McHenry County Blog

GOP candidate for State Representative against 12-year incumbent Jack Franks has released the questionnaire he filled out for WLS-Radio and Fox-TV.  It follows:

Contact Details
Contact’s Email: mchenry20@gmail.com
Contact’s Name: John O’Neill

Biographical Info
Occupation: Sales Training Consultant
Age: 43
Marital Status: Married to Barbara
Family: Six wonderful children
Education/Degrees:
Experience:

• McHenry School District #15 Board of Education 2007 – present and
• McHenry Library District Board of Trustees 2009 – present

Religion: Roman Catholic
website: http://www.ElectJohnONeill.com
Email: ElectJohnONeill@gmail.com

Campaign Questions

Q:  Do you support Obama’s health care reform?
A:  Oppose

Q:  Do you support the war in Afghanistan?

A:  Support

Q:  Do you support marriage rights for same-sex couples?

A:  Oppose

Q:  Do you support Arizona’s immigration law?

A:  Support

Q:  Do you support offshore drilling?

A:  Support

Q:  Do you believe the wealthy are paying their fair share of taxes?

A:  Support

Q:  How would you change Springfield?

A:  Get rid of the Chicago Political Machine which has been running Springfield for most of my lifetime and elect candidates which reflect the True Conservative Values shared by the good people of Illinois.

Q:  How do we balance the state’s budget?

A:  By performing a line-by-line audit of the entire state budget, we should find enough money which is otherwise subject to waste, fraud, and abuse to balance the budget and pay the past-due bills to education and Medicare..

Q: Where do you stand on increasing taxes vs. cutting spending?

A:  Cut wasteful government spending then there will be no need to for a tax hike.

Q:  In light of the Supreme Court’s ruling on Chicago’s gun ban, what is your position on gun ownership?

A:  Forty-eight states allow concealed-carry and one (Wisconsin) permits open-carry. I will proudly sponsor a bill recognizing the right of the people of Illinois to carry a loaded weapon for self-defense. The criminals already carry loaded weapons for their own purposes; it is time to” level the playing field. “

Q:  Should we reduce reliance on property taxes as a form of school funding?

A:  We should reduce reliance of property taxes to fund public education; however the state budget must take priority at this point.

Q:  What is your position on pension reform for public employees?

A:  Let’s face it, if we do nothing and the state goes broke, nobody will receive any benefits. Something has got to be done. I don’t begrudge the workers, teachers, firefighters and police officers their benefits, however the union bosses who have played the game of pitting one municipality or school district against another, threatening strikes if they don’t get their way has got to come to an end.

In an era where the taxpayers are seeing loss of jobs, pay-cuts, loss of benefits, and cuts or even loss of their retirement benefits, it is time for those who receive state pensions to face the reality the rest of us are already facing. I support a 401(k)-type retirement program for state pension recipients; credit them for their years worked and establish an account for them where they contribute to their retirement account and their employer, the state or municipal department, agency, or district will make a match, much the same way the taxpayers who fund state pensions contribute to their own retirement accounts.

Q:  What is your plan to improve education in Illinois?

A:  End the practice of tenure and establish performance based standards for all Illinois teachers, tying their continued employment to their productivity in effectively teaching our children. Base individual teacher pay-raises to their effectiveness.

Q:  What one thing should the state do to create jobs?

A:  Immediately cut taxes. President Reagan showed us in the 1980s that when taxes are lowered more people are employed and when more people are employed there are more available funds to the government in the form of payroll taxes.

Q:  What else should we be doing to protect Illinois from terror threats?

A:  Eliminate “Sanctuary Cities,” the practice by which cities will not arrest illegal immigrants and turn them over to federal authorities.

Q:  Do you favor any additional limits on abortion?

A:  I am fully Pro-Life and hope that abortion or the desire for abortion can be eliminated.

Q:  Which specific programs should be cut from the state budget?

A:  I will hold off on answering this question until we have completed a forensic audit of the state budget, however I understand that the Illinois Department of Human Services is subject to an incredible amount of waste, fraud, abuse, and duplication of services.

Q:  Do you support expansion of casino gambling in Illinois?

A:  I believe we have too many gambling casinos in our state.

Q:  Does video gambling help or hurt Illinois, and how?

A:  Have you ever seen a child playing their home videogame system? Many times they would play for hours on end without stop if left unattended. Video gambling is correctly nicknamed the “crack-cocaine of the gambling industry.” Video gambling brings a perfect storm of a highly addictive form of entertainment mixed with the excitement of a potential, although nearly non-existent, chance to win money.

Q:  Would you support lifting the moratorium on the death penalty?

A:  I will support carefully lifting the moratorium on the death penalty.

Q:  Who are your largest donors and how much did they contribute?

A:  Looking at our campaign’s most recent financial report, far-and-away most of our donors are families contributing $50 or less. We received two contributions from one Political Action Committee, the Pro-Life Victory PAC totaling $750.

This are John O’Neill’s answers to the AARP questionnaire:

Biographical Info

Occupation: Business Trainer

Address: 3608 W. Clover Av.
McHenry, IL 60050

Campaign Phone: 815-276-2507

Web Site: www.electjohnoneill.com

Email: electjohnoneill@gmail.com

Campaign Questions

Q:  Issue 1: State Budget Challenges – Please explain your approach to the state budget and taxes, specifically, which types of expenditures and/or revenues do you believe should be increased or reduced? (Please limit response to 125 words)

A: Rather than a tax hike, I believe that after performing a forensic audit on the Illinois Budget, we will be able to cover our budget deficit and look at ways to cut the punishing taxes that have driven so many of our employers out of state and are bankrupting the people of Illinois. It is never a good time for a tax hike, however with this being the “worst recession since the Great Depression,” unemployment at 10%, and property values plummeting; this is the wrong time for a tax hike. Families throughout McHenry County are struggling with higher prices and ever-increasing taxes. We need to cut back where we can in our personal budgets and government at all levels needs to do the same.

