Peoria County State's Attorney

Via Peoria Journal-Star

The county's top prosecutor, seeking a fifth term in office, faces a challenge Nov. 2 from a Mossville lawyer who says he'd file more charges and work closer with area police if elected state's attorney.....

......"Our police officers have not been given serious consideration and allowed to make recommendations in deciding who to charge," he said. "The efforts of the police and taxpayers' money that is spent on investigations is often tossed aside because charges are not filed by the office of the state's attorney."

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Lyons, 48, has been the state's attorney for nearly 16 years and formerly served on the Farmington School District 265 School Board for a decade.

He counts his achievements as state's attorney as including the "careful and successful hiring of commendable" prosecutors from a shrinking pool of interested law school applicants and creating specialized units for domestic violence, drug court, investigations and drug money forfeiture......

....."I describe the state's attorney's office as a 'legal emergency room' because good plans can easily be sidelined by a startling homicide, a City Hall scandal, political changes, a criminal escape and so on," he said.

Why would I, a Republican, vote for Kevin Lyons in this race? Quotes just like the last one. I now, I know. It's totally the wrong reason, but that guy really is Mr. Soundbite. I remember watching on TV some of the things he came out with at the Jarvis Neely trial last summer and it was brutally honest. I don't really think Lyons is doing a bad job....of course, I don't know of 98% of the cases the State's Attorney's office tries. Like I've said before, I don't know how to vote for a State's Attorney. Most people that vote against an incumbent have been prosecuted against. I would say most people just vote for the incumbent just becasue.....why fix it if it ain't broken?

Fieldcrest School District 6 Referendum

Via Peoria Journal-Star

Fieldcrest School District 6 residents will get a second shot Nov. 2 at approving a tax increase to raise more money for their children's education.

District officials say voters must approve the 55-cent referendum to help keep the district financially afloat until 2008 and bring in an estimated $531,000. The maximum tax rate in the education fund would increase to $3.52 from the current rate of $2.97.

"If land values start to increase and we still hold expenses down, then the district can be in the black for a longer period of time," Superintendent Michael Stagliano said........

......"The board has demonstrated to the voters that they have made the tough calls in cuts by cutting $1,177,000 in the past two years," Stagliano said. "The 55-cent increase is more palatable and affordable than 90 cents."

Yeah, I don't know. Most people are ANGRY right now about school funding. I don't think schools should be asking tax payers for more, but Fieldcrest HAS made cuts and they're getting by this year. I always wonder what will happen if voters keep rejecting referendums....will schools just close? Then what? parents are going to be even angrier......

If the referendum fails, Stagliano said fees for extracurricular activities will continue, elementary class sizes could increase, elementary art and physical education classes would not be reinstated and the district likely would have to borrow more money.

Oh well. As long as the kid can read, write and do a little math...they'll make it...they might be fat, but is it our schools responsibility to keep kids then?

Putnam County State's Attorney

Via Peoria Journal-Star

(Norman) Raffety, who had been elected to five consecutive terms beginning in 1980, was edged out in the 2000 Democratic primary by Mindy Sammons. She later was defeated by (James) Mack, a Peru native who had been practicing privately and serving as an assistant public defender in Putnam County for the previous five years.

Mack says he's proven himself to be an effective and more aggressive prosecutor than his predecessor as reflected in both the number of felony cases prosecuted and the convictions in comparable 42-month periods of their respective terms.

"Through the hard work of law enforcement and the assistance of the community, I have raised the felony conviction rate 31 percent, while prosecuting 64 percent more cases as compared to the prior office holder," Mack said. "I feel like I'm a tough-on-crime prosecutor, no matter what your name or background is."

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Raffety disputes his opponent's claims of being a more aggressive prosecutor. If there have been more felony cases, that's simply an indication the crime rate has been increasing in recent years, he said.

"That means there's even more of a need for real experience in a prosecutor," Raffety said.

"I think Mr. Mack is still in the early stages of his learning curve."
Raffety added he has gotten some additional and extremely valuable experience in that regard in his role as an assistant state's attorney in Lee County. He said the volume and diversity of cases he's handled will make him an even better prosecutor in his home county.

