…promoting the idea of getting new people into politics.

I was in DeKalb doing what I could to help Lynn Fazekas get elected mayor of DeKalb.

“Old blood” can’t (and/or won’t) enact new ideas. That is why Illinois is such a mess, locally and statewide.

Make no mistake, I think Rod is an awful Governor. I don’t agree with him on much of anything and it’s pretty clear he doesn’t operate along the same incentive structure of most people in politics. Yesterday’s performance in the 2:00 PM news conference also gave even more of an indication that he might just occupy an alternate universe. Along with most of Illinois, I DO think he should be removed, and frankly, the political class could, and should have, removed him much sooner.

All of that said, the guy is correct about a few things regarding Illinois, as he demonstrated yesterday, when he said that once he’s gone, taxes will be raised. While I agree with Rich Miller, when he makes fun of the “conspiracy talk,” the fact is that Blagojevich has been the only barrier to a large income tax and sales tax increase. That is why he’s governor, after all.

Every Republican blowhard hyping how much they wish Topinka would have won tries to evade the well-known truth that we would have already seen a huge income tax increase under her administration. Would we have had a “CapitOl Bill?” Sure, with 80% going to insiders like Bill Cellini.

It’s like I’ve been telling everyone since working on the Constitutional Convention. Rod is merely a manifestation of what ails Illinois, and when he’s gone, taxes will go up quickly.

In closing, I was ready to write a long explanation of my complicated view of Rod Blagojevich. Then I discovered an excellent post by Ralf Seiffe over at Illinois Review.

In that post, Ralf’s analysis of how we got here is excellent, and must reading for anyone who really wants to understand the dynamics of Illinois. Ralf also tiptoes right up to edge of saying that Republicans should keep Rod in office (and strangely, they DO have the power, as the Democrats need two Republican votes to convict in the senate).

While there would be certain strategic reasons to allow the state and the Democrats stew in the juices they’ve excreted, the sheer Machiavellian nature of such a move (on the part of Republicans) would not be borne by the people of this state. They would punish the Republicans for “saving” Rod.

I don’t wish Rod Blagojevich well. The tapes, his behavior as governor, and his record, indicate that he isn’t a particularly nice or good person. That said, he’s performed a valuable service for the people of Illinois. He’s exposed just how hypocritical, corrupt, broke, and broken, the political class of Illinois has become. Decent politicians of both parties (and I think there are fewer than the state deserves) can point to nearly everyone in Springfield and say, you helped create Rod Blagojevich, and your criticizing him is hypocritical.

Properly framed, the advent of Rod Blagojevich could usher in a whole new slate of decent people in both parties. All they need to do is step up and run. Of course, they could probably use some funding to challenge the incumbents, but that’s a whole new long, long post.

Kathy Ryg is a state rep. in a suburban district. Shockingly, she actually had an opponent this year. Maybe she is reading the tea leaves as to who and what is to blame for Illinois river of red ink.

School District/Teacher Union Greed

More transparency in school funding

Your editorial of Nov. 23, “Accountability will improve schools” highlighted needed reforms that must be considered before additional taxpayer dollars are poured into Illinois’ broken public school system. I have filed HB5769 - Education Fiscal Accountability amendments to the School Code as a result of research and collaboration by elected officials, advocacy groups, educators, administrators and school board members. As you suggest, the bill provides for increased transparency so taxpayers understand how money is being spent in their local schools and can evaluate if that investment is leading to good outcomes for students.

The requirements of this legislation call for improved audit procedures, written financial policies prepared in plain English available to the public with opportunities for public dialogue, five-year capital improvement plans with a public hearing process, and a user-friendly executive summary of a school district’s budget. School board members will be required to complete at least four hours of training on their financial oversight, accountability and fiduciary responsibilities. School boards will be required to establish an audit committee, and a statewide office of Education Inspector General is established to investigate complaints of misconduct, waste, fraud and financial mismanagement with subpoena powers and authority to refer for prosecution if applicable.

WOW! That last bit blows me away! Not that it is guaranteed to be properly applied, given Illinois record of incompetence and corruption. And this from a Democrat!! With the Democrats starting to “get it”, how long before we no longer even need the rump party of Republicans anymore? It isn’t as if Brady, Gidwitz, or any other of the theoretical entrants in the Governor’s race have made a such a proposal.

Proposal?! What’s that?!

