No leadership in Springfield

July 16, 2007       Editor: Dave Uphoff
While anything said in this editorial will have absolutely no bearing on the subject matter, I feel obligated to join the chorus of boos for the pathetic performance by our state legislators and governor. As everyone in the state knows by now, the pols have stayed in Springfield 40 days past their normal session to come up with a compromise on developing a budget for next year while the state taxpayers pay for their room and board.

Governor Blagojevich insists that the legislators pass a corporate tax bill that would provide funding for education and a proposed health insurance plan. The legislators flatly rejected the Governor's Gross Receipt Tax on corporations because it would stifle economic development and encourage businesses to go elsewhere. Therefore, there is no money to fund the Governor's pet projects thus reducing the Governor to having arguments and temper tantrums not only with Republicans but also with his own party.

I don't understand why Blagojevich insists on creating new spending programs when the state is already broke and can't pay its bills. Medicaid payments to hospitals and nursing homes are way behind and state pensions are underfunded. It appears that the main reason that the Governor insists on pushing through a state health care insurance plan is because that would bring him national recognition. He realizes that he must do something different to attract attention if he wants to stay on track to becoming a presidential candidate.

Presidential aspirations aside, Governor Blagojevich has about as much presidential timber as Howdy Doody. And I won't comment on who he looks like. His administration continues the ignominious legacy left behind by previous Illinois governors. His insistence on living in Chicago and spending $6000 of our taxpayer dollars to fly to Springfield everyday is outrageous.

Equally outrageous is his spending of $600 of state money for a makeup artist before delivering his annual state of the state address. His refusal to wear a hard hat because it might mess up his hair suggests a vanity that borders on paranoia. His refusal to work with state legislators and his childish antics makes one wonder how he managed to climb this far up the political ladder.

The only ally that Governor Blagojevich has is Senate President Emil Jones of Chicago who angered voters by quashing a bid to grant Commonwealth Edison customers a one-year freeze on electricity rates by using a little-known parliamentary procedure that killed the effort. Talk about birds of a feather!

With all of the talented and brilliant people in this country, how come our top leaders come from the middle of the heap? Washington and Lincoln are probably spinning in their graves knowing the kind of leadership that followed them.

It comes down to this. Blagojevich wants to raise money to fund increases in spending through a business tax and by increasing the number of gambling casinos. The Republicans want to hold down taxes and freeze spending. Who will win out?

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                                                             Viewer comments on this editorial

embarrassed voter wrote on 7/18/2007 at 03:48:34

I am sad to say I voted for Rod at the last election, too bad we can't have a do-over like we did as kids because thats how they are all acting.


Cant wait wrote on 7/17/2007 at 19:50:25

The only thing that will save the citizens of Illionis from this clown we have impersonating himself as a governor is a federal indictment from the grand jury in Chicago. Speaking of Howdy Doody, Governator "Rod the God" must be Clara Belle is disguise.


Governor-Needed wrote on 7/17/2007 at 06:20:58

The sad truth is our Governor issues do not stay along party lines, but rather seem to come from a central area - namely Chicago. The last couple Governors that Illinois was cursed with, all hailed from Chicago. Until Illinois can come together (excluding Chicago) to find a decent Governor, we will be stuck with the crud we have been receiving from Chicago.


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