Q: Do you support or oppose increasing revenues to close the gap between revenues and expenditures?
A: Oppose

Q: Do you support or oppose reducing expenditures to close the gap between revenues and expenditures?
A:  Support

Q:  Do you support or oppose Increasing expenditures to fund state activities or programs that are not currently funded?

A:  Oppose

Q:  Issue 2: Older Workers – How would you improve Illinois’ laws to protect workers against age discrimination and improve conditions for older workers in Illinois? (Please limit response to 125 words)

A:  I believe that the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 is sound law and, like many of our laws, simply needs to be enforced at the local level. I do not see a need to craft additional laws when the simple truth is that we need only enforce the laws already on the books.

Q:  Do you support or oppose legislation to repeal the Social Security offset law?

A:  Support

Q:  Do you support or oppose protections against age discrimination?

A:  Support

Q:  Issue 3: Long Term Services and Supports – What steps would you take to ensure that Illinois residents have choices to remain in their homes and communities as they age?Do you support or oppose making the long-term care system in Illinois more responsive to the needs and preferences of Illinois residents by protecting and expanding community based services?What would you do to ensure that residents of long term care facilities receive quality care in a safe environment? (Please limit response to 125 words)

A:  In response to the 3 questions, let me state that my own grandparents had difficulty in securing long-term care when they needed it.

1. The State of Illinois already provides in-home care assistance for families, including Adult Day Services, Homemaker Services, Emergency Home Response Service, and Home Delivered Meals. One need only search for what programs are available; having a responsive State Representative would be helpful in navigating the red-tape in the State of Illinois.
2. I would like to see the use of state and federal tax credits for the elderly who have worked their entire lives and now need help to retain the dignity of living in their own homes.
3. Having witnessed the poor level of service my grandfather received during his stays in a pair of long-term facilities, I will push for criminal background checks, random drug tests, and mandatory elder-care sensitivity training for all workers who care for or treat patients in long-term care facilities.

Q: Do you support or oppose increasing funding for non-institutional long-term care alternatives?
A:  No Position

Q:  Do you support or oppose seeking federal funding to help the state shift its Medicaid long-term care spending from institutions to the community?
A: No Position

Q:  Do you support or oppose increasing oversight and penalties that protect residents of nursing homes?

A:  Support

Q:  Issue 4: Consumer Protections and Health Insurance – What steps will you take to ensure that consumer protections that are included in the new federal health care law are made effective in Illinois before 2014? How would you prevent insurance companies from denying coverage based on medical condition or discriminating based on gender? (Please limit response to 125 words)

A:  Before enacting any additional spending programs, we need to perform a line-by-line audit of the entire Illinois Budget in order to cut-out wasteful government spending. Once we have some accountability at the state level I would be open to addressing consumer protections related to health care and denials of coverage; although I believe that any sort of gender based discrimination ought to be dealt with immediately.

Q:  Do you support or oppose changing state law and regulation to make the consumer protections included in the new federal health care law effective in our state before 2014?

A:  No Position

Q:  Do you support or oppose allowing insurance companies to deny or cut off coverage based on medical condition or history and to charge higher premiums based on gender?

A:  No Position

Q:  Issue 5: Government Reforms – How would you ensure that efforts on campaign finance and redistricting reforms are continued in Illinois? (Please limit response to 125 words)

A:  Redistricting needs to be taken out of the hands of the elected officials who may benefit from the process. While it may not be possible to completely eliminate from the redistricting process in Illinois, I believe that a bi-partisan committee of citizens should be established; two from each county, one from each political party. Redistricting should be based solely on population centers rather than based on political, racial, or ethnic preferences.

Q:  Do you support or oppose expansion of campaign finance reforms for General Elections?

A:  No Position

Q:  Do you support or oppose changes to Illinois’ redistricting process?

A:  Support

Republican Party State Representative candidate John O’Neill has released his replies to the Chicago Tribune’s questionnaire. It follows:

Illinois’ pension system has unfunded obligations of $80 billion or more. Unfunded retiree health obligations total many additional billions. How would you resolve these shortfalls? Should Illinois reduce benefits going forward, and/or increase the retirement age, for current employees?

Let’s face it, if we do nothing and the state goes broke, nobody will receive any benefits. Something has got to be done. I don’t begrudge the workers, teachers, firefighters and police officers their benefits, however the union bosses who have played the game of pitting one municipality or school district against another, threatening strikes if they don’t get their way has got to come to an end.

In an era where the taxpayers are seeing loss of jobs, pay-cuts, loss of benefits, and cuts or even loss of their retirement benefits, it is time for those who receive state pensions to face the reality the rest of us are already facing. I support a 401(k)-type retirement program for state pension recipients; credit them for their years worked and establish an account for them where they contribute to their retirement account and their employer, the state or municipal department, agency, or district will make a match, much the same way the taxpayers who fund state pensions contribute to their own retirement accounts.

Medicaid spending has risen 35.6 percent since 2001. The number of Illinois residents enrolled in Medicaid doubled from 1998 to 2008: The program now serves one in five Illinoisans. How can the state contain Medicaid spending? Should Illinois change eligibility requirements and if so, how? Would you change payment levels to providers? If so, how?