Yeah, I was kinda leaning with Raffety on that......more crime equals more convictions. Guess you'd have to pull the police records from the county to see who's the better prosecuter

Peoria County Board District 10

Via Peoria Journal-Star

"I want the people in District 10 to be more informed of what's going on in the County Board," said (John "Corky") Birdoes, 50, of 5113 N. Martha St. "Being a taxpayer and seeing it in the newspaper, it's too late."

If elected, he would knock on doors and talk to more constituents, informing them of issues the County Board will be voting on and asking what they care about.

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It's not that simple, said (Jeffery) Riggenbach, 45, of 521 W. Stonegate Road. The Peoria County Board has always been a relatively low-profile elected office. He talks to community groups anytime he is offered the chance. But sending out routine mailings to every resident in the area is something he can't afford.

And furthermore, Riggenbach said, it's unfortunate, but most people don't know who their elected officials are, from Peoria City Council members to state and federal representatives.
But he wants the people of District 10 to know he's fighting for their interests and will continue if elected to a second term.

That's it? Your running on that? Your right, I don't know who my board member is. In fact, I just had to go find my voter registration card to see if this was my district.....I don't really care. The county board doesn't effect the people of Peoria as much as the City Council does.

Both he and Birdoes support ongoing consolidation efforts between the city and county and a regional economic plan. They both support the county-run Bel-Wood Nursing Home and want to see it continue to improve its patient care and budget bottom line.

So, it's a push

Peoria County Board District 16

Via Peoria Journal-Star

(Eldon) Polhemus, 69, of 4516 Hanna City/Glasford Road, Hanna City, has been on the board for 16 years and wants to keep doing what he's doing.

"I just think experience counts," he said. "I've got experience on the board, and I know the county very well."

He wants the chance to finish the work he's started as chairman of the County Board's facilities committee in setting a 10-year capital improvement plan.
Among his other works, he said he played a significant part in putting plans into motion for the sheriff's department to use the county landfill site for ATV training. Polhemus also wants to establish a firing range there for the deputies.

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Forrest's goals are more broad. He wants to see the County Board get more involved in regional economic plans, such as the Port Authority and the MedTech District.
And though his district is rural, Forrest, of 209 N. Daniels St., Elmwood, doesn't think that takes anything away from its right to have a voice in area matters.

"It doesn't cost the taxpayers a dime for my big mouth to be there, advocating for the rurals," he said.

If elected, the first thing he would do is organize a Peoria County Rural Prosperity Forum and invite local civic leaders, elected officials, school, church and business leaders, parents, volunteers and anyone else interested in getting together for an all-day brainstorming session.

I'm pretty sure Polhemus just secured his reelection by getting the Zoning Commission to deny recommendation for I-74 Raceway Park. As much as I'm against the denial, I think he made the right political move. Especially when his opponent is talking about getting involved in the Port Authority and Med-Tech District. Explain to me exactly how the peopl of Brimfield, Elmwood, etc will be effected by the Med-Tech District in Downtown Peoria? Not a good way to run for office.

Peoria County Board District 6

Via Peoria Journal-Star

Both candidates for Peoria County Board District 6 on Nov. 2 are in favor of consolidating government services, support the county-run nursing home and want to see economic development grow.

What they disagree on, however, is the style a politician should take to get it done.
Democrat G. Allen Mayer, 1111 W. Ridge Road, will again challenge incumbent Jeff Lickiss, 907 Stratford Drive, to represent a district roughly bordered by Lake Street on the north, North Street on the east and Interstate 74 on the south and west. In 2002, he lost to Lickiss by 52 votes.

As a board member, Lickiss cites his commitments as: opposing property tax increases, exposing and eliminating wasteful spending, supporting community growth and economic development, improving the living and financial conditions of Bel-Wood Nursing Home, listening to taxpayers' concerns and "doing what is right even if it is unpopular with powerful politicians."

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Mayer feels he has the expertise with government to be on the County Board. What sets him apart, he thinks, is his willingness to listen to all the residents in his district.

