WELCOME to $ll$no$s Gov. Quinn. Many of us are praying for you to succeed. Now that the true amount has been ascertained,maybe we can get the double and triple dippers to face the facts. No one should recieve more than one taxpayer PENSION, and not at all until you are DONE serving the people. Multi-pensions are a single large reason for the criminal activities of some; many in government and public service. Support Gov. Quinn and check out reformillinoisnow.org you will be helping all of Illinois$$$$$

Companies and people take note - Illinois is not a financially safe place for your family nor companies, especially if our "government" continues to milk everyone for their own personal gain. CEOs do not even get pensions like these. Note you and your company will have to pay for this in the future. Tell your politicians to wake up.

I hope the state can show further cuts like in pensions, etc. I was disgusted to learn the following information recently. The supposed stimulus plan should require governments to cut at least as much as companies are cutting costs today. One area of serious need for cutting is the government pension plans - now more attracitve than company plans. Wake up people!

Note the following article from http://www.championnews.net/index.php

No Recession for State Retirees - $100,000 Pensions Up 27% In 2008 To 3,195
Posted: January 29, 2009

By Bill Zettler

While most Illinois taxpayers' retirement wealth decreased markedly in 2008, retired Illinois public employees had no such problem. In fact almost all of them received increases of 3% this year even though pension investments cratered.

In fact the TRS (Teachers Retirement System) reported investment losses of $14 BILLION between June 2007 and November 2008. Of course that $14 billion is meaningless to public employees because they are liable for exactly none, zero, nada of the loss. All $14 billion has to be made up by the taxpayers through higher taxes.

Before this market crash we had estimated that Illinois taxpayers were on the hook for about $1 Trillion, or about $200,000 per Illinois household, over the next 37 years assuming a 6.5% investment return and health insurance increases of 9% per year (see here).

Now that number has to be bumped up to at least $1.2 trillion or $240,000 per household. So your retirement INCOME is going to go DOWN while your retirement TAXES are going to go UP. Public employees retirement only goes up, it can never go down no matter how bad the economic times.

The top two pensions in 2008 were over $379,000 and $368,000, giving Illinois the dubious distinction of having two retired public employees with pensions over $1,000/day.

That means these two former state employees receive a DAILY pension approximately equal to the average MONTHLY Social Security payment of $1,054. To give you an idea of what that pension is worth think about it this way: in order to receive $379,800 in interest each year you would have to buy a CD worth at least $7 million.

In 2008 the State of Illinois continued to make tens of thousands of pension millionaires out of retired public employees with the taxpayer picking up the tab. Here are some more disturbing pension facts:

In 2008 at least 3,195 former public employees had pensions of over $100,000, up 27% from 2007's 2,535. Here is the Top 100 list.
Four had pensions of over $300,000 and 40 had pensions of over $200,000.
In 2008, 56 former public employees had pensions greater than President Clinton. That is up a stunning 70% from 2007.

For the first time the average pension of the Top 100 exceeds $200,000.

For the first time you need a pension of at least $171,000 to even make it into the Top 100.

94 of the 100 were University or K-12 employees meaning they probably spent the majority of their careers working 9 months a year with tenure.

$100,000/yr public pensions is one of Illinois few growth industries. Since 2002 they have been growing at 25% per year. Based upon current growth rates we will be paying for over 10,000 $100,000 pensions by 2012.

Only one was a former politician, Arthur Berman.

Over 535 state pensions had MONTHLY payments greater than average Social Security ANNUAL payment of $12,648.

Breakdown by pension fund:
K-12 Teachers (TRS) = 1,250
University Teachers (SURS) = 1,235
State Employees (SERS) = 505
Municipal Employees (IMRF) = 91
Chicago Teachers (CTPF) = 114

Another way to look at it is the top pension is 30 times the amount the average Social Security recipient receives and 12 times the median wage of the average full time Illinois worker ($32,864).