The first action to be taken will be a forensic audit of the entire budget, searching line-by-line for waste, fraud, and abuse. I believe the main reason for the 35.6% increase in Medicaid spending and the doubling of residents enrolled in Medicaid is the fact that Medicaid administers the All Kids insurance program which, as its charter states, “All Kids is Illinois’ program for children who need comprehensive, affordable health insurance, regardless of family income, immigration status or health condition.”

Since All Kids does not consider Immigration Status as a condition for enrollment, the State of Illinois has become a magnet of illegal immigrants seeking no-cost insurance for their families. I shudder at the idea of denying healthcare to children, however Illinois State Law already mandates that hospitals must provide care for all patients regardless of their ability to pay.

At the heart of the Medicare funding issue is the illegal Immigration issue; we must make our state unattractive to illegal immigrants in order to get a handle on Medicare spending.

Illinois has ranked 48th in job creation, trailed only by Ohio and Michigan. What should Illinois do — via tax policy, spending or other policy means — to promote job creation? Offer three ideas and, if they would cost the state money, explain how you would pay for them.

The first action to be taken will be a forensic audit of the entire budget, searching line-by-line for waste, fraud, and abuse. Second, we need to reduce the stifling taxes, restrictive regulations and formidable fees which have driven employers out of the State of Illinois. In the past ten years many of employers who have left the state have remained in the Midwest, relocating to states such as Wisconsin, Indiana, Kentucky, and Iowa.

These states have benefited from the Chicago Political Machine and Speaker of the Illinois House, Michael Madigan’s Agenda of Higher Corporate Taxes, Regulations, and Fees. We need to make our state more attractive to employers in order to bring more employers back to the State of Illinois and McHenry County. Third, once we’ve brought more jobs back to our state as President Reagan had shown us in the 1980′s, with lower tax rates and more people working we will become more prosperous as a state.

Do you support or oppose Gov. Pat Quinn’s proposal to raise the state’s personal and corporate income tax rates? If you do want changes: To what percentages should those rates rise or fall? Should Illinois adopt a graduated income tax? Apply the sales tax to services? Impose other taxes? Can Illinois balance its budget without a tax increase?

I will oppose any tax hike, any taxation of services, and any creation of new taxes. We will balance the budget without a tax hike; the first action to be taken will be a forensic audit of the entire budget, searching line-by-line for waste, fraud, and abuse.

As President Reagan had shown us in the 1980′s, with lower tax rates and more people working we will become more prosperous as a state.

Please list — and explain — five specific areas where you would cut state spending. Want to suggest more? Be our guest.

I’ll hold off answering this question until we get an audit of the books completed, however I would say that services to illegal immigrants and any programs which stifle growth and foster dependence on government would have to go.

How can Illinois improve the performance of public schools? Should the state eliminate the cap on the number of charter schools? Do you support the Meeks proposal to provide tuition vouchers for 30,000 children in Chicago’s weakest schools? Do you favor or oppose eliminating tenure and implementing performance pay for teachers? Why or why not?

We will improve performance in public schools when we begin paying for performance rather than simply rewarding longevity and mediocrity. I support the opportunity for parents to use their own tax dollars to send their children to the school of their choice rather than simply the geographically closest school to their home.

Some legislators have awarded state university tuition waivers to children of friends and political supporters. Should the program be abolished? Why or why not?

This is symptom of the Chicago Political Machine’s Pay-to-Play politics of the past which has gotten us into so much of the trouble we are in as a state. Of course it needs to be abolished and should be replaced with a program to reward high achievers from low-income families with state university tuition waivers.

Free rides for all senior citizens cost Chicago-area transit agencies $68 million a year. Should free rides be abolished? Explain in detail.

Do all Senior Citizens need free rides through area transit systems? Wouldn’t our community be better served with a needs-based program rather than a blanket “free rides for all senior citizens” program?

Illinois has 7,000 local governments, more than any other state. What governments can consolidate or sunset? What should lawmakers do to make this happen? Cite specific levels of government.

Certainly we should look at consolidating governments which overlap services. A good example would be school districts; many areas have separate districts for the high schools and grade schools in the same town. This is a waste of taxpayer dollars.

The General Assembly passed a law last year that limits contributions by individuals, corporations, unions and political action committees—but not on contributions and transfers by political parties and committees controlled by House and Senate leaders. Did you support or oppose this legislation? Would you vote to impose comparable limits on legislative leaders? Why or why not? Are there other ways Illinois should regulate, or require more disclosure of, contributions?

It is astonishing that legislative leaders, political parties, and unions are given free rein to hand money over to candidates, yet taxpayers are limited in what they can contribute to the candidate of their choice. Personally, I see the issue as a Free Speech issue; if a taxpayer is limited in the amount of money he or she can contribute to a candidate, state or federal, that taxpayer’s freedom is being curtailed.

What have you done to change the status quo of Illinois politics and government? Incumbents: Tell us about occasions when you have voted against your party’s line and explain your vote on those issues. Challengers: On what issues is your party leadership mistaken? Answer in detail.

I entered this race in large part because Conservatives have been underrepresented at all levels of government in Illinois. I have considered myself an Independent Republican for years because so few Republicans actually live-up to the ideals of the Republican Platform. Some areas where I believe the Illinois Republican Party gives lip service to but not much else are included in the following quotes taken from the 2008 Illinois Republican Party Platform.