"I think that for a challenger, I obviously have an awful lot of experience in government and public policy," he said. "I am not a bomb thrower. I'm someone who works to build coalitions, to listen. That's a much more effective way to lead."

The obvious difference between these two are people skills. Lickiss is not always the easiest guy to get a hold of or talk to, but actions should always speak louder than words and Lickiss does have a pretty good record on the board. What the board accomplished with Bel-Wood last year was quite impressive and Lickiss was a major part of that.

Mayer really has no track record with the public. He works in Dan Hynes office right now, but that's really not qualifications enough to lead the district. His people first approach is a good idea, but not something I think is 100% necessary to be a public leader.

Peoria County Circuit Clerk

Via Peoria Journal-Star

Just as she did two years ago, Mischele Arbogast believes her 20 years of professional office experience and 25 years of customer service skills make her the best qualified candidate for Peoria County circuit clerk.......

........In the time since, Spears, 46, counts among his achievements improving the cost effectiveness of his staff, establishing an Internet payment option and introducing a traffic amnesty program that officials estimate should bring in about $800,000 in back traffic and court fines by years' end.

His goals for next term include improving staff training, enhancing the computer system and instituting telephone payment for fines, fees and costs.

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Arbogast, 45, an administrative assistant in the county zoning office, plans to increase training and put in new computers and software and also put out customer service comment cards and invite the public to suggest changes for easier access to the circuit clerk's office.

They both sound like they have the same goals to me. Not sure how to vote in this one. Have I mentioned I hate county these partisan county elections. What freakin difference does it make to me if there's a Republican or Democrat in office? They're not policy makers.

Peoria County Coroner

Via Peoria Journal-Star

Both candidates for Peoria County coroner on Nov. 2 feel their education and experience gives them the edge over their opponent.

Republican Johnna Ingersoll has been a deputy coroner for the past 15 years, the last seven as chief deputy coroner. Beyond that, she's supplemented her high school education with scores of death investigation courses. She's one of only six people in the state - and fewer than 100 nationwide - recognized as a board-certified Medicolegal death investigator.

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Democrat Steve Schmidt has worked for the Peoria County Sheriff's Department for more than 26 years, the last 20 as an accident investigator. He has a bachelor of science degree from the University of Wisconsin at Platteville and has completed 15 hours of graduate work.

Don't you think Johnna's experience and education is enough to elect her? She's kinda been screwed over for the last year with Dan Heinz pending retirement. The Peoria County Board wouldn't let him retire because the Dems on the board were worried about Johnna running as an "incumbent" and it'd give their candidate a disadvantage. The only disadvantage the Dems have is Johnna has the freakin credentials to be a coroner. Mr. Scmidt may be working on it, but right now, Johnna's more qualified and this is one of the races where the more qualified candidated NEEDS to win.

Among the poor decisions, he (Schmidt) said, was Heinz's decision in the face of budget cuts to discontinue use of a private service to remove bodies from crime scenes. Schmidt believes having coroner's office staff members perform that task ties up time they could be using to investigate cases.

The coroner could, and should, do a better job of ensuring there is enough money in his budget to provide the highest level of services. Schmidt believes he can do this, and without a tax increase.

Guess that's why I'm not a CSI. I would think you'd want the coroner to remove the body so they can control how it is handled so it doesn't hamper an investigation.....but, then again, I'm not an officer, coroner or investigator, so I really don't know anything about this.

Marshall County State's Attorney

via Peoria Journal-Star

The race for Marshall County state's attorney has heated up a bit in the wake of appointed office-holder Paul Bauer's refusal to meet challenger Matt Kidder in an open debate.

"I'm amazed that somebody running for office is not willing to go in front of the voters and say, 'This is why you should vote for me,' " Democrat Kidder, 30, said Friday.

"I don't think (a debate) would be beneficial," said Republican Bauer, 40.

HA HA HA HA. I'm sure Bauer isn't much of a politician so the only person it would be beneficial to is himself, buty you would think lawyer's would be great debaters.

