The Gov wants universal preschool, new college scholarships, and a grant program to reduce grade school class sizes - all at a time when we can't make our pension contributions.
Apparently there is dissension in the Dem ranks in the GA, and AFSCME has been running an ad campaign trying to get their priorities funded.
Dems, is it too early to be looking toward the Lisa Madigan campaign of 2010?
The education lobby vs. AFSCME.
My money is on the education lobby. The battle of the lobbying titans.
It's fun to sit back and watch all the bureaucrtic infighting in an bloated, special interest heavy, expenses-rising-much-faster-than-revenues environment.
"For years, critical services have been starved for resources. Now many are at the breaking point. It's time to reduce the cuts and restore services."
Well, I voted for Eisendrath, whatever good that did.
Believe it or not, as much as I rail against Republicans, I'm actually more upset with Democrats when they drop the ball. Perhaps it's a combination of party loyalty and disappointment with that party?
Illinois Democrats really had a chance starting in early 2003. They took control of the state - solid control - for the first time in ages, and had the opportunity to turn things around and be respected by the citizens of Illinois. But.... yeah, that seems pretty much squandered now.
Matthew,
I feel the same way about spending on the Federal level - it's somehow more disappointing to me that it's the GOP that can't stop spending money they don't have.
Matthew, I too feel that way about the Republicans at the federal level. They have had solid control of the Presidency and both houses and still can't manage to accomplish anything except spending more money and upsetting the party's base.
There is only one way to pay for these new program's. PENSION RAID II the sequel coming to a theatre near you just after the re-election starring Rod "The Hair" Blagojevich. The state has little new revenue coming in to pay for these new program's. We didn't have the money to pay for the other stupid program's Rod and his co-star's the Democrat leadership pushed though so we are left with a raid. Yes they will raid the teacher pension fund or under fund it so take your choice have it go in one pocket and out the other or hold the line and tell Blago to shove his program's and not support him. Tell him to properly fund the programs we have now. Then he should stop scaring the hell out of business so they stop leaving the state taking their tax revenue them. I am not letting out any top secrets here or the plot of the movie. Rod wants to be elected and he doesn't care how much it cost the employee's or the citizens of the state.
I'm at least proud of the (majority of) Champaign County Democrats, who showed some integrity and voted enough to have Eisendrath win the county. Hopefully, that sent a message to Springfield... er, I mean Chicago. Oh, wherever.
"sent a message to Springfield”¦ er, I mean Chicago"
Ouch! LOL
Today in the paper there was a letter from an employee asking that all State employees donate to JBT--this will be an interesting couple of months. Let's see if Rod gets angry and tries to punish the State employees for suggesting such a thing. From talking to people who work with the government, I understand that both he and his budget director can be very vindictive.
"Let's see if Rod gets angry and tries to punish the State employees for suggesting such a thing. From talking to people who work with the government, I understand that both he and his budget director can be very vindictive."
Yet another way in which GWB and Blago are alike.