You are invited to participate in the process.


 

 


 

The Dan Rutherford Campaign

Committee is a proud Sponsor

of the Committee for Legislative

Action.

 

www.DanRutherford.org

 

 *********************** 

 

Senator Dan Rutherford’s website for Legislative and Public Policy matters is:
www.DanRutherford.com

 

Senator Dan Rutherford’s website for political matters is:
www.DanRutherford.org

Senator Rutherford is the Chairman of the Committee for Legislative Action. Its primary purpose is to bring sunlight to attempts to raise Taxes, Fees and increase Government Regulations in Illinois. Their website is:
www.CommitteeForLegislativeAction.org

 

 

Dan Rutherford

State Senator

 

 

* * * *

 

Get just one thing right

 

Chicago Tribune Editorial

Find the logic here:

The people who run the Illinois legislature passed a budget over the weekend and largely ignored everything Gov. Rod Blagojevich wanted. No surprise there. It was clear way back in February, when the governor served up his annual budget address, that he wasn't going to be a factor this year. When nobody trusts you—nobody trusts you.
 

 

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Governor shrugs off ally's conviction

 

 

Chicago Tribune

 

The corruption convictions of Gov. Rod Blagojevich's friend, top adviser and fundraiser dealt a fresh blow to a beleaguered administration Wednesday, weakening the governor's ability to lead and further undermining the credibility of a politician elected on a pledge of reform.
 

* * * *

 

Our Opinion: Governor's

"results" don't spur optimism

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Springfield Journal Register

 

"ROD IS NOT GREAT at process,

 but he’s pretty good at results.”

 

 

* * * *

 

Our Opinion: Governor’s legal tactics a disgrace

 

IT'S MADDENING when an elected official withholds information from us that we believe we are entitled to. Even more so when our state’s highest attorney and a judge have sided with us.

 

* * * *

 

Governor running low on friends - Blagojevich calls it a ‘natural tension’

 

Dictator. Madman. Unruly child. Gov. Rod Blagojevich has been called all those and more — and that’s just by his fellow Democrats. A series of policy defeats and bitter confrontations has driven Blagojevich’s relationship with legislators to a new low.

 


* * * *

 

Poll shows governor's style wearing thin in Cook County

 

Springfield Journal Register

 

"Just a year ago, Gov. Rod Blagojevich took 65.2 percent of the Cook County vote in winning re-election against two opponents."

 

 

* * * *

 

Trial knocks on

governor's door

 

 

"Illinois has a rich and infamous history of political corruption trials, but the trajectory of the case against Antoin "Tony" Rezko -- a chief fundraiser for Gov. Rod Blagojevich -- may be without parallel.

Perhaps never before has a sitting Illinois governor become so enmeshed in a criminal proceeding of such breadth."

 

 

This is the lead of the story. There is so much happening in the media about Governor Blagojevich. CLA will post articles, but one may wish to visit the Chicago Tribune. They have a web page dedicated to updates on the Governor and the Tony Rezko trial. You can visit the page at:  Chicago Tribune

 

 

* * * *

 

Governor calls story on flights 'ridiculous'
Doesn't answer question about asking tax attorney

 


 

SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Tuesday it's "ridiculous" to suggest he might owe taxes for personal use of state aircraft.

The Associated Press reported this week that Blagojevich, his family and guests have taken hundreds of flights on taxpayer-financed airplanes with no clear business purpose. Tax experts said the Internal Revenue Service could consider the flights taxable fringe benefits.

 

 

* * * *

 

Flight check: Blagojevich

could owe
Analysis finds that taxes may be due for governor’s personal plane use

 

On Memorial Day, Gov. Rod Blagojevich huddled with legislative leaders in his Capitol office in what turned out to be another futile attempt to negotiate a state budget deal.


Then Blagojevich did what millions of people do after work: He went home. The difference is that the governor flew 150 miles to Chicago on a state plane, then used it to return to Springfield the next day.  

 

 

* * * *

 

State could receive $50.5 million settlement from banks

 

Bloomington Pantagraph

Kurt Erickson 

 

SPRINGFIELD -- The cash-strapped state could get an infusion of $50.5 million as part of a proposed settlement between Illinois banks and the Blagojevich administration.