Why do average people, most of whom do not have enough money for their own retirement, have to pay taxes to buy the equivalent of a $7 million CD for one public employee?

If these former Illinois Public employees had been on Social Security and a 401K program during their working years (like the rest of us) taxpayer liability for state employees retirement would be zero as opposed to $1.2 TRILLION taxpayers will have to pay in taxes over the next 37 years for public employee pensions and health insurance. That's $1.2 TRILLION ($240,000 per Illinois household) they will not have available for their own retirement.

Both fairness and finance demand pension reform in Illinois.

Name Chameleon --

The American Heritage Dictionary defines residence as “The place in which one lives; a dwelling”. The State Constitution states that the governor shall “maintain a residence at the seat of government”. As I stated earlier, I think most people would agree that maintaining a residence in Springfield means you live there and not in Chicago.

Feel free to disagree; it’s what makes this country a great place to live.

I will not reply to your off-target and off-topic comments. Please stop your attempts to turn every thread towards the Palestinian-Israeli conflict for your own personal enjoyment.

I will not respond to you again and I also urge others to do the same so that sanity can persevere here.

T.B.

Oh boy... here we go again.

TB,

Maintaining a residence TB is not a requirement to live in Springfield.

You can not exempt the 434 Senators and Representatives who took 43 million in campaign contributions from the AIPAC and Israeli Lobby in return for 5 billion dollars in aid to Israel by simply asking me to get help.

It just shows you support corruption when it supports your causes.

You pretend to be a man of principle, but you are unfortunately an unprincipled man with little ethics or moral fiber. You seem to be an opportunistic man!

Name Chameleon –

I think it’s appalling that you’re willing to accept corruption because it “happens everywhere”. You blame “the system” while being willing to accept the morally corrupt and absolve them of blame.

Why single out Blago? Nobody has. Ryan and many others are sitting in jail. The investigations and indictments began well before Blago and will continue well after Blago.

While it’s true that Blago has yet to be convicted of anything, the impeachment was not a legal proceeding but rather a political one. His day in court will come and he’ll get just what Ryan got—a fair trial.

Again with Israel?!? Get help.

Blago is required to live in Springfield. Article V, Section 1 of our State Constitution states that “The Executive Branch shall include a Governor…. They shall keep the public records and maintain a residence at the seat of government during their terms of office.” The seat of government for the State of Illinois is Springfield, not Chicago. I think most people would agree that maintaining a residence is more than never going to the governor's mansion. It means you should live in Springfield where the legislature meets.

Besides, after Blago started going to the State of IL building in Chicago after his arrest, the aids there said they hadn't seen him there in months.

Please name the “many governors” who chose to live in Chicago instead of Springfield.

T.B.

TB,

I think you missed my point. My point was this "illegal activity" happens everywhere in the United States. Corruption is rampant in our nation. Why single out Blagojevich? My point also was he has not yet been convicted of anything illegal and many legal experts on TV are saying what he did is unethical but not illegal.

Members of the US Congress took 43 million dollars from the AIPAC Lobby who in turn vote 5 billion in aid annually to Israel. President Carters recently complained on CNN it was about 10 million per day or 3,650,000,000 per year. Take you pick of what number you want to believe. Do you really think AIPAC would give our US Congress this kind of money and expect nothing in return? Everyone of the 435 took money except one. Please don't be naive and think our US Senators and Representatives are any worse or better than Blagojevich. They are all corrupt. We only go after an elected official if he rubs us the wrong way or does not play by the accepted "corruption rules."

If Blagojevich was corrupt, and he may have been, just about every politician in this country is corrupt. Let us stop singling anyone out and change the system instead of those who play by the corrupt rules and traditions.

What kind of a country is this that you need 50 million dollars in campaign contributions to be able to have a chance to be a Senator in this state?