• End the taxpayer subsidy for abortion.
• Require a doctor to involve a minor’s parents before aborting her unborn child.
• The Illinois Republican Party opposes the fostering of utilitarian experiments which sacrifice human embryos in what appears to be a futile search for medical cures.
• The Republican Party endorses a constitutional amendment protecting our Defense of Marriage Act and enshrining in constitutional law marriage as it is defined in our “DOMA.”
• Illinois Republicans urge reversal of “sanctuary city” policies, which bar our law enforcement officers from aiding Immigration & Customs Enforcement agents.
• Enactment of “Concealed Carry” legislation offering permits to properly trained, law‐abiding citizens to bear concealed weapons for personal protection.

What state, county or municipal officeholders, if any, should be subject to recall? Be specific. Do you support term limits on statewide officials, legislators, committee chairmen, House and Senate leaders? Explain.

I support recall for ALL elected officials from Governor to the proverbial “Dog Catcher.”

I support term limits for ALL elected officials. If the good people of McHenry County entrust me with the solemn responsibility of representing them in the Illinois General Assembly, I will personally limit myself to a maximum of 3 terms as State Representative. More than that and an elected official may run the risk of becoming complacent and too cozy with the lobbyists.

As for House and Senate leaders, take a look at the mess our state is in and tell me that Chicago Political Machine Boss Michael Madigan who has been House Speaker for 22 of the last 24 years is doing a good job. Of course, my 12-year incumbent opponent has voted for Madigan as House Speaker every chance he gets.

I read that House Speaker Mike Madigan’s staff talk of themselves as being “Madigan’s Minions.”

I picked up the phrase to describe Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride, who only beat a decent Peoria-area Republican, State Senator Carl Hawskinson, with infusions of Madigan-inspired campaign contributions.

But the real Madigan Minions are the Democratic Party State Representatives who have elected him again and again and again for what seems like forever.

Now the Daily Herald editorial board has decided to turn up the heat on suburban Madigan Minions.

In its questionnaire, all state legislators are being asked if they will vote to re-elect their leaders.

We’ll see if there are any brave Democrats.

Or would those saying they will not vote for Madigan be considered suicidal?

It’s always refreshing when candidates are willing to share their answers to candidate questionnaires.

Here’s Jack Franks’ opponent John O’Neill’s for the Daily Herald:

63rd District Representative
Party: Republican
Incumbent: No
Occupation:Business Trainer
Address: 3608 W. Clover Av.
McHenry, Illinois 60050

CANDIDATE INFORMATION

Age:43

Date of Birth: 01/10/1967

Birthplace: Melrose Park, IL

Family:Married, six children

Religion: Roman Catholic

Education/Degrees:

Civic Involvement:

• Boy Scouts #131
• Knights of Columbus #1288
• McHenry Baseball Association
• Sunday School Teacher @ The Church of Holy Apostles

Endorsements:

• Congressman Don Manzullo
• Illinois Federation for Right to Life PAC
• Pro-Life Victory PAC

Offices Held:

• McHenry School District #15 Board of Education, 2007 – Present
• McHenry Public Library District Board of Trustees, 2009 – Present

Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain.Never

KEY ISSUES

Key Issue 1:Jobs: How to make the state more attractive to employers in order to bring jobs back and get the people of McHenry County working again.

Key Issue 2:Audit the State Budget: $52 Billion budget with a $13 Billion deficit, we need to dig through the budget line-by-line in order to eliminate wasteful government spending.

Key Issue 3:Unfunded Pension Liabilities: Depending on the source, we are on the hook for somewhere between $70 Billion and $200 Billion in unfunded pension liabilities.

Q & A

What should be done to solve the state’s budget crisis? What specific measures should be cut for how much in savings? Would you support or oppose an income tax increase or a state sales tax increase? Lay out a specific plan of what needs to be done.

What should be done to solve the state’s budget crisis? Before we start taxing the people during the worst recession since the great depression, when we are devastated with 10% unemployment, property values are plummeting and communities are already facing increasing sales tax hikes and property tax hikes, we need to look at the state’s budget. Only through a line-by-line audit of every department and agency will we find the wasteful government spending and ghost-payrollers. What should be done to solve the state’s budget crisis? Before we start taxing the people during the worst recession since the great depression, when we are devastated with 10% unemployment, property values are plummeting and communities are already facing increasing sales tax hikes and property tax hikes, we need to look at the state’s budget. Only through a line-by-line audit of every department and agency will we find the wasteful government spending and ghost-payrollers.

What specific measures should be cut for how much in savings? Until we complete a line-by-line audit of the budget, it will be difficult to know where we even stand and the magnitude of waste, fraud, and corruption which exists in the budget.

Would you support or oppose an income tax increase or a state sales tax increase? Oppose.

Lay out a specific plan of what needs to be done. Start with a line-by-line audit of the budget.

What is your view on the pension legislation passed last year? Do you support or oppose lower benefits and higher employee contributions for current state workers? Specifically, how should state officials resolve underfunding problems?

What is your view on the pension legislation passed last year? For the past 10-12 years the Chicago Political Machine which runs Springfield, and which my opponent has consistently supported, has dropped the ball on the budget. This so-called “Pension Reform” simply kicks the can down the road for the next General Assembly to deal with; however, I believe that we will fix it in the next General Assembly.

Do you support or oppose lower benefits and higher employee contributions for current state workers? Let’s face it, if we do nothing and the state goes broke, nobody will receive any benefits. Something has got to be done. I don’t begrudge the workers, teachers, firefighters and police officers their benefits, however the union bosses who have played the game of pitting one municipality or school district against another, threatening strikes if they don’t get their way has got to come to an end.

