Governors’ Ghost Employees

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER — Illinois comptroller wants to stop governors’ payroll “off-shoring” – Doug Finke http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180308/illinois-comptroller-wants-to-stop-governors-payroll-off-shoring When I saw this article in the State Joural-Register, it brought me back to the time Dan Walker was in office in the … Continue reading

Democrat Daniel Biss Supports Term Limits for Legistlative Leaders

Capitol Fax is reported this week that State Senator Daniel Biss, running for Governor as a Democrat, has adopted the proposal that I set forth on the day I announced my 2002 candidacy for Governor on the Libertarian Party ticket: … Continue reading

Quid pro Quo on Pension Deal for Personal PAC Contributions to Quinn?

That’s pretty much the question being asked by International Business Newspaper reporter Matthew Cunningham-Cook today. Here’s a paragraph and a half that hints at the questionable deal: The decision to retain Grosvenor and transfer more state [Teachers’ Retirement System] pension … Continue reading

State Has Figured Out That Insurance Agents Can Sell Obamacare

When Governor Jim Edgar passed Kids Care in the mid-1990’s, I remember having lunch in the legislators’ dining room and telling her if he wanted it to really succeed, he would let insurance agents sell it. Instead, Edgar and Blagojevich … Continue reading

Have You Missed the Articles on the Conservation District Tax Hike?

OK.  The holidays are over and it’s time to think about protecting your pocket book so you can pay Christmas bills now and in the future. This spring the McHenry County Conservation District sought permission to raise taxes from the … Continue reading

MCCD Second Most Expensive Conservation/Forest Preserve District

A friend of McHenry County Blog decided to compare the financials and acreage of the McHenry County Conservation District with those of similar open space districts. Compared to other agencies, McHenry County scores Number One in acreage per capita. While … Continue reading

MCCD Admits Tax Hike Bill “Expands the District’s Authority to Incur Additional Debt”

Those who don’t read the comments under articles often miss a great expansion of the information available on the subject. Take, for example, the articles on Pam Althoff’s, Karen McConnaughay’s and Mike Tryon’s Senate Bill 3341. That’s the bill that allows … Continue reading

Still Time to Ask Quinn to Veto the MCCD Tax Hike Bill

Friend of McHenry County Blog Susan Handelsman gave me permission to reprint this recent letter of hers to the Northwest Herald: I feel like identity thieves pulled a cash-out refinancing of my home and took the cash for themselves. I will … Continue reading

Tobin’s Group Calls for Veto of Althoff-Tryon Tax Hike Bill

A press release from Jim Tobin: Taxpayers Demand Gov. Quinn Veto Property Tax Theft Before recently defeated Gov. Pat Quinn (D) leaves office, taxpayers urge that he veto SB 3341, a bill that passed through the state legislature December 3 … Continue reading

Do Committeemen Make a Difference?

Here’s an analysis that looks at whether Republican Precinct Committeemen in McHenry County as a whole made a difference in campaigns. Conclusions? U.S. Senate candidate Jim Oberweis did better with a committeeman. Gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner did worse with a … Continue reading