Blago is not required to be in Springfield except for legislative meetings. The Governor's Office has been in the State of Illinois Building in Chicago from the day it was built. Most of the action is in the Chicagoland area so he is saving us money by living here as he has to fly or drive less by being here. 10 million of the 13 million residents of Illinois live in the Chicagoland Area so why do expect him to spend all his time in a town with a population of 110,000. He goes there when necessary and sometimes he drives.

To the best of my knowledge many governors chose to live in Chicago instead of Springfield. Why single Blagojevich out?

Egg (or whatever you call yourself now) –

Blago was supposed to be in Springfield, whether or not he had an office in the State of IL building in Chicago. Your assertion that he “chose to live in his own home at no cost to the taxpayers” couldn’t be further from the truth because he then used State aircraft to fly back and forth at our expense.

“He did not want to be isolated or his kids to be isolated.” That’s the job. If he didn’t like it, he shouldn’t have run for the position.

Giving campaign contributions to a politician is legal. What changed Jan 1 was that people & companies with State contracts can no longer make these contributions. Unfortunately, what you fail to see is that giving cash to a politician in exchange for anything is called bribery and has always been illegal. The campaign ethics law effective Jan 1 was not the law that outlawed bribery.

It’s actually sad that you accept this behavior as completely normal. Corruption is not normal and should not be tolerated as business as usual. Ryan, Blago and other politicians count on your sorry set of beliefs to justify their criminal behavior and get away with corruption.

T.B.

By Mr. 66 on January 31, 2009 4:07 PM
Eggs on their faces--------- Still glad to see he is gone. Can't wait till his name comes off of the tollroad signs. You say that this was a fix. Don't think so --- Maybe if he would have spent more time down in Springfield rather than in Ravenswood, maybe the vote (right or wrong) would have gone different. You can't expect your people to back you when you aren't there to back them. Most people who have Real Jobs can't run them from their homes. They have to go to the office or plant and be there for their people.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Blagojevich had an office in the State of Illinois Building in downtown Chicago. He spent most days in his office and not working out of his home.

He could have lived rent fee in the gated mansion in Springfield. He chose to live in his own home at no cost to the taxpayers. He did not want to be isolated or his kids to be isolated.

While he is being painted as a bad person, let us wait for his criminal trial to see what he was really about. I believe his criminal trial will show he was a politician doing what all politicians do. Raising campaign contributions in return for favors.

There was a law passed to make this behavior illegal as opposed to immoral effective Jan 1, 2009. Thus, he made a big effort to collect his campaign contributions before Jan 1, 2009 to make sure he did not do anything criminally wrong.

That is my understanding of the case and I think everyone is jumping to conclusions and convicting, before the man even has his day in court. How so un-American!!!

Eggs on their Faces on January 31, 2009 3:22 PM
They convicted him pretty much on the hearsay of a Republican US Attorney fearful Obama would terminate him.

______________

Ah yes, Mrs. / or Mr. Egg. this same "Republican US Attorney" is the same one who convicted Republicans Scooter Libby and Republican Governor Ryan so if anything your comment makes him even more beyond reproach.

BTW, you were more clever when you simply were "anonymous", I think your use of phrases now is quite interesting. And again with the "Lynching" references? I thought that went away when you were pretending to be BHO?

Hmmm, have we heard from EOTF before? The "voice" sounds familiar.

Eggs on their faces--------- Still glad to see he is gone. Can't wait till his name comes off of the tollroad signs. You say that this was a fix. Don't think so --- Maybe if he would have spent more time down in Springfield rather than in Ravenswood, maybe the vote (right or wrong) would have gone different. You can't expect your people to back you when you aren't there to back them. Most people who have Real Jobs can't run them from their homes. They have to go to the office or plant and be there for their people.

He did more damage to the state than was already done. Don't let his little boy face fool you. I still say a Recall is still in order. And if he is broke -------- Tough!!! Right now a lot of people are broke thanks to the politicians and banks. He isn't the only one out there facing issues. Also you pointed out that he was elected for a second term. Voters can be easily duped by clever politician or charlatan.