The litigation dates to 2004 when banks took the governor to court after he successfully raised fees on financial institutions in order to help pay for general state costs.

Banks argued the increases were too high and that the money they pay in fees should be used for regulating banks, not regular state expenses.

 

 

* * * *

 

It's so sad about sleazeball Rezko

 

Southtown Star

Phil Kadner

 

I am tired of elected officials who are "saddened" every time one of their corrupt buddies goes off to prison.

 

Here's what Gov. Rod Blagojevich had to say after his key campaign fundraiser, Tony Rezko, was convicted of orchestrating multimillion-dollar kickback schemes:

 

"On a personal level I am deeply sad for what's happened to Tony," our governor said.

 

 

* * * *

 

Lawmakers: Rezko's conviction gives state another black eye

 

Bloomington Pantagraph

Kurt Erickson


SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois lawmakers said the conviction Wednesday of Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s former top adviser Antoin “Tony” Rezko gives the corruption-challenged state another black eye.

And, they said the embattled Democrat from Chicago faces tough times ahead as he tries to govern.

State Rep. Bob Flider, D-Mount Zion, said the trial exposed the underbelly of insider politics in Illinois.
 

 

* * * *

 

Las Vegas judge issues arrest warrant for Tony Rezko over alleged gambling debts

 

With the jury still deliberating corruption charges against him in Chicago, Tony Rezko now faces fresh criminal charges in Las Vegas that accuse him of failing to pay $450,000 in gambling debts.

 

 

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Camping and Hunting

 

 

The newest in Fee increases

 

Natural Resources / Camping on DNR Properties - 32 Ill Reg 02653

Imposes a new $5/vehicle waste dumping fee for RV’s and camping trailers not camping on DNR property.  Also increases the utility fee at Class AA through Class E camping sites and Rent-A-Camp Cabins at Class A and Class A Premium sites from $5 to $10 (a 100% increase).  Depending upon the Class of a site, the camping fee for Class AA, Class A and Class A Premium sites are increased from $10 or $15 to $20 or $25 per night for the Memorial Day, Labor Day and Fourth of July weekends or holiday periods – a 67% to 100% increase, respectively.

Natural Resources / White-Tailed Deer Hunting by Use of Firearms - 32 Ill Reg 02662

Increases the non-resident deer hunting permit fee (either sex or antlered) from $250 to $300 (é20%); for non-resident landowner/tenants either sex permit from $100 to $150 (é50%); and for either sex permits for non-resident shareholders, members, partners or beneficiaries from $100 to $150 (é50%).

Natural Resources / White-Tailed Deer Hunting by Use of Bow and Arrow - 32 Ill Reg 02699

Increases the cap on out-of-state combination archery deer permit sales from 20,000 to 25,000 statewide.  Also increases the non-resident combination deer hunting permit fee (either sex or antlered) from $365 to $400 (é10%); and for either sex permits for non-resident landowners, shareholders, members, partners or beneficiaries from $150 to $200 (é33%).


 

Campers surprised by fee hikes

 

Daily Review Atlas

 

Campers arriving at state sites last Friday were treated to an unwelcome surprise. Unbeknownst to many, camping fees had increased without much fanfare. Sites with electrical service cost $5 more. And there's a new $10 fee for premium weekends. If you missed that news you were not alone. Site staff at the Department of Natural Resources' 74 campgrounds were not officially informed of the increases until late last week, either.

 


 

New RV and Camping Trailer Fee!

 

Recently a rule was passed which imposes new and increased fees for camping on Department of Natural Resource (DNR) Properties.

 

This rulemaking imposes a new $5 per vehicle waste dumping fee for RV’s and camping trailers not camping on DNR property. It also increases the utility fee at Class AA through Class E camping sites and Rent-A-Camp Cabins at Class A and Class A Premium sites from $5 to $10 (a 100% increase). Depending upn the Class of a site, the camping fee for Class AA, Class A and Class A Premium sites are increased from $10 or $15 to $20 or $25 per night for the Memorial Day, Labor Day and Fourth of July weekends or holiday periods – a 67% to 100% increase, respectively.

 


 

Camping fee increase a surprise for some

 

Parairie State Outdoor

By: Jeff Lampe

Campers arriving at state sites last Friday were treated to an unwelcome surprise.

