McHenry County Blog

Dan Duffy at a Town Hall Meeting in Prairie Grove.

An email from State Senator Dan Duffy:

26th District Legislative Update

Dear Friends,

Today Illinois faces problems like never before. Our state is in need of strong leadership. As your representative in Springfield, I am working to promote a job-friendly environment and restore common sense, efficient policies to state government.

Spending is out of control and the budget is completely out of alignment. In January, I voted against a 67% tax increase which unfortunately passed. Our state deficit continued to grow even after passing the largest tax hike in state history. Clearly, we can not tax our way out of this mess. The answer is not increased taxation, but effective, efficient government.

I have consistently opposed additional borrowing in order to meet Illinois’ financial obligations.

Unfortunately a budget passed which increased spending and once again deferred millions in Medicaid payments.

I advocated for a smaller, smarter government in order to balance our budget and restore Illinois’ fiscal health.

In November, I voted against a bill that would increase your monthly utility bills to fund so-called “smart grid” upgrades to our power infrastructure. I do not believe the state should further burden the people of Illinois in the middle of a deep recession.

This year I also continued to fight corruption in state government and spoke out against “pay-to-play” political appointments.

It is an honor to serve the 26th district in the Illinois State Senate. Your concerns and questions are very important to me. Please do not hesitate to contact me with your feedback so that I may better serve you!

Very truly yours,

Dan Duffy
State Senator 26th District

This is the configuration of the new 26 State Senate District where Dan Duffy is running for re-election. It was drawn by Elgin political consultant Drew Veenerman. Click to enlarge. Note that it goes into Downtown Crystal Lake.

After the letter came the following press release:

Dan Duffy

Duffy Says Budget Biggest Issue in Illinois

Senator Duffy has argued for spending restraint insisting that the state must live within its means. Duffy voted against the 67% tax increase in January 2011, and opposed additional borrowing and increased spending. Legislators must identify real solutions that deliver services more efficiently.

During the 2011 spring legislative session, Senator Duffy and others offered a detailed “reality check” plan that would eliminate the deficit, phase out the tax increase, and revitalize the state’s economy by supporting Illinois’ job creators. The “reality check” plan outlined a menu of specific efficiency measures that, if implemented, would put Illinois back on the road to a balanced budget – without sacrificing essential services.

Some of the specific suggestions included combining the Treasurer and Comptroller’s offices to save as much as $12 million dollars. The plan also included meaningful public employee pension reforms which would save the state as much as $1.35 billion immediately, with additional savings in the years ahead.

Government pensions are more generous than those received by private sector tax payers. Some government pensions offer retirement at age 55, require minimum pension contributions, and have free health care. Many pension recipients receive more than $100,000 per year in benefits. This is not fair to the hard working citizens of Illinois whose tax dollars are paying for these overly generous benefits.

Illinois families have learned that in lean times they must spend less to keep their household budgets balanced. It is time the state learns to do the same!

Duffy Opposes Utility Rate Hike

Com Ed electric poles on Randall Road.

During the fall veto session the legislature voted to override a gubernatorial veto on Senate Bill 1652, a piece of legislation that uses rate hikes to fund upgrades to the state’s power infrastructure.

In debate, Duffy raised concerns that campaign contributions had influenced votes on the legislation. Campaign finance watchdogs estimated that ComEd and Ameren spent in excess of $930,000 in campaign contributions to legislators while discussing the “smart grid” legislation. Duffy also opposed the clause in the legislation which guaranteed profits to the power companies for decades to come.

Senator Duffy noted that it may not be the appropriate time to be moving forward with the new “smart grid” legislation. In theory meters may provide better information about how to cut energy use and save money, but the meters are expensive. The cost will be passed on to consumers through rate hikes. Additionally, if consumers want to see the full benefits of the upgrades, they must add complicated in-home displays and integrate home-area networks which will take data from the meters to control appliances and other pieces of equipment.

Duffy voted against the legislation over concerns that it placed an unfair financial burden on Illinois citizens to fund the upgrades.

Duffy Fights “Quinn pro quos”

This year, Senator Duffy continued his crusade against what he calls “Quinn pro quos,” or political appointments to elected officials, their top donors, and their family members.

