McHenry County Blog

It wasn’t long in coming.

Here is Crystal Lake Republican State Representative Mike Tryon’s “ends justifies the means” defense of his voting to allow slot machines in every location with a liquor license:

More Than $160 Million for Local Roads in Statewide Capital Plan

Last night, the Illinois House and Senate made a monumental vote to pass the state’s first major capital construction program in a decade.

I am thrilled to announce that McHenry County is a big winner, receiving more than

• $40 million for Route 47,
• $82.5 million for the Algonquin Western Bypass, and
• $16.6 million for the interchange at Route 47 and I-90.

This is a historic day for McHenry County as this capital plan will provide tremendous traffic relief for our residents.

I have been working my entire political career to secure full funding of the Western Bypass – which is one of the most congested roads in the state. This infrastructure is absolutely necessary to support our growing community.

Additionally,

• $82.5 million will be used to fund the Western Bypass project between Route 31 North and Route 31 South, and
• $40 million will be used to add lanes to Route 47 between Reed Road and Kreutzer Road.

I also fought to secure $44 million for local roads including

• Route 14 in Crystal Lake,
• Route 31 and
• Route 176 and Walkup

in a mini-capital plan that the General Assembly approved earlier this month.

McHenry County is really in a good position because so many of our projects are very far in the engineering process and ready for construction. Our roads are in deplorable conditions and this capital bill will create a safer McHenry County for everyone on the roadway.

The capital plan will be funded through legalizing video poker machines throughout the state, minor taxes on discretionary items like beer and wine, and various increases on vehicle fees.

Although, I was not completely comfortable with each of the funding mechanisms approved, this capital plan was critical in capturing federal dollars dedicated to transportation projects in our area.

I also believe that this will capital plan will help put hundreds of thousands of people back to work and jumpstart the economy.

As always, do not hesitate to contact me with questions or concerns at (815) 459-6453.

Sincerely,

Michael W. Tryon
Illinois State Representative
64th District

I would note there is no mention of funding the Bolz Road Bridge without which the Western Bypass will not work. Local officials have asked Kane County to make the Bolz Road Bridge a toll bridge. But there will be no toll on the new bridge across the Mississippi River.

Please note that the tollway interchange in Huntley about the same distance south of the McHenry-Kane County line as is the proposed Bolz Road toll bridge.

On the plus side, now the State of Illinois has enough money to match the federal money that has been earmarked for Illinois.

= = = = =
The photo of Potterville is from the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

The picture of State Rep. Mike Tryon is from the press conference that he, Congressman Don Manzullo, State Senator Pam Althoff and numerous local officials held near the intersection of Routes 62 and 31 to condemn Governor Rod Blagojevich for taking the money Manzullo had earmarked for the Western Bypass out of the IDOT highway plan.

Spring Valley Democrat Frank Mautino has gotten Senate Bill 349 onto the House floor.

It would put slot machines where liquor is served, fraternal organizations, veterans’ clubs and truck stops.

Incredibly, no state senator opposed the bill. The vote was 55-0.

Mautino’s LaSalle County has, of course, a vibrant history of illegal gambling.

If this bill is passed, we’ll soon look like South Dakota.

And I’m not talking carving the heads of jailed ex-governors into the cliffs of Starved Rock, which might rival Mount Rushmore with proper publicity.

Or some part of gang-controlled Chicago the Illinois Office of Tourism could market as our “Badlands.”

The Shell station you see here is in Sioux City, South Dakota.

When Penny Pullen and I visited there in September two years ago, we found a casino behind a convenience store which one could enter through the local McDonald’s.

Right past a Ronald McDonald Happy Meal sign.

Your town could be Potterville, too.

But, don’t worry.

It’s for the kids, doncha know?

It’s the Christmas season and my wife has been watching “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

So, when I looked at the editorial illustration accompanying Thursday’s Chicago Sun-Times’ editorial endorsing the massive expansion of gambling, I recognized its inspiration.

When the euphemistically called “Riverboat” bill was passed amid outright lying on the house floor, not a single Republican voted for it.

I was so proud of House Republicans. (I was in remission at the time.)

That vote played to the Democrats stereotype of being the party of sin.

And, Democrats got a bonus by legalizing casino gambling.

They got more people who could call themselves “victims.”

Legitimately. They became addicted to gambling.

But, anyone who has any knowledge of Nevada politics knows the hold that the gambling industry has on state politics. The legislators don’t want to be overheard by anyone in Nevada, but at least one told the truth to a McHenry County resident at a legislative convention.

And, anyone with a brain knew that, in a state a corrupt as Illinois, gambling—not “gaming”—interests would end up controlling state politics.

Even House Speaker Mike Madigan has figured this out. Now, he’s for much stricter control, but has not taken that giant step and called for forbidding gambling interests from making political contributions.

Hey. He knows his followers want to be rewarded for their votes by more than a road here and a school there.

Look at who gave money to Republican legislative leaders Frank Watson and Tom Cross after the 2002 election debacle.

Look what large contributor is slotted to get slot machines at his racetrack.