Unbeknownst to many, camping fees had increased without much fanfare. If you missed that news you were not alone.

Site staff at the Department of Natural Resources’ 74 campgrounds were not officially informed of the increases until late last week, either.

 


 

Incompetent cloak of King Blago's reign

 

By: Jeff Lampe

Journal Star

May 29, 2008

Campers arriving at state sites last Friday were treated to an unwelcome surprise.

Unbeknownst to many, camping fees had increased without much fanfare. Sites with electrical service cost $5 more. And there's a new $10 fee for premium weekends. If you missed that news you were not alone.

 


 

Costly camping

Fees for state campgrounds increased

 

The Telegraph

 

ALTON - Don Butler loves to head out on the open road in his camper and spend his summer days at outdoor parks and campgrounds. But this year, he is both excited and frustrated about his upcoming travels.

Beginning this weekend, Butler and thousands of other Illinois residents who love the outdoors will pay almost double the amount they did last year to camp at premium sites at state campgrounds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Department of Agriculture Fee Increases

 

There are a number of fee increases being proposed by the administration that will affect agribusiness.  These fees were raised in the past as recently as 2004. The fear is that the revenues from these fee increases will simply be swept as they have in the past.

 

Proposed Dept. of Agriculture fee increases- Page 1

 

Proposed Dept. of Agriculture fee increases- Page 2

 

 

 

 

 

Governor's threats, fund raids are

wrong way to close gap

 

Bloomington Pantagraph

Editorial Board


Illinois government continues to operate in near-crisis mode - with nearly each day presenting a new economic peril and another program in jeopardy.

Within the past two weeks, we have been told grants could be held up for University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service and universities might have to cut millions of dollars from their budgets to meet the gap in the current budget. Funding for early childhood and secondary education also could be threatened.

 

 

 

 

 

Fee Sweeps

 

 

Government raising a Fee for a special purpose on a specific constituency or user [i.e.: camping fees or nursing home licensing fees] when it really doesn't need the money for that purpose is bad enough, but when government then says there is "extra money" in those specific accounts and takes some of it for general spending, that is wrong.

 

See the list of Funds that are being Swept, the dollar amounts, where the money comes from, what the money is supposed to be used for and what groups are directly affected

 

The list is comprised of funds swept by the Blagojevich Administration from July 1, 2003 through December 31, 2006.  The funds raided directly hurt the constituency who paid into those funds.  For example, the Underground Storage Tank Fund receives monies from Underground Storage Tank Registration Fees which are paid by petroleum providers, gas station owners and consumers indirectly and is meant to pay for clean up of problematic Underground Storage Tanks. Therefore, when funds are taken from that account for other purposes, the businesses and consumers who paid into the fund have an argument about why they should be paying that much of a Fee to begin with.

 

 

One would expect camping Fees and boat registration Fees to be spent on campground maintenance and water safety programs and not taken for general spending. If there is enough money in the accounts that the Fee was levied for, Government should not raise the Fee with the intent to take it away for other purposes.

 

 

Examples of accounts that money was taken from and used for other purposes are: Teacher Certification Fund, Fire Fighter’s Memorial Fund, and Long-Term Care Monitor/Receiver Fund.

 

 

 

 

Collegiate Plates Fund Swept

Illinois State University

 

In Illinois, we have a series of 'specialty license plates'. Supporters of specific colleges pay a premium to have a specific college logo on their license plate. The premium is suppose to go to scholarships for the designated school.

The Administration swept funds from this 'Collegiate License Plate Scholarship Fund' and moved them to the general spending fund. CLA strongly objects to this type of action! The purchasers of Collegiate Plates are paying a premium; they are assuming the extra funds are going for scholarships to their endorsed college.

If you know someone who has a collegiate plate, you might want to let them know what is really happening. This action is another example of government taking funds from dedicated accounts and using them for other purposes.

 

 

Augustana College Bradley University Concordia University DePaul University
       
       

Eastern Illinois University

Loyola University

Malcolm X College

Millikin University

       
       

Northern University

Northwestern University

Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Southern University Edwardsville

       
       

University of Illinois

University of Illinois at Chicago

University of Illinois at Springfield

Western Illinois University

 

 

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