In the fall veto session Duffy spoke out against the $117,000 a year appointment of Jennifer Burke, daughter of powerful Chicago Alderman Ed Burke and Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke, to the Illinois Pollution Control Board. Duffy said,

“This is typical pay-to-play politics—the same bad policy of appointing politically connected people to high priced board positions. How would the typical person in Illinois even know how to apply for a position like this?”

In February Duffy introduced Senate Bill 1935, a measure that would prohibit the spouse, child, or spouse of a child of a state official, from being appointed to any state board or commission.

Duffy Continues Fight Against Red Light Cameras

Dan Duffy

Senator Duffy believes we should do everything possible to keep our roads safe. However he feels red light cameras are all about revenue, not about safety.

The US Department of Transportation statistics show that an average motorist could drive a billion miles – the distance from Earth to Jupiter and back – before being involved in and accident that resulted from turning right on red. [emphasis provided]

In March, Duffy introduced Senate Bill 26, a measure that prohibits a county or municipality from using a red light camera to issue violations to drivers who enter an intersection to turn right on red, where it is a legal maneuver.

Duffy debated that if the issue was truly about safety, municipalities should remove cameras from right turn lanes and install “no turn on red” signs at troubled intersections.

In the fall veto session, Duffy voted against using red light cameras as “speed” cameras.

Senate Bill 965 allows a special feature on the red light cameras to be switched “on”, which in turn allows the cameras to monitor the speed of automobiles as they pass by.

The cameras will then issue tickets to cars driving over the speed limit.

The ticket goes to the car, not to the driver. In debate on the Senate Floor the Senator spoke out against the legislation saying,

“I’m against this big brother piece of legislation.”

Christine Radogno speaking on the Senate floor.

Radogno, Dillard and Brady.

Those are the three names to remember if you get get a computer=generated speeding ticket as a result of legislation that just passed the Illinois State Senate and is headed for a House vote.

The legislation, Senate Bill 965, passed 32-24.

It takes 30 votes to pass a bill.

Three Republican State Senators voted for the bill.

Do the math.

If Radogno, Dillard and Brady had voted “No,” the bill would have failed.

Christine Radogno.

She’s the top Republican Party leader in the State Senate.

What was she thinking?

Kirk Dillard in Crystal Lake.

If we believe Jim Tobin, the bill’s primary purpose is to raise revenue.  It’s not for the kids.

Tobin has credibility on his charge that Mayor Rahm Emmanuel will use the money to pay pensions for city employees because he was the first to point out that the Democrats’ 67% income tax hike would go to pay state pensions (one of which I receive for having served as State Representative for 16 years, McHenry County Treasurer for 4 and as a state bureaucrat for 4).

In any event, GOP Leader Radogno was following the lead of Chicago Democrats, not her suburban constituents who will complain loudly when they start getting this $100 tickets.

Kirk Dillard.

The man who almost won the Republican nomination for Governor in 2010.

He’s a suburbanite.

As with the residents of Radogno’s district, Dillard’s constituents will be hurt by this bill.

Bill Brady in Crystal Lake.

Word is that he wants to run for Governor again.

Maybe he would have won last time, if he had not been one of the DuPage County Republican State Senators (along with Dan Cronin and John Millner)  who forced a 200% RTA Sales Tax hike on the Republican collar counties.

What was he thinking?

Bill Brady.

He’s from Downstate, so a very, very few of his constituents will ever get one of these $100 speeding tickets.

But, doesn’t he want to run for Governor again, too.

When opposition research is being done, might not someone find an article like this pointing out that he voted to shaft suburban drivers who venture into Chicago?

Is is possible that they just wanted to please Rahm Emmanuel?

If so, why?

On Tuesday, the Chicago Sun-Times was the first to blow the whistle on Rahm Emmanuel's attempt to finance Chicago city government by having Red Light cameras trigger speeding tickets.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel needs money.

When Chicago mayors need money, they look for ways to make non-Chicago residents’ pocketbooks lighter.

Think of the Regional Transportation Authority, which exported the CTA’s financial woes to the whole Chicago metropolitan area.

General Fund revenues (to be financed by the new Lottery) and gas taxes for us because the overnight Chicago Transit Authority service wasn’t paying its own way.