Specifically, how should state officials resolve underfunding problems? In an era where the taxpayers are seeing loss of jobs, pay-cuts, loss of benefits, and cuts or even loss of their retirement benefits, it is time for those who receive state pensions to face the reality the rest of us are already facing. I support a 401(k)-type retirement program for state pension recipients; credit them for their years worked and establish an account for them where they contribute to their retirement account and their employer, the state or municipal department, agency, or district will make a match, much the same way the taxpayers who fund state pensions contribute to their own retirement accounts.

Do you oppose or support civil unions? Gay marriage? What abortion restrictions do you support? What about parental notification? Late-term abortion? Should there be controls on gun ownership? If so, what would you support?

Do you oppose or support civil unions? Oppose, state Supreme Courts have already declared civil unions inadequate and an example of the “separate but equal” philosophy.

(Do you oppose or support) Gay marriage? Oppose, the simple truth is marriage by definition is a religious institution between one man and one woman and has remained so for several thousand years of human history. Those who wish to redefine it as anything else trample on the First Amendment’s Free Exercise of Religion. Those who wish to have their relationship officially recognized by the state have many avenues by which to do so; a contractual arrangement, business, and power of attorney to name but a few.

What abortion restrictions do you support? I am Pro-Life.

What about parental notification? The law should have been enacted 15 years ago when it became law yet it’s been held up in the courts for all this time. A 12 year-old girl cannot receive an aspirin from school without documentation yet that same 12 year-old girl can have a life-altering procedure performed upon her which will kill her baby and may injure, sterilize, or kill her and her parents do not have the right to know? This is outrageous.

Should there be controls on gun ownership? Minimal licensing makes sense for gun ownership, however 49 states currently recognize the right of a licensed gun owner to carry their loaded gun for self-defense. 48 recognize “concealed-carry,” Wisconsin recognizes “Open-Carry.” Illinois is the only state in the nation which requires licensed, law-abiding citizens to transport their guns unloaded, under lock-and-key. I fully support the 2nd Amendment’s Right to Bear Arms and will go so far as to sponsor a bill to recognize the right of the people to carry their loaded guns for self-defense. Many criminals already carry loaded guns, I simply wish to level the “playing field.”

Where do you stand on campaign finance caps for legislative leaders and parties? Will you vote for your current caucus leader? Do you support an amendment for a different political map system? Why or why not?

Where do you stand on campaign finance caps for legislative leaders and parties? It’s astonishing that legislative leaders, political parties, and unions are given free rein to hand money over to candidates, yet taxpayers are limited in what they can contribute to the candidate of their choice. Personally, I see the issue as a Free Speech issue; if a taxpayer is limited in the amount of money he or she can contribute to a candidate, state or federal, that taxpayer’s freedom is being curtailed.

Will you vote for your current caucus leader? I would prefer to vote for a conservative caucus leader.

Do you support an amendment for a different political map system? Why or why not? I don’t know if a remedy as extreme as an amendment is necessary, however I believe that a bi-partisan commission should have the final say in reapportionment rather than simply the party in control. We’ve seen, even in McHenry County, what happens when the Chicago Political Machine gerrymanders political districts in order to favor a particular candidate or incumbent.

Legislation recently passed that exempts the evaluations of all public workers from FOIA. Do you support such an exemption? For a certain class of public employees (e.g. police officers, road workers etc.)? Explain.

If the taxpayer is paying their salary, public workers’ evaluations should be permissible under FOIA guidelines. I find myself in the uncomfortable position of agreeing with Gov. Quinn’s Amendatory Veto and his recommendations to permit all but Police evaluations to be permissible under FOIA. Even a broken clock is accurate twice a day.

My Crystal Lake State Representative Mike Tryon is doing exactly what I would do. He is filling out all sorts of questionnaires and publishing them on his campaign web site.

Here it is the latest one, a comprehensive one from Project Vote Smart:

Project Vote Smart

2010 Illinois State-Level Political Courage Test

Michael W. Tryon

Abortion and Reproductive Issues

Do you consider yourself pro-choice or pro-life?                                                                              Pro-life

Should abortion be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy?    N

Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?   Y

Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered?    Y

Do you support requiring parental notification before an abortion is performed on a minor?    Y

Do you support requiring parental consent before an abortion is performed on a minor?   Y

Do you support sexual education programs that include information on abstinence, contraceptives, and HIV/STD prevention methods?    Y

Do you support abstinence-only sexual education programs?   N

Budget, Spending and Tax Issues

Using the key, indicate what state funding levels (1-6) you support for the following general categories:

1= Greatly Increase                  2= Slightly Increase                  3= Maintain Status

4= Slightly Decrease                 5= Greatly Decrease                 6= Eliminate

Higher Education        3

K-12 Education            3 (a #1 priority, but the system needs reform)

Environment                3

Health Care                   4

Law Enforcement       3

Transportation and Highway Infrastructure    3

Welfare                           3 (the system needs reform)

Alcohol Taxes             3

Cigarette Taxes          3

Corporate Taxes        3

Gasoline Taxes           3

Property Taxes          3 (however, the General Assembly does not control this)

Sales Taxes                  3

Income taxes for low income families                   3

Income taxes for middle income families            3

Income taxes for high income families                 3

Budget Stabilization

Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing Illinois’ budget.

