The Two Most Important Constitutional Offices in Illinois
In order for Illinois to be place on a prosperous path, the two most important offices we will make selections for are Governor and State Treasurer. Working in tandem these two office holders are positioned to have the greatest impact on the quality of the business environment in Illinois. The creation of a strong business environment will make way for a prosperous future. Additionally, these two offices hold the key to getting Illinois on firmer financial footing.
For Governor
Bill Brady (Republican) will make a great governor. He will hold the line on taxes and make the necessary cuts in spending to whip the state in shape. Brady is a businessman from the downstate farm belt. Both qualify as solid positives. He will create a business environment for economic growth thereby once again positioning Illinois as the economic engine that can drive the Midwest.
For Treasurer
Dan Rutherford (Republican). State Senator Dan Rutherford has a solid business background. He has served as a skilled legislator known for getting things done. A workhorse, not a show horse as many of his democrat counterparts are. He will work hard to watch that the taxpayer funds are spent wisely.
The U.S. Senate Dilemma
When young I felt that a U.S. Senator was an office of high honor, but over the last couple decades my faith in that body has diminished greatly. It is filled with blowhards and too many members of our American aristocracy (lawyers). It has taken on the attributes of a “House of Lords”. Its importance these days is limited to approving judges and other Executive branch appointments through confirmation. It is the U.S. House of Representatives where the real work gets done. But we must vote for a U.S. Senator this election.
Six-Month Term
Mark Kirk (Republican). He would be an able Senator, somewhere between a Chuck Percy and a Peter Fitzgerald. Kirk is solid on defense and fiscally responsible. Should the Republicans make big gains he could be steered rightward toward needed tax cuts. His opponent would be a disaster for Illinois and our Nation.
Unexpired (Two-month) Term
Mike Labno (Libertarian). If you have some doubts about Mark Kirk and his squishiness then this vote is for you. You can be certain that Labno will do no harm and probably be of some help pushing back on the lame-duck socialist-democrat agenda. This vote will serve notice to Kirk that he is on notice. Should he fall back and vote for such things as “Cap and Tax” he will risk banishment to the political wilderness when he stands for re-election.
My Legislative Trifecta
Illinois Congressional District 14
Randy Hultgren (Republican). He will serve the district well. Hultgren will be a solid vote for lower taxes and significant budget cuts. Should he win, he will be part of the largest freshman class of congress in recent memory. You can count him to listen to and work on behalf of his constituents.
State Senate District 25
State Senator Chris Lauzen (Republican). A solid conservative that has served his district well. Always responsive to constituent inquiries. He needs to be returned to get the states fiscal house in order.
State Representative District 49
State Representative Timothy Schmitz (Republican). Not one for self-aggrandizement, Schmitz is a solid legislator that serves the district exceptionally well. Return him to office.
A Must Vote
Illinois State Comptroller
Julie Fox (Libertarian). She has the necessary accounting background to serve our state capably.
All the tea in China could not make me vote for Topinka. Ol’ Judy is nothing more than a donkey in elephant clothing, if you get my drift. After what she and her cronies did to Jack Ryan to give rise to an obscure State Senator named Obama, she needs to be retired from politics forever.
2010 Elections Will Get Our State and Nation Back on the Road to Prosperity.
Get out and vote. The right vote will put Illinois and our country in position for a prosperous future.
Showing posts with label State Senator Bill Brady. Show all posts
Showing posts with label State Senator Bill Brady. Show all posts
Monday, October 25, 2010
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Four Illinois Reforms
The Illinois primary election has all but concluded and still there is not a declared victor in the race for the Republican nomination for Governor. As provisional and absentee ballots are fully counted, a winner between State Senator Bill Brady and State Senator Kirk Dillard will emerge. It is more than likely that this will be a Republican year and the new governor will have significant challenges before him. There are four reforms that he should work on to make a better Illinois.
Illinois Pension Fund Reform
During the Republican primary campaign much was said and written about Illinois pension fund reform. There are too many people that have wallowed in the public trough throughout their adult life only to retire with bountiful benefits on the taxpayer’s dime. This has to end. Double dipping and layering of pension benefits must end if Illinois is to get back to fiscal sanity. The system must be reformed. Beneficiaries should only get 75% of their average public earnings as a state employee. The politicians have gamed the system and are guilty of taxpayer abuse.