Bauer, who was appointed to the job last year to replace the retiring Donald Knuckey, said in an interview that, "The citizens of Marshall County already know the issues." And there's no reason for the candidates to debate, he maintained, because "state's attorneys are not policy-makers."
"My opinion on an issue really doesn't have any impact," Bauer said.
Kidder called that statement "absolute nonsense," pointing out that state's attorneys make such crucial decisions as whom to charge, what crimes to charge them with, what plea bargains to accept and what cases to take to trial.

Good points from both sides. State's Attorney's are always hard races for me to decide. Exactly how do you vote for a State's Attorney...I guess I usually just vote down party lines which is NOT the correct way to do it.

US House of Representatives 11th District

Via HOI

U.S. Senate Candidate Barack Obama was in the Twin Cities on Thursday to show his support for congressional candidate Tari Renner.

Well, why not? Obama doesn't have to run his own race anymore.

Both Obama and Renner say they want voters to know they plan to stay united not only through this race, but also through their terms in office if elected.

“Politics is not an individual sport, politics is a team sport. And if I’m going to be successful in Washington, then I’ve got to have a team of democrats going with me to Washington that can help me carry that progressive banner,” says Barack Obama, U.S. Senate Candidate.

“I support Barack Obama's smart corporations plan, I’ve offered to introduce the house version of that, which says we do not have to give corporate incentives for sending jobs abroad, but to create jobs in America,” says Tari Renner, Democratic Congressional Candidate.

Working together is nice.....I guess....and I do like Obama's smart corporations plan....I guess

Renner is running against current 11th District Congressman Jerry Weller.

His campaign tells Hoi-19 News Renner is trying to distract voters from the issues by constantly attacking him.

This tag sums up the race as I know it. So now I know two things abour Renner. He likes Barack Obama and doesn't like Jerry Weller.

Illinois Senate District 47

Via KHQA

The fight for the Senate seat in the 47th district is getting fiercer by the day, and looks to continue on that track.You could say State Senator John Sullivan and his opponent Tom Ernst don’t agree on many issues.......

..... “As an independent voice, he has not stood up for Western Illinois values. He’s never stood up and said no to the governor’s issues when he’s disagreed with them,” said Ernst.

WHY! HOW HAS HE NOT STOOD UP FOR WESTERN ILLINOIS? WHY CAN'T KHQA ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS?

I know this whole story is about mudslinging, but hell, prove it!

Via KHQA

Andrea Zinga’s campaign for Congress brought her to Macomb Wednesday.Zinga unveiled her 10-point plan for education in the 17th district.One issue that she addressed is the No Child Left Behind Act.She says that some changes need to be made in the program, especially concerning the district’s diverse non-English speaking populationZinga would also like to work with legislators to ensure that colleges keep getting the federal dollars they need.

We all know No Child Left Behind is flawed and needs work. Typical TV story...says nothing important. The obvious was stated and I have several questions...like, what IS this 10 point plan?

US Senate

Via WEEK

Michelle Obama says without money Illinois students cannot do well in the classroom.''We can talk about moral aspects of education and the need for communities to embrace young people but the reality is it takes resources to educate kids and we need to change our priorities,'' says Michelle Obama.Obama says one way to change the education system is to get more advocates at the senate level.

Wow, this is an outstanding idea! You don't think every Senator WON'T tell you that education is important? Alright, everyone who has an idea on how to get money to schools please stand up. Thank you

Illinois House of Representatives District 92

Via WEEK

The race for the 92nd house seat in Illinois has taken a turn. Both candidates are now accusing the other of going negative.Democratic incumbent Ricca Slone ended a political forum Thursday night almost apologizing for the direct mail ads her campaign is sending out this week. It's a flyer with a distorted picture of Aaron Schock's face on both sides, suggesting he has a shocking agenda.''I feel bad about it. Wish we didn't have to do it. But they've been beatin' on me for three weeks. So its got to be done.... I think a lot of what's been said is not accurate. It is either distorted or just false,'' said Slone.Schock said, ''Her latest radio ad suggests I have secrets of some kind. Personal secrets, and leaves it open ended. I don't know where she's headed there. But again, it doesn't talk about the issues. And ultimately when Election Day comes, and its over, that is what is going to matter, is where people stand on the issues.''