Tapping into Illinois “rainy day” fund                                                Y  (but there isn’t one)

Issuing the early release of certain non-violent offenders         N

Increasing tuition rates at public universities                                 Y (modestly, but only if needed after significant reform of expenditures)

Instituting mandatory furloughs and layoffs for state employees   Y

Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients                                        Y

Privatizing certain government services                                           Y

Campaign Finance and Government Reform Issues

Do you support eliminating the position of lieutenant governor?                       Y

Do you support limits on the number of terms for Illinois governors?             Y

Do you support limits on the number of terms for Illinois sate legislators?    Y

Do you support limits on the number of terms for the four top legislative leadership positions?           Y

Do you support limits on the following types of contributions to candidates for state government:

Individual                                          Y

Political Action Committee        Y

Corporate                                          Y

Political Party                                  Y (though this could be unconstitutional)

Legislative Leader                         Y

Crime and Public Safety Issues

Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?   Y

Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders, such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment?    Y  (I was chief sponsor of a new law that does exactly that for Veterans suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome)

Should the possession of small amounts of marijuana be decriminalized?   N

Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?    N   (but Y is some rare cases)

Should a minor who sends sexually-explicit or nude photos by cell phone face criminal charges?  Y

Do you support requiring all motorcyclists to wear helmets?    N

Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by states and local police?   Y

Economic Issues

Do you support reducing government regulation on the private sector?    Y

Should video gambling be legal in Illinois?   Y

Do you support increased state funding for job-training programs that re-train displaced workers?     N (I can not support any increased spending at this time)

Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?   N

Do you support providing financial incentives to the private sector for the purpose of job creation?   Y

Do you support increased spending on infrastructure projects for the purpose of job creation?   Y

Do you support providing direct financial assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure?    Y (but no new spending)

Education Issues

Do you support National Education Standards?    N

Do you support requiring public schools to administer high school exit exams?    N

Do you support using a merit pay system for teachers?    Y

Do you support state funding for charter schools?    Y

Do you support the state government providing college students with financial aid?   Y

Should illegal immigrants who graduate from Illinois high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?    N

Environment and Energy Issues

Do you support state funding for the development of alternative energy?   Y

Do you support state funding for the development of traditional domestic energy sources (like coal, natural gas, oil)?   Y

Do you support providing financial incentives to farms that produce biofuel crops?   N

Do you support state funding for improvements to Illinois’ energy infrastructure?    N

Do you support state funding for open space preservation?   Y

Gun Issues

Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?   N

Do you support requiring  a background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?   Y

Do you support allowing individuals to carry concealed guns?    Y

Do you support requiring a license for gun possession?   N

Health Issues

Do you support a universally-accessible, publicly-administered health insurance option?      N

Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform?    Y

Do you support interstate health insurance compacts?  Y

Should individuals be require3d to purchase health care insurance?   N

Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits?   Y

Do you support legalizing physician-assisted suicide in Illinois?  N

Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medical purposes?   N

Social Issues

Should marriage only be between one man and one woman?  Y

Do you support state funding for stem cell research?   N

Do you support state funding for embryonic stem cell research?   N

Do you support the state’s use of affirmative action?  Y

Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Illinois’ anti-discrimination laws?  N

Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Illinois’ anti-discrimination laws?   N

Legislative Priorities (100 words or less)

Illinois is facing its worst economic crisis in the State’s history.

While the private sector is contracting due to the current economy, state government continues to expand.

Difficult decisions need to be made to reign in spending, but the leadership in Springfield is unwilling to make them.

Additionally, state government needs to be more transparent so that citizens have easy access to learning how their taxes are being spent. Lastly, ethics reform must be a priority.

Corruption in Illinois must end and significant reforms in the area of ethics are needed to restore Illinoisans’ faith in their government.

I’m impressed that State Rep. Mike Tryon is sharing questionnaires he answers on his campaign web site.  Here’s what he told the Retired Teachers Association:

Illinois Retired Teachers Association

IRTA 2010 Candidate Questionnaire

Michael W. Tryon

State Representative, District 64

1. Over 65,000 retired educators are presently enrolled in the Teachers Retirement Insurance Plan (TRIP). Retired educators’ premiums are subsidized at a rate of either 50% or 75% depending upon the plan of their choice. At the end of fiscal year 2010 the TRIP fund had depleted its reserves. Currently, the state provides approximately $75 million to the fund which matches the active teacher contribution. Would you be willing to support additional state funding to insure that retired educators will not be burdened with excessive premium increases or incur a reduction of health related benefits?

No. I believe this is an issue that needs to be negotiated by both parties. Clearly the changes forthcoming in the healthcare system are uncertain and the financial impact that healthcare reform will have is unknown.  At this time I am unable to make this commitment.

1. Funding the pension systems within the state, and more specifically to Teachers Retirement system, is an important public policy issue with substantial impact on the lives of retired educators. Do you support full funding of the Illinois pension system?

Yes. I have never supported a furlough in the pension payment and will continue to vote against budgets that don’t provide 100% funding for pension systems.

1. The IRTA has sought relief for educators who have retired before 1980 and their associated survivors to correct the significant decrease of purchasing power of their annuities via an ad-hoc increases in annuity payments. The average age of these annuitants and survivors is 92 and 85 respectively. Would you support legislation which provides an ad-hoc increase for educators who have retired before 1980 and their survivors?

No. Without identifying a revenue source for this budget period, the actuarial costs of this action would have to be absorbed by the pension system, which is not financially able to absorb it. While I am sympathetic to this request and need, adequate funding simply does not exist at this time. I am open to looking at this issue in the future, but I believe it would be financially irresponsible for me to say that I could find the resources to support this change right now.

1. In the spring of 2009, legislation was passed and signed into law which removed all previous appointees to boards and commissions. The Teachers Retirement System Board of Trustees was the only board which had a change in structure. The legislation provided for an additional Governor appointee giving the majority of the board to the appointees. Would you support legislation which would return the majority of the board to the elected trustees?

Yes.

1. On April 14, 2010, Illinois drastically changed public employee pensions for all future hires. Public Act 96-0889 was the largest and most substantial pension overhaul in the country. Illinois now has the highest retirement age for teachers in the country. Would you support legislation which would lower the age of retirement for teachers to 62?

