So in the four and a half years that Rod Blagojevich has been governor it's cost Illinois taxpayers a grand total of $3.25 million for the upkeep of the Springfield mansion. Only problem - he's hardly ever there, preferring to spend most of his time in Chicago, ostensibly for the education of his kids. With the state government in gridlock as they go on endlessly - well, it will (has to) come to an end sooner or later, at least the governor seems to be spending a little more time Downstate these days. But the fundamental question is this: Is it fair for the already overtaxed citizens of Illinois to pay for the upkeep of a mansion that rarely has its lights turned on - at least in the governor's private quarters. And, while not discounting the historical value and heritage of the mansion, would it be too much to ask that the governor spend a little time there instead of winging his way back and forth between Chicago and the capital. Then, there's the other alternative. Move the mansion to Chicago - but I think lawmakers would put their feet down on that one.
Home...away from home
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Riddle me this, hasn't the 3 million dollar budget (Which obviously increases every year due to inflation.) to sustain the Governor's mansion been around since the beginning of time? It's not like this is some kind of new expense and Blagojevich is running the air conditioning at full blast with the windows open and letting every toilet in the joint run just because he can.
Personally, if Blagojevich is doing his job I don't care if he lives in Chicago, the back of his car, in a dumpster, under a bridge, in some kind of hobo shanty town (You know, with lots of rusty sheet metal and flaming garbage cans), a Motel 6, or in the box from the TV I just bought.
Besides, isn't there more pressing local issues at hand like the results of the latest tea leaf reading in the search for Lisa Stebic?
No riddle. It's not so much the cost of maintaining the mansion. It's the extra expense to fly this guv back and forth everyday. He thinks that's his personal jet. Add the cost for the security details and equipment necessary to work out of his house too.
I agree, don't care where he lives if he's doing his job. Based upon the current budget fiasco in Springfield, doesn't look like he's performing very well. With all the overtime the gov requires of the legislature to get a budget passed, where's the money coming from the pay for that? What is it, 60 days now for this year? Must be nice..........