Come on kids, GROW UP! This has gotten real childish with multiple TV and Radio ads slamming each other. Does anyone actually know what either candidate stands for or do we just know why we shouldn't elect one of them?

US Senate

Via WICS

Illinois Senate Candidate Alan Keyes' 2000 presidential cmapaign has been fined for campaign finance violations.The campaign admitted accepting contributions around 170-thousand dollars more than the individual donation limit.The campaign also acknowledged taking at least 15-hundred dollars in anonymous contributions.And in a separate development, an ethics group filed a complaint alleging misconduct by his current campaign.

Well, more good news coming out about our fine Republican Candidate for US Senate. This has nothing to do with his 2004 campaign.......yet

Illinois House of Representatives District 88

Via WJBC

The Republican candidate and a Green Party candidate for a state representative seat debated issues last night at Illinois Wesleyan University. State Representative Dan Brady says there's a problem with seniors affording health-care in Illinois. Green-party candidate Phil Huckelberry is running against Brady for the 88th District seat. Huckleberry says health-care is not a free-market...instead it's run by corporations who aren't providing enough coverage for patients.Huckelberry says the corporate take-over has created a closed market and the government should get involved to fix the problem if necessary. The two are expected to square off at least one more time before the end of the month.

Well, I will side with Huckelberry on this one if what he says is true....BUT the government should NOT take over a health care system. I think we're just going to have to face it, healthcare is getting more expensive....why MEDICAL MALPRACTICE! Maybe we start there and then work back and maybe, maybe things will work out.....but if Mr. Huckelberry is right, maybe the government should impose "sanctions" on these companies.

I should try and get to the next debate between these two to see more on what they have to say....again, I'm not in the district and I know Dan Brady pretty well, so I'd vote for him anyway there are some things Huckelberry is hitting on that sound good.

US Senate

Via WMBD Radio

Democrat Barack Obama and Republican Alan Keyes staked out sharply different positions on the Iraq War and health care Tuesday in their first face-to-face debate. Keyes praised U. S. policy in Iraq and said America must feel free to use military force against other countries even if it's not certain they pose dangers to America. The former ambassador also suggested his opponent lacks the experience to understand how to respond to international terrorism. But both men generally stayed away from direct attacks on the other. Obama said the Bush administration bungled the war in Iraq. The state senator from Chicago also called for expanding existing government health insurance programs to help more people obtain health care.

I know, I know, I'm way behind on this. I've been busy and well, this debate really bored the hell out of me. They talked about the war way too much instead of talking about domestic issues. I was pretty annoyed with the moderator who kept cutting Keyes off. I may not like the man, but let him speak, damnit. Nothing we haven't heard on the stump for the last few months.

President of the United State

Via WMBD Radio

The Fox television affiliate in central Illinois will show a controversial documentary later this month that focuses on Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry's opposition to the Vietnam war. Sinclair Broadcast Group has asked its 62 television stations across the country to air the film before the November Second election. Democratic Party officials and some U-S senators object to the move. They call it an illegal in-kind contribution to President Bush's campaign. The show, "Stolen Honor - Wounds That Never Heal," will be on Fox 43 a week from Friday at 7:00 p.m.

OK, so I had to weigh in on this. This is just the GOP's answer to Michael Moore's "Farenheight 911. The difference. Sinclair is calling this news while Moore called it a Documentery. Both are 100% wrong. They're political propaganda. Moore lied throughout his "documentery" and I'm sure Sinclair will as well. Just don't watch it. That's the best thing you could do to Sinclair. Protesting will only draw more attention to it. I know a group is planning on protesting outside WYZZ?WMBD's studio on University on Friday.....I also happen to know the other two stations, two radio stations, and two papers are planning on covering.....exactly what Sinclair wants.

US House of Representatives 15th District

Via Decatur Herald & Review

U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson, R-Champaign, and his Democratic challenger, Dr. David Gill of Clinton, largely agree on the issues facing Congress and voters this fall.