This Chicago mayor’s latest proposal is to pull $100 bills out of the pockets of those using Chicago streets via the already-installed Red Light cameras.

He can’t levy an income tax on suburbanites who work in Chicago. That would take legislative authority and the opposition would be immense.

Much more than for a speeding ticket system near the schools of our precious children.

Do any driving in Chicago?

Tempted to go with the traffic flow when it is moving?

Ever try to beat a red light?

If so, this legislation is aimed at you.

I remember well the rants of Danville’s State Rep. Bill Black about how his constituents got Chicago parking tickets when they had never been in Chicago.

Presumably, speeding tickets will go to the right car owners.

Jack Franks

Let’s give the technology that.

But, there are going to be a lot of very unhappy people getting $100 speeding tickets.

They will be living not only in the suburbs, but in Chicago.

Well, an idea to raise money for Chicago can’t always be financed exclusively by suburbanites.

You may remember that our own McHenry County Democrat Jack Franks was one of the sponsors of the original Red Light Camera bill.

Without those Red Light Cameras, this scheme would not be possible.

While yesterday's editorial in the Sun-Times probably did not get too much attention among legislators in Springfield, this front page article in the Chicago Tribune today will. It will give motorists a shot at beating this bill.

I wonder if he has learned the lesson that his constituents don’t like big brother pulling money out of their pockets.

Maybe these "Pay Toll 1 Mile" signs will have "and Get Your Chance at a Speeding Ticket, Too."

And, if this passes, did you know that the Tollway’s I-Pass toll tax sucker-uppers can register the speed of vehicles also.

Will this proposal give the Tollway Board, yesterday stripped of critics by Governor Pat Quinn, ideas?

Last Friday about 11 in the morning this Sheriff’s car was sitting on the south side of Route 120 waiting for speeders.

It was parked right after a curve south of Wonder Lake between Wonder Lake and Thompson Roads.

It could not see it if one were driving east.

It’s Friday again tomorrow.

Is the car there again?

Or did you read this article too late?

Last Friday about 11 in the morning this Sheriff’s car was sitting on the south side of Route 120 waiting for speeders.

It was parked right after a curve south of Wonder Lake between Wonder Lake and Thompson Roads.

It could not see it if one were driving east.

It’s Friday again tomorrow.

Is the car there again?

Or did you read this article too late?

This blur is a Richmond policeman manning a speed trap just east of Route 31/12 on Route 173.

He was parked across from the golf course when he clocked someone going east faster than the speed limit.

I think it was 35 miles per hour.

The policeman sped across our lane of traffic with lights flashing.

We continued on our way to Crystal Lake.

Obviously, I was not prepared to take the photo when the opportunity arose.

This blur is a Richmond policeman manning a speed trap just east of Route 31/12 on Route 173.

He was parked across from the golf course when he clocked someone going east faster than the speed limit.

I think it was 35 miles per hour.

The policeman sped across our lane of traffic with lights flashing.

We continued on our way to Crystal Lake.

Obviously, I was not prepared to take the photo when the opportunity arose.

Here’s what a friend sent me–a link to “Speed Trap Exchange.”

It is sponsored by the National Motorists Association, a group I have not heard of before.

I looked at the first city in Illinois and, lo and behold, it was Algonquin.

You can see all the entries to the left. There are eight of them, but even by clicking on the image I can’t read the details. If you click on the image when it appears, it will become larger, but still hard to read.

You’ll probably have to go to the web site to see any but the first one at Harnish on Randall Road–right down from the police station–and one on Route 62 east of the bridge, both of which I have posted here.

Click on them to make them larger.

Here’s what a friend sent me–a link to “Speed Trap Exchange.”

It is sponsored by the National Motorists Association, a group I have not heard of before.

I looked at the first city in Illinois and, lo and behold, it was Algonquin.

You can see all the entries to the left. There are eight of them, but even by clicking on the image I can’t read the details. If you click on the image when it appears, it will become larger, but still hard to read.

You’ll probably have to go to the web site to see any but the first one at Harnish on Randall Road–right down from the police station–and one on Route 62 east of the bridge, both of which I have posted here.

Click on them to make them larger.