Mr. 66,

The FIX was in for Blagojevich. 59-0 is a FIX. The Senate voted in a way to promote their personal political careers. They had no conscience and did not vote for justive.

The Senate performed a Kangaroo Trial in a Kangaroo Court.

They convicted him pretty much on the hearsay of a Republican US Attorney fearful Obama would terminate him. Now if Obama terminates him he could say he was retaliating because he prosecuted a Democratic Governor. Obama will now not dare replace Patrick Fitzgerald.

Every politician in America is able to collect campaign contributions because he makes promises. Without these promises, they would not get a single campaign contribution exceeding 10 bucks. A senator needs 40 million dollars to run a successful campaign. He can only get this kind of money by making promises that he can deliver on and sometimes even unable to deliver on.

Bill Gates gave 10 million thru his affiliates to the Democratic Party and matched it with 10 million to the Repbulican Party. He was simply buying political favors from both parties. Since he is wealthy he paid both sides to play. He bought insurance by donating to both sides thus guaranteeing to be on the winning side in order that resolutions he needed passed in the US Congress got rubber stamped.

Blagojevich was simply good at squeezing campaign contributions for political favors. Every politician does that but he did it a touch better. Fellow politicians were jealous of him.

He is good looking, has a good looking wife, 2 beautiful kids, and was voted twice by the majority of Illinois residents.

The man was lynched. When he is vindicated in his criminal trial, many people will have lots of eggs on their faces. He was simply being a good politician. He was not going to give the Senator position just to anyone. He wanted to give it to someone who could produce for Illinios....not for himself. It was bleeping golden for the state residents.....not for his pocketbook.

This governor is actually very very poor. He is on the verge of bankruptcy. If he was such a crook, why is he broke after 6 years on the job?

Let us wake up and stop having a herd mentality on every issue.

Let us give him the presumption of innocence that our US Constitution requires.

True, Mr. 66. I think the problem is politicians take care of their own. It is seldom you see a group of politicians come down hard on another politician. To me, that just screams "I may need a favor someday!"

I am glad that he is gone. I feel that a Recall should be instituted in All states, and our federal government as well. If the elected officials are not living up to the voters expectations and promises they should be ousted. The same would apply to even local government (Naperville city council) and let's not forget the school board and administrators as well.

Public officials need to be responsible for their actions. If we, (John Q Public) did half of the things our elected officials do (not all, but most) on a regular basis we would be out of a job or in jail.

"AND THAT'S A FACT JACK !" even here is Paradise.

I am not surprised. 59 to zero speaks volumls. BLagojevich made a mockery out of his position and then has the audacity to hit the media circuit with, "If they can do this to me, they can do this to you!" I'm thinking, 'Yeah, well if we were corrupt then we would deserve it as well!' Funny how he never even attempted to address the issues at stake in the media. Deflect, deflect, deflect. I realize one is innocent until proven guilty, but in this case they have audio tapes that are admissible.
What an embarrassment and good riddance!

"Make the local candidates work for your vote"
January 25, 2009 - Naperville Sun
'The Sun will do its best to present you with information about the candidates through news stories.'

To "A Real Waste of Money" and others:

CANDIDATES FOR THE FOUR-YEAR SEATS (VOTE FOR 4):
KEN BOCHENSKI JUDITH BRODHEAD JAMES DERKACY RAJ DURGA
PATTI GUSTIN PAUL HINTERLONG DOUG KRAUSE KAMALA MARTINEZ
JOE McELROY TIMOTHY MESSER KENN MILLER CHARLES SCHNEIDER
JANET TROWBRIDGE

CANDIDATES FOR THE 2-YEAR SEAT(VOTE FOR 1):
JIM BOYAJIAN BILL EAGAN KEVIN LYNCH

There is only one public forum being talked about hosted by the Naperville Homeowners Confederation.