Um....that ain't really good, is it?

That is where their agreement ends as they diverge on solutions to problems facing the nation and the residents of the 15th Congressional District they seek to represent for the next two years.

Well, at least they can see the problems...

Johnson sees the issues as bolstering national security and the nation's ability to maintain freedom from terrorism at home and abroad, creating jobs and improving the economy and dealing with rising health care costs.

Gill, an emergency room physician at Dr. John Warner Hospital, Clinton, is making affordable health care the core of his campaign. He also sees job creation and retention as key needs, as is heightened security in the face of increasing terrorism worldwide.

ok. Well, I'm definately for Johnson so far.......

Health care is an issue that does not lend itself to an easy solution, Johnson said.

Use of health savings accounts and the advantages of those to individual citizens should be expanded, Johnson said. Important legislation passed the U.S. House to create an association health care program under which 20 or 30 small businesses could pool together across state lines to take advantage of economies of scale to buy health insurance, he said.

A Congressional Budget Office report stated that plan would provide coverage to only about 600,000 additional workers and would cause premium increases for many small businesses, which would force some workers to drop coverage they now have.

and the other side

Gill advocates the program proposed by Physicians for a National Health Plan, which he said the CBO twice has given favorable reviews. He said the plan would save between $130 billion and $180 billion annually in health care costs and would be funded by a 2 percent income tax and a 7 percent payroll tax on businesses.

I'm still NOT in favor of any national health care plan no matter what they say about it

On the Iraq war....

The United States should give the Iraqi people their resources, primarily oil, and see what they can work out with United Nations help, Gill said.

SCREW THE UN!!! If they didn't want to get involved a year ago, they shouldn't get involved now. Hell, the UN is just another extension of the US anyway....but with more people to screw things up. The Iraqi people should get their oil and see what they can do with it....but WITHOUT the help of the UN.

The United States must withdraw from NAFTA or renegotiate its position within that agreement, Gill said. It must enforce fair trade with the nations with which it deals, only doing business with countries that have policies against slave and child labor, he said.

Yeah, this is probably one issue I'll take the Democratic side on.

US House of Representatives 17th District

Via Decatur Herald & Review

"He (Lane Evans)has a progressive, degenerative disease that is impairing his effectiveness," Zinga said. "He is not a leader. He is a follower. He is not proactive, but reactive."While the disease has slowed him over the past eight years, it has not stopped him from performing his duties, Evans said. If Democrats win control of the U.S. House, he will become chairman of the veterans affairs committee, where he is the ranking minority member, he said.

I thought we were done talking about his Parkinson's, Andrea?

The key issue in this district this cycle is jobs," Zinga said. "I haven't seen any sort of a strategic vision or long-range plan from the congressman on this. There has to be a sense of being ahead of the curve instead of behind it."

Evans stood in front of the closed International Harvester plant in Rock Island during his first congressional campaign and said he would bring jobs back to the facility, Zinga said. The still-empty plant was torn down this year, she said.

How can you argue with that? It's kinda like "No new taxes!"

Evans said the adoption of free trade agreements is hurting America."

We need common-sense legislation to change the free trade agreements," Evans said. "We need to back off the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Let the international community help pay for these mutual agreements."Evans said he will work to strengthen trade unions as a means of helping American workers.

We do need a common sense approach, but that doesn't bring jobs. How exactly will he work to strengthen trade unions and how will that increase jobs? The 17th District (which includes Galesburg that has lost 2 major manufactures) has a whole lot of empty manufacturing facilities. Not being from that district, I can think of Case, International Harvestor in both Rock Island and Canton (which was finally torn down and the city is trying to redevelop on it's own), Maytag, and pretty soon Butler.

Both candidates support improvements to locks and dams on the Mississippi and Illinois rivers, though those projects have recently been called unnecessary by a government review panel.

Evans said the work is vitally important to improve the area's infrastructure and create badly needed construction jobs.