No. The legislation accommodated for retirement at age 62, but with a 30% reduction in the annuity payment. I would support legislation that would create a deferred compensation plan for teachers who wish to retire prior to the age of 67 and would be willing to pay a higher percentage of their income into a deferred compensation plan that would be individually managed and controlled by the annuitant.

1. The Chicago Civic Federation and many media markets believe the General Assembly should change retirement benefits for active and retired educators. Do you pledge to oppose legislation which would negatively impact the benefits for current and retired educators?

Absolutely. It is my understanding that the Chicago Civic Federation has opined that the General Assembly can change benefits for active educators and pension participants. However, under the Illinois Constitution it is clear that any diminishment to a pension benefit currently provided to an annuitant can not be changed and I will continue to support tenets of the Illinois State Constitution.

Please provide any additional information that you believe retired educators should know about your candidacy.

I will always make financial decisions based on what is best for the State of Illinois. Taxpayers in Illinois face no greater liability than the under-funded pension system. I believe that as a legislator it is my fiduciary responsibility to ensure that the pension systems return to the financially stable, sound and well-managed systems that they should be. As a legislator I will always vote in favor meeting our pension obligations.

Yesterday, McHenry County Blog showed the questions being asked 8,000 households about desires and improvements wanted locally.

The survey is entitled,

“McHenry County Healthy Communities 2010.”

Today, we’ll move on the a rating of park/recreation services, something called “local community or village services,” and land use.

Five choices are offered below for two questions. Next is an opportunity to explain why one has rated the services “poor” or “fair,” rather than “excellent” or “good.”

Quality of . . .
28. Your local park district and recreational services
29. Your local community or village services
30. If you rated any of these characteristics above as fair or poor, please tell what is needed or should be improved to make these excellent or good in your community.

Next comes “Lane Use.” Please note that the word “growth” appears only once.

When I was state representative in the late 1970′s, I twice sent out questionnaires to every household with a registered voter asking the question,

“Are you in favor of state and local governmental actions that will encourage population growth in your area?”

In about 1976, the results from my district (all of McHenry County, northern Kane and DeKalb Counties, southern Boone County, including Belvidere, and the far eastern part of Winnebago County, largely unpopulated at the time) was 58% “No.”

About two years later, the negative feedback had increased to 80-some percent–86%–I think.

A similar question would have been useful here, especially considering the recent 2030 Land Use Plan fight.

Incidentally, when sorted by zip code, my survey showed areas which had seen growth didn’t want more, while those who had not grown much wanted to grow.

But onto the questions in this year’s survey:

LAND USE

31-36. Please indicate whether you Agree, Disagree or are Not Sure about each statement.

31. I am pleased with the way that land has been developed in McHenry County.

32. Landowners should be allowed to use their land however they want.

Wetlands in McHenry County (Click to enlarge)

33. I am willing to pay higher taxes to preserve wetlands and other environmentally sensitive areas.34. Maintaining our present natural areas such as forests, prairies or wetlands is more important than acquiring new ones.

35. Preserving open space is as important as residential or commercial growth.

36.Government should require residents to use water conservation practices.

I note with pleasure that question 33 mentions higher taxes will be needed “to preserve wetlands and other environmentally sensitive areas.”

Both costs and benefits should be addressed in a questionnaire like this.

That’s what Northwest Herald Editor Dan McCaleb write. But the topic of Cathleen Klocek’s letter does not seem to have been covered by McHenry County’s paper of record.

Neither was the Patriots United Candidates’ Forum that Friday night a couple of weeks ago.

You can read about it below; click on the headline.  No charge, as it would be had a reporter been assigned the story by the NW Herald.

Ken Koehler Missing from Only County Board Forum,
Potential Conflict of Interest Transparency Strongly Supported

Here’s the letter the Herald wouldn’t publish.

On January 16th many of our McHenry County Board candidates attended a forum at MCC sponsored by Patriots United which was very informative. I encourage all voters to go to www.patriotsunited.com to view additional questions and answers pertinent to this all-important race.  All of the candidates had an opportunity to submit their answers and those who responded will have their answers posted. Please avail yourself of this opportunity to become educated on the candidates and the issues which affect us most closely.

I would also like to encourage you to take a few minutes to peruse the Patriots United website and become familiar with this wonderful non-partisan organization which has grown to over two thousand members in a few short months!

Submitted by:

Cathleen B. Klocek

It would certainly seem that a data base of how a number of candidate’s stand on any number of issues would be important enough to share with the public.

Maybe, since the NW Herald has its own answers to questions online that it doesn’t want competition. I hope not.

Anyway, here’s the entry page to the questionnaires for both Patriots United and the conflict of interest forms submitted to the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water:

McHenry County Board Candidates’ Voter Information Guide

Patriots United has compiled the information asked of the Candidates running for the McHenry County Board. We are happy to provide this follow up after our hosting of the Candidats’ Debate.

All candidates from the 3 parties were invited to participate. As a follow up we sent a candidates’ questionnaire so we could delve into more specific questions regarding issues close to home.

Regarding transparency, candidates were also able to voluntarily submit a more in depth disclosure form which would reveal any potential personal or family conflicts of interest.

We have PDF links to the materials submitted by the candidate’s name.