How many years before slot machines are in off-track betting parlors like the between the hospital and the Catholic Church on Bull Valley Road in McHenry?

How soon until every gas station has casino slot machines inside like South Dakota?

Now we have chicken-hearted legislators who want to spend more money, but are afraid to raise taxes.

Generally, they want to spend it on good things, roads, schools, etc.

But they don’t want to see “hit pieces” in the mailbox saying they voted for a tax hike.

But, tell me.

If gas taxes increased in Illinois, would anyone notice?

The price of gasoline can go up or down 20 cents in 24 hours.

Why aren’t suburban and Downstate Republicans demanding that the sales tax on motor fuel be used to repair and widen roads? Illinois is one of the few states that levies both a motor fuel and a sales tax on gasoline. (Actually, the sales tax is on the price of the gasoline and the sales tax. A tax on a tax.)

House GOP Leader Tom Cross actually suggested using the sales tax on MFT to subsidize mass transit.

What an absurd suggestion for the leader of car driving Republican suburbanites and Downstaters!

No surprise when his 1992 legislative House classmate, now Governor Rod Blagojevich, agreed. He could figure out how vulnerable that would make anyone outside of Chicago.

So, maybe enough Democrats and Republicans are ready to cast a vote to turn Illinois into Potterville.

Even some in McHenry County, I’d be willing to bet.

Our children may still be able to hang signs above their doors saying,

but they will be living in Potterville, Illinois.

= = = = =
The Shell Station Casino is is Souix City, Iowa. The “It’s a Wonderful Life” sign is above the door between our entryway, called the “Echo,” and our home. It’s there all year round. Keely Cat was interested in why I was out there when I took this picture. Chick on the photo to enlarge it if you want to see the sign better. The books on the stairs are the ones I’ve read since coming back from Disney World, where I got through 1400 pages while on the journey there and back, waiting, usually in line, and slacking off in the room trying to get rid of a bad cold.

It’s the Christmas season and my wife has been watching “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

So, when I looked at the editorial illustration accompanying Thursday’s Chicago Sun-Times’ editorial endorsing the massive expansion of gambling, I recognized its inspiration.

When the euphemistically called “Riverboat” bill was passed amid outright lying on the house floor, not a single Republican voted for it.

I was so proud of House Republicans. (I was in remission at the time.)

That vote played to the Democrats stereotype of being the party of sin.

And, Democrats got a bonus by legalizing casino gambling.

They got more people who could call themselves “victims.”

Legitimately. They became addicted to gambling.

But, anyone who has any knowledge of Nevada politics knows the hold that the gambling industry has on state politics. The legislators don’t want to be overheard by anyone in Nevada, but at least one told the truth to a McHenry County resident at a legislative convention.

And, anyone with a brain knew that, in a state a corrupt as Illinois, gambling—not “gaming”—interests would end up controlling state politics.

Even House Speaker Mike Madigan has figured this out. Now, he’s for much stricter control, but has not taken that giant step and called for forbidding gambling interests from making political contributions.

Hey. He knows his followers want to be rewarded for their votes by more than a road here and a school there.

Look at who gave money to Republican legislative leaders Frank Watson and Tom Cross after the 2002 election debacle.

Look what large contributor is slotted to get slot machines at his racetrack.

How many years before slot machines are in off-track betting parlors like the between the hospital and the Catholic Church on Bull Valley Road in McHenry?

How soon until every gas station has casino slot machines inside like South Dakota?

Now we have chicken-hearted legislators who want to spend more money, but are afraid to raise taxes.

Generally, they want to spend it on good things, roads, schools, etc.

But they don’t want to see “hit pieces” in the mailbox saying they voted for a tax hike.

But, tell me.

If gas taxes increased in Illinois, would anyone notice?

The price of gasoline can go up or down 20 cents in 24 hours.

Why aren’t suburban and Downstate Republicans demanding that the sales tax on motor fuel be used to repair and widen roads? Illinois is one of the few states that levies both a motor fuel and a sales tax on gasoline. (Actually, the sales tax is on the price of the gasoline and the sales tax. A tax on a tax.)

House GOP Leader Tom Cross actually suggested using the sales tax on MFT to subsidize mass transit.

What an absurd suggestion for the leader of car driving Republican suburbanites and Downstaters!

No surprise when his 1992 legislative House classmate, now Governor Rod Blagojevich, agreed. He could figure out how vulnerable that would make anyone outside of Chicago.

So, maybe enough Democrats and Republicans are ready to cast a vote to turn Illinois into Potterville.

Even some in McHenry County, I’d be willing to bet.

Our children may still be able to hang signs above their doors saying,

but they will be living in Potterville, Illinois.

= = = = =
The Shell Station Casino is is Souix City, Iowa. The “It’s a Wonderful Life” sign is above the door between our entryway, called the “Echo,” and our home. It’s there all year round. Keely Cat was interested in why I was out there when I took this picture. Chick on the photo to enlarge it if you want to see the sign better. The books on the stairs are the ones I’ve read since coming back from Disney World, where I got through 1400 pages while on the journey there and back, waiting, usually in line, and slacking off in the room trying to get rid of a bad cold.