Zinga said the river projects would provide an estimated 48 million man hours of construction work. She said one of her goals when she gets to the U.S. House is to be named to the transportation committee, not only because of the lock and dam projects, but also because of a need for more four-lane highways in the area.

I'm all for jobs, but let's not build just to build. Yes, your creating jobs and paying wages to those people, but at the same time, your wasting tax dollars which they are paying.

US House of Representatives 19th District

via Decatur Herald & Review

Democrat Tim Bagwell of Olney is fighting an uphill battle in his campaign against U.S. Rep. John Shimkus, R-Collinsville, for the 19th Congressional District seat in the Nov. 2 general election.....

..."Medical liability is by far the biggest crisis facing the 19th District and the state of Illinois," Shimkus said. "If we lose one more OB/GYN physician, we're hurting. In the Metro East area of St. Louis, 160 physicians have left in the last several years. There is no neurosurgeon south of Springfield."

Better start looking at malpractice insurance and caps then.....

Bagwell does not view dealing with malpractice caps as a leading issue. He said he does not favor caps on pain and suffering awards but rather would like to see administrative procedures put in place to curtail filing of frivolous lawsuits and penalties for lawyers who do so.

No, we need caps. When people realize they can only get $10 instead of $100, they won't be pushing to sue unless they 100% sure they physician screwed up in a way that could have been prevented. There will always be lawyers who will find ways around wording in the "penalties" Bagwell speaks of.

Improving the economy and creating jobs are at the top of Bagwell's priority list.Bagwell proposes creating jobs by obtaining more federal funding for highway construction on projects such as widening U.S. 50 to four lanes from Lebanon to Lawrenceville and U.S. 51 from Pana south to connect with Interstate 64.

Money from where? Will adding another Interstate really bring in more jobs over the long haul? Yeah, it will bring in jobs for the construction of this infrastructure, but the roads have to lead to a business eventually.

Shimkus said the national economy is improving, but the Midwest lags behind, and Illinois has its own problems with lack of industrial growth.

"Our worker compensation laws are not comparable to surrounding states with higher premiums," Shimkus said. "Illinois also is a litigious state. There also is uncertainty for businesses on fees and regulations. I hope as the national economy improves, it drags us in a positive direction."

If we can improve the state of business, maybe then we can go after worker comp laws and
such, but first, we have to make sure we're not putting business out of business. I've been injured on the job before...it sucks! I got probably half of what I would have earned and medical expenses. I was forced to use vacation and sick days just to get paid for most of it, but I also know the company I was working for at the time was struggling. It's no excuse, but a lawsuit probably would have put 100+ people out of work and the company. I sucked it up, got better, went back to work for a while and then found something better.

Bagwell said a consensus must be developed on dealing with health care, then a decision can be reached on how to fund the program."Every advanced industrial country has universal health care except the United States," Bagwell said. "We might have an economic boom in health care. Those jobs don't go overseas."

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO! Do you really want politicians deciding on your healthcare instead of physicians or experts in the field? Do you really want your health care decided in a back room somewhere in Washington where a decision will be made down party lines? HELL NO!

US Senate

Via Champaign News-Gazette

"You can lie about somebody. You can mischaracterize your position. You can go back on your word. You can spend all your time tearing somebody down instead of doing something positive," (Barack) Obama said. "There is no other realm in our lives that that would be acceptable. It inhibits people from trying to introduce any complexity into the conversation, because as soon as they say anything complex, it will end up in a television ad or in a mail piece that makes them look like they're crazy."

Man, he just hit a point about the thing that bugs me the most about politics. For the most part, most races have stayed clean this year, but Alan Keyes has gotten nasty as has the Illinois House of Represetnatives race in District 92 between Aaron Schock and Ricca Sloan. Why does mudslinging have the remain a part of this process?

"When I heard Jesus Christ wouldn't vote for me, I wanted to ask my opponent who his pollster was," Obama joked. "I wanted to connect with him, because there are so many more important questions. Am I going up or going down? There's the eternal life thing.

