera said,

“In the Illinois Senate, there was a wash. State Senator Bill Peterson was replaced by Dan Duffy. He’s not as good as (State Senator Bill) Peterson, but on the bills in Springfield, he’ll be OK.”

“In the House we gained a…seat…(Democrat) Kurt Granburg’s replacement (Republican John Cavaletto) is pro-life (while the retiring incumbent wasn’t).

Rivera told of the loss of Aaron Shock’s pro-life vote when he moved to Congress, in Naperville Darlene Senger is pro-life, pro-family (while current incumbent Joe Dunn wasn’t a solid vote).

“We’re actually going into Springfield in better shape.

Except for the new Senate leaders.

Rivera pointed out that new Senate President John Cullerton is “very smart. He’s more dangerous in my opinion than Jones was.

With regard to Senate Republicans, Rivera reported that of the 22, only one is pro-choice.

She is Christine Radogno, the newly-elected Senate GOP Leader.

“She got both of our senators,” McHenry County Right to Life godmother Irene Napier observed.

(The third area senator, Kane County’s Chris Lauzen, seconded Kirk Dillard’s nomination.)

When someone asked how she knew, Rivera explained that the vote

“is secret, but it’s not secret, secret.”

Two GOP senators cast “present” votes.

The vote of one, former GOP gubernatorial aspirant Bill Brady of Bloomington, elicited this comment:

“At least he didn’t go with her.”

Rivera explained that Radogno’s challenger in the leadership fight, Dillard,

“did a commercial saying nice things about Obama,”

which hurt him in the contest. Dillard is pro-life.

= = = = =
In the top photo Bonnie Quirke of Libertyville can be seen asking a question. Crystal Lake Paul Weyna is standing in the background.

Below is a head shot of Ralph Rivera. A smiling Irene Napier is below right.

Finally, there is a shot of part of the crowd.