Forensic Audit of State Expenditures
A forensic audit of all state expenditures is needed. This was one of the hallmarks of Adam Andrzejewski’s terrific campaign for the Republican nomination for governor. The new governor ought to heed his advice. Taken a step further, he ought to appoint Mr. Andrzejewski as head of a commission that can study state spending and make recommendations on cuts that have to be made as well as finding greater efficiencies in state government. Think the Grace Commission during the Reagan era. It made thousands of recommendations to root out governmental waste and fraud on the federal level. An “Andrzejewski Commission” on the state level could do the same.
Citizen Legislature
This is an idea whose time has come. The great political columnist and talk show host, Thomas Roeser, floated this idea in a recent column. It makes superb sense. My political education was received in the tumbleweed landscape of New Mexico politics. In New Mexico they have a citizen legislature. That is to say that legislators serve part-time and have regular occupations. During election years (even numbered years) the legislature met for 30 days. In odd numbered years the legislature met for 60 days. The interesting facet to this was that if a piece of legislation did not gain passage by both chambers, it died. Prompting the bill sponsor to introduce it in the next year. At the time legislators received only $75 per Diem for legislative matters. Illinois ought to dump the full-time legislative process and begin anew with a part-time legislature. When it is not in session we will all be safe.
Judges Should Be Appointed
This past primary season we witnessed a number of television ads touting the judicial temperament of judges running for the appellate court. I found this demeaning. The Governor should appoint Judges at this level and above. Local judges could continue to run for office. This was a heated discussion during the founding of our nation. The new governor should engage our modern day aristocracy (the legal community) to figure out away this can be achieved. One only has to look at the election of the democrat’s Scott Lee Cohen to the nomination of Lieutenant Governor to see that the voters do not have the necessary time to study judicial nominations. Let the legal community provide judgeship recommendations to our Governor.
Aside from the tremendous budgetary issues a new Governor will have to face, he will need to move forward on a number of reforms to create a solid economic environment here in Illinois. Our new governor should also consider the four reforms above.
Illinois Pension Fund Reform
During the Republican primary campaign much was said and written about Illinois pension fund reform. There are too many people that have wallowed in the public trough throughout their adult life only to retire with bountiful benefits on the taxpayer’s dime. This has to end. Double dipping and layering of pension benefits must end if Illinois is to get back to fiscal sanity. The system must be reformed. Beneficiaries should only get 75% of their average public earnings as a state employee. The politicians have gamed the system and are guilty of taxpayer abuse.
Forensic Audit of State Expenditures
A forensic audit of all state expenditures is needed. This was one of the hallmarks of Adam Andrzejewski’s terrific campaign for the Republican nomination for governor. The new governor ought to heed his advice. Taken a step further, he ought to appoint Mr. Andrzejewski as head of a commission that can study state spending and make recommendations on cuts that have to be made as well as finding greater efficiencies in state government. Think the Grace Commission during the Reagan era. It made thousands of recommendations to root out governmental waste and fraud on the federal level. An “Andrzejewski Commission” on the state level could do the same.
Citizen Legislature
This is an idea whose time has come. The great political columnist and talk show host, Thomas Roeser, floated this idea in a recent column. It makes superb sense. My political education was received in the tumbleweed landscape of New Mexico politics. In New Mexico they have a citizen legislature. That is to say that legislators serve part-time and have regular occupations. During election years (even numbered years) the legislature met for 30 days. In odd numbered years the legislature met for 60 days. The interesting facet to this was that if a piece of legislation did not gain passage by both chambers, it died. Prompting the bill sponsor to introduce it in the next year. At the time legislators received only $75 per Diem for legislative matters. Illinois ought to dump the full-time legislative process and begin anew with a part-time legislature. When it is not in session we will all be safe.
Judges Should Be Appointed
This past primary season we witnessed a number of television ads touting the judicial temperament of judges running for the appellate court. I found this demeaning. The Governor should appoint Judges at this level and above. Local judges could continue to run for office. This was a heated discussion during the founding of our nation. The new governor should engage our modern day aristocracy (the legal community) to figure out away this can be achieved. One only has to look at the election of the democrat’s Scott Lee Cohen to the nomination of Lieutenant Governor to see that the voters do not have the necessary time to study judicial nominations. Let the legal community provide judgeship recommendations to our Governor.
Aside from the tremendous budgetary issues a new Governor will have to face, he will need to move forward on a number of reforms to create a solid economic environment here in Illinois. Our new governor should also consider the four reforms above.
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