The race is for (4)-four year seats and (1)-two year seat.

An important election as it takes (5) Council votes to pass an issue/item.

(With exception of annexation and a few others - these require (6) votes.)

The Sun always publishes profiles on the candidates. And, there are usually several political forums. It is easy to say business as usual, but if you bother to look, there will be an abundance of information before election day on all the candidates (as long as you choose to read it).

Those signs are a waste of money and about EGO.

I could not agree with John Q. Public more.

And what about all those state forms with the name of the Governor or Secretary of State on them. Do we have to change them now? Of course, what an additional waste of money.

These politicians want their names everywhere because they know in the end more than any other single item, name recognition gets you elected.

Most voters are clueless to what is goign on. They just vote for the first name on the list, last name on the list or a name that they recognize which is on the list. How sad!

Will anyone know anything about anyone in the Naperville upcoming elections. I can't even name a single candidate. Can anyone else name a single candidate who is no up for re-election? Will the Sun educate us at some point about what these candidates stand for? Will there be public forums? Or will it be business as usual as it has been for 176 years in Naperville?

Never Voted For Him OR Ryan! wrote:

"The best part will be seeing his name come down from the Tollway Signs!"

Hear, hear! And once his name comes down, lets keep the new governor's name off. This practice of changing all the signs around the city and state every time a new pol takes office is ridiculous. They don't do this in other states, so why do people in Illinois put up with it?

Two things will happen.

1. Blago will spill the beans on the Democrats. I would be shaking if I were Daley, Madigan, and Obama.

2. Start throwing your money away, taxes are set to double in Illinois.

I never voted for him, OR his predecessor - I don't know if I have a crystal ball but I never liked what I saw in either one, and they got what they deserved. His delusions of grandeur know no bounds apparently, and it has provided much amusement, in a pathetic way, over the past month or two. But his behavior before his arrest wasn't amusing at all. It was angering, bewildering, frustrating, to me at least.
The best part will be seeing his name come down from the Tollway Signs!
Prayers and best wishes for the new governor Quinn, that he doesn't follow in his predecessors footsteps but brings some bit of respect and maturity back into the office.

The 59 idiots that voted to impeach him were voting with a herd mentality. It was FIXED as Blagojevich stated repeatedly.

These idiots were trying to be politically correct posturing for their future elections. They did not care if Blago was innocent or guilty.

I hope Blagojevich is found innocent and sues all 59 B$st$rds. All these politicians are about money, ego, and power. They could care less about anyone except themselves.

Blagojevich was simply an ordinary politician raising campagin contributtions in the same way as all politicians raise campaign contributions.....no one gives a significant campaign contribution without an expectation.

If Clinton did not help Obama after she lost to him with extensive campaiging and funding, he would never made her Secretary of State. Her knowledge is limited and lacking. Obama disliked her vehemently and still does. But he had to "pay to play" like everyone else.

Yes, that Senate Seat was bleeping golden. But he never said to 'himself.' He will say to the 'state' during his criminal trial. He will say he was going to give it to someone who would fight hard for Illinios and fight for money for Illinios......not for himself. He will be found innocent in the criminal trial assuming he is charged. To the best of my knowledge contrary to what Ken indicated, he has not been charged yet.

Even though I never voted for him, and never would, I think he got railroaded.

First by the feds, who arrested him and then needed another three months to charge him. If the case against him was so strong, why do they need the additional three months?

Second, he was railroaded by the members of his own party who were to weak to take action before the arrest, but used his arrest to finally get rid of him.

Not sorry to see him gone, but the way it was done certainly is questionable.

My favorite part was how he chose to make the talk show rounds while he was still relevant instead of defending himself. The guy is a nut addicted to the limelight. I can't even imagine what kind of stunts he's going to be pulling next in attempts to remain in the public eye.

See ya', Blago! Don't let the door hit ya' on the way out!