A few recent articles worth a look in case you missed them. Very telling.
Wanted to be sure you saw respected SouthtownStar columnist Kristen McQueary's recent column questioning the validity of my primary opponent's intentions for running. http://www.southtownstar.com/news/mcqueary/1882754,111509mcqueary.article
You can help fend off this “plant by the Democrats to weaken” me by contributing to my campaign now, securely, online at http://www.jeffjunkas.com/.
Learn about more ballot and ‘plant’ candidate shenanigans in “How Madigan ‘helps’ his newbies” in a follow-up column by Ms. McQueary at: http://www.southtownstar.com/news/mcqueary/1892617,111909mcqueary.article
Recent Chicago Sun-Times article about one questionable hire from the heyday of former Gov. Blagojevich: http://www.suntimes.com/news/watchdogs/1898928,CST-NWS-watchside23.article
Monday, November 23, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Govt. Reform (update)/2nd Amendment
Government Reform (update)
Regarding the passage of SB 1466, the latest attempt at reforming Illinois’ campaign finance system: I think of it like a bowl of Neapolitan ice cream I ate the other night for dessert…tasted good, few different flavors, but pales in comparison to moose tracks, chocolate chip cookie dough, anything Oreo, etc. In other words, might be good to some, but we could continue to do better and be more creative.
SB 1466, with contribution limits of $5,000 for an individual and other overly generous “limits” and loopholes, will likely do little to dramatically alter the political system as it currently stands in Illinois – an overly expensive and excessively long process for many, power concentrated in a select few leaders, flawed redistricting that dampens competitive elections and very little transparency. While there may be no perfect system, this is at least a start, but I think many voters remain skeptical, as do I, if it will truly reform the system. For a good rundown of the many provisions of the law (expected to be signed by Gov. Quinn) see this summary by Illinois Issues, unfortunately departing bureau chief, Bethany Jaeger: http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/one-more-step-in-campaign-finance.html
Patrick Collins, former U.S. Attorney and head of Gov. Quinn’s Illinois Reform Commission that was created in the wake of the Blagojevich impeachment, wrote an opinion piece critical of SB 1466 that is worth a look too. http://www.suntimes.com/news/otherviews/1870289,CST-EDT-open08b.article
2nd Amendment
I support the Second Amendment and an individual’s right to keep and bear arms. This issue is simple in my mind: law abiding citizens should not be overly restricted from owning a gun for protection of themselves, their loved ones or their home. The gangbangers don’t care if we have one law or a 1,000. We need to enforce the laws we have and if someone misuses a weapon, make the penalties strong. Training, background checks and other precautionary and educational policies are commonsense measures that I would support, but blanket bans only serve to keep an unarmed public less safe from heartless, uncaring criminals’ intent on harm.
Cook County Board veto reform
Finally, the Cook County Board will join the rest of the state, and nation probably, in having a commonsense 3/5 majority needed to override a veto by its chief executive. Gov. Quinn signed legislation changing the veto override for Cook County’s president from 4/5 to 3/5 of the commissioners, or from 14 of 17 to 11 of 17.
The political pressure and public anger at being subjected to the highest tax rate in the nation, along with seeing consumers eagerly go outside Cook County to buy things, finally moved the Speaker and the controlling Democrats “off the dime.” They knew this would be an issue easily used against them in the fall. But such logical laws shouldn’t be ignored for decades to placate select voters and it shouldn’t take a massive recession coupled with out of control spending and taxing to pass it either. It should be about right and wrong, fair and unfair, good policy not race-based politics. Luckily this time, logic, reason and fairness won. Learn more by reading a brief Chicago Sun-Times article: http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/1871771,CST-NWS-quinn08.article
Public union pensions
Thought you might be interested in a recent editorial from the Chicago Tribune about the pension liabilities we as taxpayers face. No easy answers, but something has to give as $90 billion is an exasperating debt. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/chi-1108edit1nov08,0,6463125,print.story (site registration may be required)
Regarding the passage of SB 1466, the latest attempt at reforming Illinois’ campaign finance system: I think of it like a bowl of Neapolitan ice cream I ate the other night for dessert…tasted good, few different flavors, but pales in comparison to moose tracks, chocolate chip cookie dough, anything Oreo, etc. In other words, might be good to some, but we could continue to do better and be more creative.
SB 1466, with contribution limits of $5,000 for an individual and other overly generous “limits” and loopholes, will likely do little to dramatically alter the political system as it currently stands in Illinois – an overly expensive and excessively long process for many, power concentrated in a select few leaders, flawed redistricting that dampens competitive elections and very little transparency. While there may be no perfect system, this is at least a start, but I think many voters remain skeptical, as do I, if it will truly reform the system. For a good rundown of the many provisions of the law (expected to be signed by Gov. Quinn) see this summary by Illinois Issues, unfortunately departing bureau chief, Bethany Jaeger: http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/one-more-step-in-campaign-finance.html
Patrick Collins, former U.S. Attorney and head of Gov. Quinn’s Illinois Reform Commission that was created in the wake of the Blagojevich impeachment, wrote an opinion piece critical of SB 1466 that is worth a look too. http://www.suntimes.com/news/otherviews/1870289,CST-EDT-open08b.article
2nd Amendment
I support the Second Amendment and an individual’s right to keep and bear arms. This issue is simple in my mind: law abiding citizens should not be overly restricted from owning a gun for protection of themselves, their loved ones or their home. The gangbangers don’t care if we have one law or a 1,000. We need to enforce the laws we have and if someone misuses a weapon, make the penalties strong. Training, background checks and other precautionary and educational policies are commonsense measures that I would support, but blanket bans only serve to keep an unarmed public less safe from heartless, uncaring criminals’ intent on harm.
Cook County Board veto reform
Finally, the Cook County Board will join the rest of the state, and nation probably, in having a commonsense 3/5 majority needed to override a veto by its chief executive. Gov. Quinn signed legislation changing the veto override for Cook County’s president from 4/5 to 3/5 of the commissioners, or from 14 of 17 to 11 of 17.
The political pressure and public anger at being subjected to the highest tax rate in the nation, along with seeing consumers eagerly go outside Cook County to buy things, finally moved the Speaker and the controlling Democrats “off the dime.” They knew this would be an issue easily used against them in the fall. But such logical laws shouldn’t be ignored for decades to placate select voters and it shouldn’t take a massive recession coupled with out of control spending and taxing to pass it either. It should be about right and wrong, fair and unfair, good policy not race-based politics. Luckily this time, logic, reason and fairness won. Learn more by reading a brief Chicago Sun-Times article: http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/1871771,CST-NWS-quinn08.article
Public union pensions
Thought you might be interested in a recent editorial from the Chicago Tribune about the pension liabilities we as taxpayers face. No easy answers, but something has to give as $90 billion is an exasperating debt. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/chi-1108edit1nov08,0,6463125,print.story (site registration may be required)
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