The bill above is a good start, and Ryg deserves credit for filing it, but it’s only a start.

The more transparency we get, the more we will see that schools are OVER FUNDED! Spending needs to be CUT, not increased.

While we are applauding Rep. Ryg for promoting transparency, we also need to remind her that Illinois is a financial basket case careening toward bankruptcy. Therefore, any increase in taxes to the state MUST be accompanied by;

1. Substantial and permanent reductions in our obscene property taxes.

2. Substantial cuts in the state budget, particularly in areas where we have seen the most waste (school capital programs are a start, but why not just gut whole departments?)

3. 100% transparency in EVERYTHING (state & local), including the impact of every undeserved “end-of-career” pay hike on the state’s pension liability.

We are less than half way through what looks to be a deep recession. Our property taxes are climbing steeply while their values are dropping, and it is time for our political leaders to get a back bone, and tell the teacher, fire, police and other public employee unions that THEY HAVE HAD THEIR RIDE ON THE GRAVY TRAIN!

DeKalb County has one of the best County news sites I’ve seen yet. The main site is chock full of information, news, public affairs info, as well as as decent stable of advertisers.

They also have a blog, which allows for commentary and feed back.

The state needs much more of these types of sites. If you have any suggestions for similar sites (not just bloggers), please forward them to me or post them in the comments.

As most Illinois blogger and internet political mavens know, Rich Miller’s Capitol Fax is the epicenter of Illinois’ political “inside baseball.”

Rich has been doing yeoman’s work reporting/blogging on the fiscal mess in Illinois. I think it’s fair to say that his commentary in his latest “fiscal” post shows that he leans in favor of revenue increases (tax hikes). This is not an insane position, given the absurd fiscal condition of Illinois (and local) government.

I commented on one his earlier posts, and he gave some reasonable replies countering my suggestions (Spending Freeze and Local Government cutbacks). Fair enough. There certainly is room for debate.

The comment below is my response to Rich Miller’s latest post on fiscal matters.

Rich,

As an advocate of smaller government and very skeptical of tax increases, I must say that you are (unfortunately) probably correct that some form of revenue increase for the state is necessary.

The last time I commented on this issue, you took exception to two ideas that I floated. One is that we cut taxes at one level to ameliorate any increases at another level.

You responded with something along the lines of “that’s a local issue.”

It is and it isn’t. Take the FAKE tax swap of HB750. Many legislators have owned up to the fact that they could zero out the education portion of the property tax tomorrow.

It isn’t a “local tax.” It is a state tax “collected locally” for a “state purpose” (education) This is why that “48th in state aid” line is such a load of crap.

A fake tax swap would be a disaster in terms of policy, politics, and economics.

An honest tax swap (permanent, substantial property tax relief in exchange for higher income taxes and a broader sales tax base) would be one solution that might fix state fiscal problems while simultaneously assisting struggling property owners and the real estate industry.

If that was enacted, the need for immediate cuts in local government feather-bedding, particularly in the education monopoly, would be one result.

If people are to be serious about “fixing” the fiscal disaster that is Illinois, going after both state and local solutions simultaneously is good politics and good policy.

Another solution I proposed was a freeze on spending increases. Your reply was that there are so many built in mandated increases (1.e. pensions and Medicaid), that to freeze spending would require dramatic cuts in other programs.

Again, you are correct, up to a point. Your analysis is spot on, save for the idea that there is nothing to cut.

If we are to be serious about fixing Illinois budget woes with out taxing every remaining business or entrepreneur out of the state, why shouldn’t all the players (Dems, Reps, advocacy groups, public employees, etc.) have some skin in the game?

Let’s open up every budget item. Every Chicago School district dime, every state dime, every state and local salary, every increase in pension liability, every contract, and really see if there is “nothing to cut.”

The idea that a spending freeze (including a LEVY FREEZE on EVERY LOCAL ENTITY) is impossible doesn’t pass the common sense test. Negotiating a temporary tax increase in exchange for a temporary freeze (2 year) and permanent 100% transparency for every future dime in every gov. entity is a deal that the citizens of Illinois might swallow.

If every business has had to lay off (or forgo hiring) employees, and every citizen has had to cut back on personal spending, then the government can do the same.

If there was a party in Illinois actually running on such a platform in this environment, it might actually get some votes.

Too bad there is no such party.

Once you admit what’s broken, fixing things shouldn’t be that hard.