Yeah, no kidding. And how exactly does Alan Keyes know how a carpenter who lived 2000 years ago would vote? Just being a carpenter means if he were alive today he'd probably be in a union and the chances are, he WOULD vote for the Democratic Obama

Illinois Senate District 38

Via Morris Daily Herald

Long-time self-employed businessman Gary Dahl used experience and advice in formulating a 12-point, state-wide jobs proposal.............

............Dahl said his plan would restore Illinois’ image as a pro-jobs state by rolling back environmental permit fees, as well as tax hikes and fees passed the General Assembly passed in 2003.

Also, the plan would restore the Employee Training Tax Credit and eliminate the natural gas tax, as well as the state’s inheritance, or death, tax on family-owned businesses and farmers.

Tax increases would be frozen for five years, and a new service tax would be defeated. Small businesses would gain a new healthcare insurance tax credit, and they and their employees would have more choices in healthcare coverage.Medical malpractice reform would cap awards for pain and suffering and reduce frivolous lawsuits.

His plan would increase investment in job-training programs at community colleges, institute Truth in Budgeting legislation and protect the state road fund from further raids.In addition, the plan would aid agriculture by expanding markets for ethanol and other products; find new value-added uses for crops; reject efforts to create a new sales tax on feed, seed and fertilizer; and restore funding to AgriFirst.

The plan would strengthen laws that give Illinois companies preference in state government bidding contracts.

Probably the most probing part of his plan, Dahl noted, would be establishment of a jobs task force to promote regional job growth.

I'm usually pretty in favor of giving business tax breaks, but this may be too much. The plan is to give business A LOT of tax cuts. If you cut taxes, where does the state's money come from? The state is also in a little money trouble and losing this tax money would have to be made up somewhere.

It's an issue of who would benefit the most? Would the state benefit from job growth under this plan? Would the increase in jobs make up for the loss of taxes? If that's the case, this is a good idea, but I would think it would take an awful lot of business to make this worth it.

Illinois House of Representatives District 92

Via WMBD Radio

If elected to office, the Republican hopeful in the 92nd district race for state representative wants to enact a new program to help people buy cheaper prescription drugs. Aaron Schock got the idea from a Maryland website called "Prescription Drug Price Finder." Schock says Illinois would create a website where Illinois residents could comparison shop in their own towns. The website would ask where you live and would then give you a list of pharmacies in your area.Schock says research in Peoria alone says prescription drug prices vary from pharmacy to pharmacy. The republican polled 11 different places that sell prescription drugs.

Oh my gosh! A LEGAL idea to the prescription drug problem. Why the heck not try it? At least we, as a state, won't be doing something illegal.

Illinois House of Representatives District 92

Via Peoria Journal-Star

When Barack Obama comes to town, Ricca Slone usually is somewhere nearby.

It's not hard to figure why. Obama is a widely popular Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, and Slone is a friend in need.

Even when Slone missed a recent Obama event because it fell on a Jewish holiday, she still got a plug from Obama, who said he wasn't prompted to do so.

"I want to do anything I can do to help (Slone) and local Democrats," Obama said, because "one of the things you learn when you're in government is that it doesn't do you much good to be there if you don't have some strong allies who can help you make it happen."

What would be nice is if Obama would actually stay in Illinois to do that. Sloan could probably get a little rub from Obama....although I'm starting to wonder if her opponent can pull off the win. This association can't do any harm to her campaign

So stated, but Schock, 23, is certainly mounting a challenge with some big names of his own.

Jim Edgar is endorsing him in radio ads even though Schock has met the former governor only a couple of times. Furthermore, a Winnebago full of House Republicans rolled into town midweek to show support for the young Schock and even campaign with him door-to-door.

The RV included House Republican Leader Tom Cross, who said, "We think (Schock) has a good shot of winning, and we're here to encourage him and support him."

Yeah, Schock has more big name support than he knows what to do with. Problem is, do people in the 92nd District care? This is Republican politics. My guess is someone handed Jim Edgar is itinerary for the day and it said "Photo shoot with Aaron Schock" Edgar said, "Who?" His aides just told him to do it....it be in his best interest. I bet Alan Keyes doesn't even know how to spell Schock's name.....:)