Based on the above criteria we have grouped the candidates by their districts and submit the following key to the responses, party affiliation and status of candidate (incumbent, challenger):

Party = R, D, G – Republican, Democrat, Green

Status of Candidate = I, C, – Incumbent, Challenger

P = Participated  / DNP = Did Not Participate / DNP+ NVR = Did Not Participate + No Voting Record

District	Party	Status	Candidate	Debate	Questionnaire	Disclosure
#1	R	I	Yvonne Barnes	DNP	DNP	DNP
#1	R	I	Anna May Miller	DNP	DNP	DNP
#1	R	C	Robert Nowak	P	DNP	DNP
#2	R	I	Lyn Orphal	P	Orphal_Quest.pdf	Disc._Orphal.pdf
#2	R	I	Ken Koehler	RSVP.pdf	DNP	DNP
#2	R	C	Donna Kurtz	P	DNP	Disc._Kurtz.pdf
#2	R	C	Ellen Brady Mueller	P	EBM_Quest.pdf	EBM_Disclose.pdf
#2	R	C	Sandra DePaul	P	DePaul_Quest.pdf	Disc._DePaul.pdf
#3	R	C	Karen Tynis	DNP	DNP + NVR	Disc_Tynis.pdf
#3	R	C	Veronica Armstrong	P	DNP	Disc._Armstrong.pdf
#3	R	C	Nick Provenzano	P	Provenz_Quest.pdf	Disc._Provenz.pdf
#3	R	I	Barb Wheeler	P	Wheeler_Quest.pdf	Disc_Wheeler.pdf
#3	R	C	Craig Steagall	P	Steagall_Quest.pdf	Disc._Steagall.pdf
#3	D	C	Lori McConville	DNP	DNP + NVR	DNP
#4	R	I	Sandra Fay Salgado	P	Salgado_Quest.pdf	Disc._Salgado.pdf
#4	R	I	Peter Merkel	DNP	DNP	DNP
#4	D	C	Jeff Thirtyacre	P	Thirtyacre_Quest.pdf	Disc._Thirtyacre.pdf
#5	R	I	Tina Hill	P	Hill_Quest.pdf	Disc._Hill.pdf
#5	R	C	John Jung Jr.	P	DNP	Disc._Jung.pdf
#5	R	C	Dr. Dave Frederick	P	DNP	DNP
#5	D	I	James Kennedy	DNP	DNP	DNP
#5	G	C	Frank Wedig	DNP	DNP	Disc._Wedig.pdf
#6	R	C	Victor Narusis	P	Narusis_Quest.pdf	Disc_Narusis1.pdf
#6	R	C	Richard Draper	P	Draper_Quest.pdf	Disc._Draper.pdf
#6	R	C	Diane Evertsen	P	Evertsen_Quest.pdf	Disc_Evertsen.pdf
#6	R	I	Daniel Ryan	P	Ryan_Quest.pdf	DNP

#6

R

I

Mary McCann

P

DNP

Disc._McCann.pdf

If the links don’t work go to Patriots United. Now, it is posted on the web site’s front page.

You read what the Woodstock Independent, the Northwest Herald and the Daily Herald want to know about and from candidates. Here’s what the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water are interested in learning about those running for the McHenry County Board:

ALAW County Board Candidates Survey: 2010 Primary Election

Please, indicate yes or no in the box to the right of the question.

A. Land Use

1. Have you personally attended any of the Regional Planning Commission meetings or subcommittee meetings on the 2030 Comprehensive Land Use Plan?

2. Have you read the proposed 2030 Land Use Plan?

3. Do you think the makeup of the 2030 Regional Planning Commission was a balanced representation of the residents of the county?

4. Do you agree that new development should be located where infrastructure exists, to minimize the extension of new roads, utilities and services, and protect farmland and water recharge areas?

5. If elected, will you support funding permanent protection of agricultural land and the agricultural industry in the County?

6. Do you understand that new rural development costs more for the extension of infrastructure (roads, water, sewer and services) than it brings to the County in taxes and that those extra costs are passed on to the existing taxpayers?

7. Do you support creation of the Hac-Ma-Tac National Wildlife Refuge in the county?

B. Water Resources

1. Would you oppose any land use change that would exceed a locally recharged aquifer’s capacity?

2. If elected will you enforce use of the SARA – Sensitive Aquifer Recharge Areas map developed by the County Water Resources Department, as a determining factor in every land use change decision?

3. Do you support redistributing groundwater from water-rich areas to areas that have over drawn their groundwater?

4. Do you think that McHenry County will be able to get water from Lake Michigan?

C. Transparency in Government

1. Would you support a requirement that all elected or appointed county officials make up-front disclosures of any financial or other interest in any real property in the County?

2. Do you support a requirement that all elected or appointed county officials make up-front disclosures of their interest in any business entity doing business with the county?

3. Do you believe that public officials should disclose whether they provide professional services to any unit of government to which they are elected or appointed?

4. Do you agree that all scheduled meetings agendas and minutes, including committee and sub-committee, should be posted on the County web site?

5. Do you agree that all McHenry County Board meetings should be video recorded and posted on the County web site?

D. Short Answer. Only the number of words indicated will be published in the response report. (please add a page if you need more room, but remember that we can only print the number of words indicated. Thank you.)

1. What role do you think the County should play in planning for growth? (50 words)

2. By protecting agricultural lands and soil resources, groundwater and its natural recharge can also be protected. What will you do to provide that protection? (50 words)

3. What does the County get from its annual contract with the McHenry County Economic Development Corporation and is it a good investment of taxpayer money? (50 words)

4. Who do you consider to be your constituents and how do you intend to communicate with them to ensure your positions honestly represent them? (50 words)

5. Please provide a personal statement about what you intend to accomplish, if elected to the County Board, and/or provide additional information regarding any of the “ / no” yes answers given above. (100 words)

Answers are due January 11th.